⚠️ : Formatting permanently erases all data on the drive. Back up your files before starting. 💻 Formatting on Windows (10 or 11)
To format an external hard drive, you can use the built-in tool on Windows or Disk Utility on macOS. Formatting clears all existing data and prepares the drive for a specific operating system by applying a file system like NTFS, APFS, or exFAT . Before You Begin: Back Up Your Data how to format external hard drive