While using a Windows personal computer over a MacOS scheme ( or vice versa ) was once moderately fix in terms of crossover , such towering rampart no longer subsist . Still though , if you ’ve ever wanted to use the sameexternal hard drivewith both Windows and MacOS , you know how big of a burden this process can be .
Incidentally , the condition " international concentrated driveway " generally refers to portable memory devices . They ’re as fast asthe best SSDs , but you could connect them to your data processor using a USB cable .
A process call off ‘ partitioning ’ is uncommitted with both Windows andMacOS . When you partition a gruelling drive , you ’re fundamentally separate its internal storage space into different sections . These sections can then be formatted to work with many different types of computers .
you may partition off a heavy drive using bothWindows 11and MacOS , and we ’re going to learn you how to make out the process for each type O type .
It’s a split, niche scenario
A quick Google search may lead you to trust you ’re on the right-hand path by format your cause with Extensible File Allocation Table , or exFAT . It ’s a simpler , world-wide method if every filing cabinet you stash away is less than 4 GB in size . However , this data formatting does n’t support larger files , which can be problematic for transferring and so on between Macs and Windows 11 PC .
Meanwhile , the NTFS system of rules used by Windows 10 supports large file , but this format ca n’t be read natively by MacOS . That puts you in a peculiar pickle , limiting any shared file between the two platform at 4 gigabyte or smaller . If you want to save larger files , you ’ll need to make a second , consecrate space using a data format optimized for MacOS ( Extended ) or Windows 11 ( NTFS ) .
With all that in intellect , our guidebook break the external drive in half : One primary section subject of lay in filing cabinet great than 4 G , and a secondary section capable of share files between MacOS and Windows 11 . It ’s not the ideal result — we get it — but it works nonetheless .
Before digging in , pick out a basal format you ’ll habituate the most : MacOS Extended if you mainly apply Mac with a petty exFAT sectionalization , or NTFS if you mainly employ Windows 11 with a lowly exFAT partition .
last , formatting deletes all data stored on the driving force . check that you back up anything of import before beginning the format process . We have guides forbacking up Windowsandbacking up MacOSin case you necessitate a aid helping hand .
Partition the drive on Windows 11
We have a full pathfinder onhow to partition a ride in Windows , but let ’s go through the significant footprint you need to know to quickly partition the driving while working on Windows . The process is less straightforward in Windows than what you see on a Mac , but it ’s now easier than ever .
Step 1 : Right - tap theStartbutton and selectDisk Managementon the Power User fare .
Typically , extraneous drives are format out of the box . However , you may encounter a “ Not Initialized ” error when connect the machine to your PC . That entail it ’s not format right to work with Windows . It wo n’t even have an delegate crusade missive in File Explorer ( This PC ) , and may not even have allocate space for saving datum .
If you see anInitialize Diskpop - up window , it provides two formats : Master Boot Record ( MBR ) and GUID Partition Table ( GPT ) . The former is old and only supports content up to 2 TB , but is compatible with erstwhile version of Windows . GPT is a newer format support larger capacities but is n’t compatible with older rendering of Windows .
choose the partition expressive style and click theOKbutton to continue . If you accidentally closed the tonic - up , right - fall into place on the listed disk and selectInitialize Diskon the pop - up .
If you did n’t get the drink down - up warning , move on to Step 2 .
Step 2 : Right - tap the unallocated space , and select theNew Simple Volumeoption on the pop - up card , as show below .
Step 3 : TheNew Simple Volume Wizardbegins . Click theNextbutton .
measure 4 : Since we ’re create two sectionalization , divide the listed physical figure in half . Type that number into the field of view next toSimple Volume Size in MBand dawn theNextbutton to continue . In our scenario , we ’re divide a 1 TB SanDisk Ultra upstanding - state drive .
Step 5 : Allow the Wizard to assign a thrust letter of the alphabet , or manually specify the letter using the drop - down fare . snap theNextbutton to proceed .
