If you want to be able to work with your hard drive on both Mac- and Windows-based computers, then you will have to choose other formats. If you are only going to use the hard drive on your Mac, then you should choose the HFS+ format. There are also FAT32 and ExFAT formats, which are compatible with both operating systems. Mac computers use a different file system called HFS+. For example, if you buy a new HDD, you will most likely first have to format the external disk to be able to use it on your Mac. This often causes difficulties when opening external drives on a Mac. If your old Mac is still acting up and you've decided you want to upgrade, check out our roundup of the best MacBooks available now.Why do you need to reformat an external hard drive for your Mac?īy default, most models of hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs) are formatted for a Windows operating system.

If you want to get back to the desktop, follow the prompts as if you were setting up your MacBook for the first time. Now you know how to factory reset a MacBook or any Mac computer!įrom here, if you’re looking to sell your computer, you’re all done - no need to worry about the new owner getting into your files or apps. Here, you can unpair keyboards, headphones or other Bluetooth-enabled peripherals. Go to the Apple menu > System Preferences and choose Bluetooth. Open the Messages app, choose Messages then Preferences. Choose iCloud from the side panel and Turn off Find my Mac. Hit the Apple menu, go to System Preferences then click the Apple ID. If you're running the latest macOS, you can skip this step. Choose Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. If you don't back up your data, it will disappear into the ether when you perform a factory reset. Creating a backup will protect your most valuable files. We can't overstate the importance of this step. Here are some things to consider doing before you reset your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. These pointers will ensure that you don't lose any personal files, photos or apps when you move from one MacBook to another. The guide above is focused on resetting your MacBook, but there are recommended actions to take before factory resetting your MacBook that you should be aware of.

How to reformat macbook pro 2017