How To Format And Use a USB Flash Drive On Your Mac

[@venuvenkateshbabu4219]

can you please show me amazon link for the USB flash drive that you have showed in the video?

[@macmost]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XC1WGQR

[@_birdy_birdy]

format starts from here 4:50

[@BigNix83]

Bless you!

[@HeartASMRofficial]

That was the clearest most straight forward no fluff video ever! Thank you so much!!! Xxx

[@sameerkarimi6895]

Thanks, Buddy, It really works!

[@HerbieMac]

Thanks for this video. I'm still trying to figure this stuff out.

[@Kazyman]

One instructional directive from you & hurdle cleared. MUCH THX! Major props!

[@Nicolas_G.]

Sooo clear and useful. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!

[@DeanBothaMusic]

Thank you so much!!! I must have watched 10 videos now and none of them actually explained how to format the drive.

[@0819nutterbutter]

YOU ARE A GOD. THANKS MAN!! :D Been at this for over an hour.

[@JohnWilliams-du8ol]

Very helpful.. Thank you - this told me stuff that I should have known for years!

[@alexroman-j3g]

Great video.. can I still fortmat my flash drive if I have video files in it? I have some videos that do not open in my Mac and Macbook pro, and believe it's because of its formatting.. will I lose my files if I format it?

[@macmost]

Formatting a drive erases it. Move the files elsewhere first, format, then move them back.

[@sophiakim2537]

when i took out my usb and put it back in for the second time of use i couldnt see the usb file on my screen but the first time i put it in it worked, what should i do? edit: i realised the light wasnt on my usb so i plugged it in again and it worked

[@UltimateTrackMom]

Thank you ,This Info helped me a lot. Just what I was looking for.

[@JoshConnectMedia]

Nice straight and straight forward even though it was in 2020.

[@ryanpeters3289]

Adapter, USB Hub, Convertor

[@CanadianOptionsTrader]

You didn't say which Partition Scheme to use!!!?

[@macmost]

Don't change it from the default. For instance, for Mac use, GUID.

[@mama2LA]

Excellent video, Gary! Thank you! You answered all my questions in this video. It’s been ages since I’ve used a flash drive and needed a nice calm, thorough tutorial, just like you provided. New subscriber! 🤓

[@sebastiantaylor8671]

TYSM you have helped me so much with everything and if I ever have a problem with my MAC I always go to you

[@burn1nfinite]

I’m bummed I can’t format it to ntfs

[@jerrypuckett7303]

As a 70 year old male and PC user up to now, I want to THANK YOU!! I'm subscribed and will watch more of your videos.

[@bernarditu]

Good explanation because you covered the possibilities when things don`t work smoothly and the various options you have. Thanks so much!!

[@namibiacodegeek]

Thank you Well said Sir .

[@actcitynewsvijayawada7537]

THANQ its working

[@ladypeg]

Thank you so much for the lesson.... You just taught this old dog new tricks in a way that it was easy to understand..... I'll be watching from now on. Peggy

[@dmpag7000]

Thank You - You have the best instruction videos

[@kijuanadams5650]

thanks man i needed that

[@Nixxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Thanks much saved my day

[@marcosmartinez3060]

thanks so much for sharing your computing knowledge!

[@Expresscuisine]

Thanks, it was so useful 💯👍🏼

[@audacityfilmsproductions5334]

THANK YOUUU

[@miguelcortez7808]

thank you kind sir

[@eslresources]

Thanks so much. This video really helped me!

[@GeorgeHzMusic]

Sir, You are the best

[@kingtahasin6098]

Really helpful. Thanks!

[@alberta4941]

Very informative. I was very surprised on how you made the video with all the information. Thank you

[@TheSingingCelebrant]

trying to boot from my USB as I'm using old Mac Pro but cannot get it to boot from USB ANY suggestions please?

[@sjacksonharris8290]

Thank you!! 😭

[@herenowjal]

Thanks for this very informative and helpful video ...

[@thesuprari]

Thanks!

[@lindalarrowebergersen7132]

After viewing 5 other videos you did it! My flashes now show up. thanks

[@olegdovbush206]

Thank you !!!

[@javtimestwo]

Gary-great video and just what I needed. bought my 1st USB flash drive this month and it works with A and C, just like yours. I never knew the drive could be formatted. Seems easy to use EXFAT so that it supports both. Thank you!

[@KSA21Geladettor]

Thank u Gary

[@davidconnell1959]

THANK YOU!!!

[@wassup102]

Thanks sir

[@salamecas5293]

thanks

[@alismith8508]

Thank you for this video. Finally I understand and have solved my problems.

[@ramonmustapha8240]

Thank You !

[@larrysimassr7492]

Thanks Gary :-) I've yet to see a video that I've not learned something!! Shalom :-)

[@JeremyWilliamson]

@Macmostvideo WHAT ABOUT THIS.... my USB Flash drive is recognized and all... BUT IT IS NOT WRITABLE!!! When I try to ERASE it in Disk Utility, I get this error message every time!!: ~~~~ Erasing "---disk name--" (disk4) and creating "--new disk name--" A writable disk is required. : (-69772) Operation failed... ~~~~~ I JUST BOUGHT THIS THING... and IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I OPENED IT!!! :( #WhatCanIDO??

[@macmost]

What are you doing, exactly, to erase the drive? In Disk Utility, are you selecting the actual drive, or a container? Do this: go to View, Show All Devices. Now select the top level of the drive, not a container on it, and try to erase.