Step 6 : Select a file system . Since your main PC is Windows 11 , use NTFS . Also participate a volume recording label ( cause name ) — we used “ Windows 10 , ” though you’re able to tag this division with anything . Click the Next button to proceed .
dance step 7 : Click theFinishbutton to complete .
In Disk Management , the outside disk should heel one new volume — “ Windows 10 ” in our deterrent example — and a 2nd circumstances with unallocated space .
Right - chink on that unallocated space and repetition dance step 1 to step 6 . This time , however , take exFAT as the file cabinet system during step 6 , which you ’ll use to deal file with MacOS . Note that you do n’t need to specify a intensity size .
The result should look something like this :
Partition the drive in MacOS Sonoma
zone an external ride in MacOS is n’t quite as troublesome . Assuming that your external drive has no partitions , you will need to create two . If the driving already has a Mac - friendly sectionalization , you could skip ahead to step 5 .
You may first see an “ initialize ” wrongdoing because the drive ’s file system is n’t “ clear . ” snap on theInitializebutton on the little pop - up screen to produce your first compatible partition and begin at measure 5 . If the mistake does not appear , protrude with step 1 .
Here , we used the same SanDisk SSD , although MacOS pulled the Seagate USB transcriber ’s name rather than the drive ’s actual name ( the adapter come from an external Seagate drive ) . Note that the following instructions also apply to Catalina — the only real divergence are the optic changes to the UI and how internal volumes are listed .
footmark 1 : With Finder highlight , clickGoon the menu legal profession follow byUtilitieson the cliff - down menu .
Step 2 : two-fold - click theDisk Utilityicon in the follow window .
Step 3 : WithDisk Utilityopen , your crusade appears underExternallocated on the left . ClickErase , turn up on the app ’s top toolbar , as shown below .
footfall 4 : In the next soda pop - up windowpane , insert a name . SelectMacOS Extended ( Journalist)as the format andGUID Partition Mapas the system .
Step 5 : Click theErasebutton to make these changes .
stone’s throw 6 : Once utter , your drive should have a single sectionalization . play up the drive again inDisk Utilityand then clickPartitionlisted at the top instead .
Step 7 : On the following papa - up ( it wo n’t move ) , click the smallPlusbutton locate under the bluish pie chart to contribute a second partition .
Step 8 : A second portion appears , slicing the pie chart down the middle . Enter a book name ( we choseWindows ) and blue-ribbon theexFATformat .
Step 9 : Click theApplybutton to add the new partition .
Step 10 : Click thePartitionbutton in an additional popping - up window to finish the procedure .
whole tone 11 : Click theDonebutton to wind up .
The upshot should look something like the image below . Note that two ikon typify each drive should appear on your background , as shown .
It ’s good to observe that the exFAT file system of rules is n’t 100 % reliable , so you might want to hook your hard driveway up to a Windows computer and create a secondary Windows partition to NTFS . The Windows section contains our in - deepness explanation of this .
Final notes
As you could see , partition a arduous drive is n’t a complicated process , whether you ’re using Windows or a Mac . you may also choose to instal a pay off software like Paragon’sMicrosoft NTFS softwareor the free and open - sourceTuxeraon your Mac to enable NTFS to read / write living .
Can you share an external hard drive between Mac and PC?
Yes you may . For the good results though , you ’re going to want to zone your outside hard ride for optimized read - and - write public presentation for both Windows and MacOS .
As our guide indicates , if you ’re mainly using Windows , you ’ll want to have the Windows component of your international HDD formatted for NTFS with a subaltern exFAT partition for Mac compatibility .
If a Mac is your quotidian machine , use the MacOS Extended data format , with a petty exFAT bulk for Windows .
Is exFAT for both Mac and Windows?
Yes it is . The Extensible File Allocation Table ( exFAT ) format is one of the O.G. formatting methods , but it ’s well used for file less than 4 GB .
Keep in thinker that even with third - party software , some characteristic like Time Machine wo n’t work aright with an NTFS file system .
