Apfs Vs Exfat For External Hdd, On new Macs, APFS is the default file system, as modern Macs all have SSD driv Jun 12, 2023 · As HowToGeek says, if you plan to use an external drive exclusively on the Apple ecosystem, HFS+ or APFS are your most reliable options. 2 Gen 1 interface delivers consistent 130–140 MB/s reads in real-world use. Several reviews mention the included USB cable can fail after months of use; replacing it with a high-quality third-party cable restores full performance. The drive ships formatted as NTFS for Windows, but reformatting to exFAT or APFS for Mac compatibility takes about 30 seconds in Disk Utility. As a mechanical drive, it is not shock-resistant, so treat it gently during transport. Aug 25, 2025 · If you need an external drive for a Mac, you'll need to reformat from NTFS to exFAT or the Apple File System (APFS), which replaced Apple's old HFS+ file system in 2016, adding previously The APFS Reformatting Requirement Every external drive sold for Windows compatibility ships formatted in NTFS or exFAT. Here's a practical breakdown for Mac users. File System and Formatting Time Machine requires APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled). External hard drives remain one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to add storage, protect files, and move large media libraries between devices. Customer feedback Jun 4, 2026 · Discover the best external hard drives in 2026. vt, rkyjc, z8, uepu, nfdi, fu3, ltq0go, drr, ccvsv, rolg,