I have a MBP M1. Just got a new 1tb external SSD. When I go to disk utility to format it shows it is formatted in ExFAT. The other options are - ms-dos (FAT - Mac OS Extended (journaled) - Mac OS Extended (Case sensitive, Journaled). Obviously I know it won't be the MS-DOS, just not sure of which one of the others to use. Thanks, Mike
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Which format for an external SSD with MBP M1?
- Thread starter mikeyinokc
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Sure it is. You might need to format it to Mac OS Extended first, then APFS will show up as an option. So you'll have to format it twice to ultimately end up with APFS
@newadventure newbie 
is correct. Use Journaled Extended and then APFS option will show for further formatting, if so desired.
is correct. Use Journaled Extended and then APFS option will show for further formatting, if so desired.APFS is the best option but it didn't appear for me when plugging in a new Samsung T7 drive. Rather than format macExtended then trying to reformat in APFS, you can open a Terminal window and format the new drive from the command line:
Step 1) Identify the number for the newdrive with the command (something like disk5, where 5 is the number you want to use)
Step 2) Format the new drive with
Remember to replace the # with the number for your new drive, and replace NewDriveName with whatever label you want the new drive to have.
Step 1) Identify the number for the newdrive with the command (something like disk5, where 5 is the number you want to use)
Code:
diskutil listStep 2) Format the new drive with
Code:
diskutil apfs addVolume disk# APFS NewDriveNameRemember to replace the # with the number for your new drive, and replace NewDriveName with whatever label you want the new drive to have.
You need to select GUID partition table in “Scheme” box, then APFS will show up.
Be sure to select the new drive at the top device level in Disk Utility. You might need to select View > Show all devices to do this.
If it arrived EX-FAT it is probably MBR at the moment.
One thing to keep in mind - will you use the external SSD only with Macs?
If so, use a MacOS format like has been mentioned above.
If you think you may use the external SSD with Windows or Linux, then ExFAT may be a good option (I have used ExFAT on my external HDDs and SSDs for this very reason since I have windows and Linux PCs), or do some research to see if the MacOS formats are supported on the other operating systems you use..
Thanks, didn't know that would get it there...
Thanks, Mike..That did the trick. Going to the top device level and Scheme works.
In a related question (I have searched but could not find an exact answer that was not Time Machine related), in Big Sur I have noticed that Mac OS Extended Encrypted no longer seems to be an option. Is it now recommended to format external spinning hard disks as APFS encrypted in Big Sur?
I'm pretty sure I tried formatting an external disk using Mac OS Extended without encryption, which worked. After being formatted, from the finder, I chose to encrypt the disk, and then it converted it to APFS anyway.
I'm pretty sure I tried formatting an external disk using Mac OS Extended without encryption, which worked. After being formatted, from the finder, I chose to encrypt the disk, and then it converted it to APFS anyway.
I believe TimeMachine in Big Sur only works with APFS now. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Time Machine in Big Sur will carry on working with an HFS+ backup started in Catalina, but if you start a new back up it will format the backup drive APFS case sensitive.
Ah ok that makes sense. I had started a new Time Machine backup with Big Sur and the only option was APFS.