How to Format USB Flash Drive on Mac – 3 Ways

Updated by

Cici 

Updated on Nov 16, 2024

Have you ever found yourself with a brand-new USB drive that your macOS just won't recognize? This situation usually occurs because Mac and Windows use different file systems. Most device manufacturers still manufacture products with Windows as the center. Therefore, knowing how to format a USB flash drive on a Mac can help solve this problem. At the same time, it can also reduce the possibility of accidental damage, data loss, or other performance issues.

In this post, you will learn how to format your new USB flash drive on Mac using three effective methods. All solutions provide detailed, illustrated guides to assist you in formatting your drive so that you can take full advantage of your new USB without the inconvenience. EaseUS will guide you through the process of formatting USB on Mac safely and effectively.

How to Format USB Flash Drive on Mac - 3 Ways

FAT32 and exFAT are compatible with Windows and macOS. It will be very convenient to share files if you set the USB file system format to FAT32 or exFAT. For Apple Mac users, there are three ways to format a USB flash drive on Mac: using EaseUS Partition Master for Mac, Disk Utility, and the Terminal command line. Here are the detailed steps for USB formatting using these three methods.

Way 1. Format USB via EaseUS Partition Master for Mac

Formatting USB with EaseUS Partition Master for Mac will erase all data on the flash drive. So before performing this operation, always remember to check whether you have saved useful data to another secure device in advance.

To format the USB drive, follow the next steps:

Step 1. Run EaseUS Partition Master for Mac, right-click on a target disk drive and select "Format".

Step 2. Rename the volume, select a new format to the target volume and click "Continue" to confirm.

Step 3. Let the program to format the selected disk volume and click "Finish" when the formatting process completes.

With the above steps, you can format the USB easily. In addition, EaseUS Partition Master for Mac offers a variety of other valuable features that enhance your experience.

• Create a Bootable Installer for macOS: You can easily create bootable USB installers to reinstall the system.
• Enable NTFS Write Support on Mac: This feature allows Mac users to read and write to NTFS-formatted drives, overcoming the limitations typically associated with NTFS on macOS.
• Clone a Mac Hard Drive: You can clone your Mac hard drive to a bigger disk or SSD to improve your computer's performance and speed.
• Unlock BitLocker Guidance: The software assists in decrypting BitLocker-encrypted drives, enabling access to data stored on these secure drives.

Try EaseUS Partition Master for Mac to format your new USB flash drive quickly and efficiently.

Way 2. Using Disk Utility on Mac

It's an efficient way to format a USB by using Disk Utility on your Mac. This application, which has a built-in Mac, provides a user-friendly interface for managing disks and drives, making it easy to prepare a USB drive for use with macOS or other operating systems. Here are the steps to format a USB flash drive using Disk Utility.

Step 1. Insert the USB flash drive into your Mac.

Step 2. In the Finder on your Mac, choose "Applications" > "Utilities," then double-click the "Disk Utility" icon. 

Step 3. Find and select your USB drive in the Disk Utility's sidebar.

Step 4. Click the erase button at the top of the window to erase the USB.

Step 5. Name your new drive in the dialog box that pops up. Then select the format you need from the drop-down menu.

Step 6. Click the Erase button to begin formatting. This will delete all data on the drive.

Then you will get a new USB flash drive, which you can use to store data on your Mac.

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Way 3. Using Mac Command Line

Using the command line to format a USB flash drive on a Mac is a good option for users familiar with Terminal commands. You can precisely control over the formatting process. Here is a step-by-step guide on using command line on Mac.:

Step 1. Connect your USB by inserting it into an available USB port on your Mac.

Step 2. Press Command (⌘) + Spacebar to open Spotlight, type Terminal, and press Enter to launch the Terminal application.

Step 3. Type the following command and press Enter in the Terminal window: diskutil list

(Your USB is usually labeled as /dev/diskX, where X is a number, commonly /dev/disk2). This command will display a list of all connected drives. Identify your USB drive in the list.

Step 4. Select the command based on your preferred format, copy and paste it, and then press Enter.

• Mac OS Extended (Journaled): diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ DiskName /dev/DiskNodeID
• Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled): diskutil eraseDisk HFS DiskName /dev/DiskNodeID
• MS-DOS(FAT32): diskutil eraseDisk FAT32 DiskName /dev/DiskNodeID
• ExFAT: diskutil eraseDisk ExFAT DiskName /dev/DiskNodeID

For example, formatting a USB drive to FAT32 using the Terminal command line on a Mac:

it

After executing the format command, wait for the process to finish. Once it is complete, you can enter the command diskutil list again to verify whether the formatting was successful.

Format USB to exFAT or FAT32 on Mac! Why?

When formatting a USB, it's important to understand the different formatting options available for your ideal use. Here's a comparison of the most common file system formats supported by macOS for USB:

Users can choose different file system formats according to their needs. If you often share files between Windows and macOS systems, it is recommended to set the USB file system format to exFAT or FAT32.

Now, you can choose a suitable file system format as needed. Share this tutorial to help more of your friends:

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are three proven methods to help you format USB. When you manage USB on Mac, EaseUS Partition Master for Mac is highly recommended for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. It can simplifies the process of formatting and save your time and energy.

Whether a beginner or a seasoned professional, EaseUS Partition Master for Mac provides a reliable solution for all your disk management needs, enhancing your overall Mac experience.

FAQs About How to Format USB Flash Drive on Mac

To extend your knowledge about how to format a USB flash drive on Mac, we prepared some frequently asked questions to help you: 

1. Why should I format the USB with Windows and macOS?

It's best to format your USB drive as exFAT for cross-platform compatibility between Windows and macOS. exFAT is compatible with various operating systems, enabling users to easily share data between Windows PCs, Mac computers, and even Linux systems without reformatting. 

2. Can Mac format FAT32?

Yes. You can format drives as FAT32 in Disk Utility. Also, you can use Mac Command Line to format FAT32. If you want to know more details, you can refer to this blog: How to Format SD Card to FAT32 on Mac | 3 Ways.

3. Will formatting erase all data on my USB drive?

Yes. Formatting the drive permanently removes all data from the drive. So make sure to back up important files before formatting a USB drive to prevent data loss.