external hard drive time machine compatibility

macOS Sierra (version 10.12) and earlier use HFS+ by default.ĪPFS (Apple File System) is an Apple file system optimized for solid state drives (SSDs) and flash-based storage systems, though it also works with hard disk drives (HDDs).

Mac OS Extended (also known as Heirarchical File System Plus or HFS+) is an Apple file system used since 1998 for mechanical and hybrid internal drives. Optimized performance for macOSĪpple offers two proprietary file systems. If you need more versatility than this one-way transfer with Macs, consider exFAT. This means your Mac can copy files from an NTFS-formatted drive, but it can't add files to or remove files from the drive. macOS can read NTFS volumes, but it can't natively write to them. NTFS (New Technology File System) is a proprietary journaling file system for Windows. exFAT is not a journaled file system, which means it can be more susceptible to data corruption when errors occur or the drive is not disconnected properly from the computer.If you want to use one of these backup utilities, you should format the drive in the native file system for the computer running the utility. exFAT is not compatible or recommended for built-in backup utilities such as File History (Windows) and Time Machine (macOS).While exFAT offers cross-platform access to both computers, keep in mind the following: If you use your drive with both PCs and Macs, format your drive in exFAT. Performance-You connect your drive with only one type of computer, so you can optimize file copy performance by formatting the drive in the native file system for your computer operating system.ĮxFAT is a lightweight file system compatible with all versions of Windows and modern versions of macOS.Compatibility-You need a cross-platform format because you connect your drive to both PCs and Macs.When choosing a file system format, consider whether compatibility or performance is more important in your everyday use of the drive. Your device is preformatted exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) for compatibility with both Mac and Windows computers.

External hard drive time machine compatibility