[@zikamikakokoku]

Your videos helped me a lot!

[@johnknapp86]

Thank you Gary!!! Huge help!!!!

[@seanzappulla71]

This is very easy. I do it all the time.

[@jameskypros1978]

Great explanation buddy, not to fast and showed me options i didn't know look forward to watch the other video's

[@NickP]

I tried this on my iMac with macOS Ventura 13.6.3 and it failed to erase my new SAN Disk USB 3.0…. Help lol

[@NickP]

I don’t see APFS options, only 2 options for Mac OS Extended (journaled) and (case-sensitive journaled) along w the two windows options.

[@macmost]

@@NickP Make sure you choose View, Show All Devices. Then select the drive itself, not the volumes on it.

[@NickP]

@@macmost I figured it out thanks… I did that at first and it still didn’t allow.. I had to force eject and then reinstall the flash drive and then it worked because it wasn’t stuck in “running” limbo lol Thanks

[@galeelraglen]

Thank you :)

[@aungkyawwai9732]

hey people please help me. I don't see anything in location part and I can't find my usb name too

[@mercyshere2366]

Thank you so much! Worked perfectly!

[@gamite7509]

This is my first video, yesterday I bought a Mac, I wanted to create a recovery USB drive, I searched how to format a drive and I saw this complete guide. Thank you so much dude! You earnt a sub and a like!!

[@DigitalimageryTV]

Thank you!

[@aliciabonneville5210]

Helpful!

[@geezerdombroadcast]

"MAN IS BRILLIANT!" Thanks for helping my sorry old ass out of the USB swamp. #1 Macs are to damned expensive! #2 They sure do make things easy. Those of us with slightly elevated (neanderthal DNA base pairs than most : ) Those over 50-60 have a difficult time fathoming the Niagara Falls of new technology at the same rate of learning. Worth noting? They are more likely to be less socially engaged. They often miss the constant flow of shared information of busier days. They are most definitely not stupid, just retired, gone fishing, cruising, or in the case of so many seniors shopping at the super discount store for sustenance etc. Happens all the time.. They're statistically more likely to be isolated from the (MASS) of communicators : Youth / students in high school /universities / workplaces, / social media sites / sewers of every sort. Some are at least civilized , but theres lots of poison garbage out there, and I'm not the church lady. Seniors need help recording the millions of songs that make up all our lives. You shouldn't have to listen to country music just because your in white supremest Idaho, or Heavy metal just because your old car radio can only get one station. : ) There's (MONEY ) to be made for people looking for a good legal socially beneficial way to make money honestly and make and old farts day. "Because the rocky mountain way is better than the way we had " : - ) set up a mobile or centralized little shop where people can bring their own flash drive to be loaded "FOR THEM" with songs purchased by license. To many seniors; it's just plain tech torture. Loading songs for them Makes their life easier, and you make a buck or two, ("reasonable profit"). Everybody's happy.

[@LensaHobi]

Thankyou

[@Doug-lr1wm]

Gary I am a new MACBOOK owner today was day one. After setting up this new MacBook I spent several hours watching your videos. Wow what a lifesaver you were for me I believe I am security wise now! As others have said I will continue watching your great content!

[@macmost]

Glad to help

[@vadimluhovoi9586]

Thanks a lot, you saved my time! :)

[@robcharlesrandoms7301]

A bit long to get to the point of trying to format a usb stick. 3.3o & still no information yet!

[@para7429]

Hello there, I have a 2TB USB and I have changed the settings to MS-DOS Fat32 so I can play movies on my TV, however, the drive only takes a certain amount and then other folders I put across appear empty and no files can be shown or seen (but space is taken up??) I never have issues with other smaller size USB's at this setting. I got the larger size to lessen the amount of times I have to erase the smaller sizes. Can you offer any advice on how to fix this issue please. I have searched everywhere on youtube and I have come up blank. By the way, this is for a mac computer. Many Thanks

[@macmost]

I think FAT32 only supports 32GB in size. If your TV only works with FAT32, then you are limited. Why not get a streaming device like Apple TV so you can just stream directly to the TV without messing about with drives that need to be physically connected?

[@shahilkumar4520]

guys my format doesn’t change. everytime i do this and erase it and go back on it to check it shows me the format is was on before. what do i do

[@carlisclinton6062]

Great help, a lot more than just how to format. All I needed was the format, but very helpful, thank you.

[@tonyayork9976]

Good video. I'm trying to figure out how to download a large file directly to my external flash drive? I have minimal space left on my MacBook and so with to download a large file direct to flash drive. Really confused how to do this on a Mac, used to be a PC user....Can you assist?

[@macmost]

Control+click on the link to the file (AKA right click or two fingers on the trackpad) and then select the option to download to a location. Then select the folder on the external drive where you want it to go.

[@amritanicolemarketing6684]

Gary, how do we access the Patreon discount you mentioned? It comes up as an insecure site and then on your macmost website there is nothing about the discount. Please specify, I was just yesterday contemplating their services! Thanks for this tutorial, I subscribed!

[@macmost]

To join Club MacMost on Patreon, go to patreon.com/macmost . Then you get a new coupon at the start of each month. See macmost.com/club-macmost-faq

[@Farish14]

I have a question: What would happen if you change your USB to Exfat and use it on a school windows computer?

[@macmost]

Not sure what you mean by "what would happen." Changing the format would mean erasing the drive, for one. But once it was ExFAT you could use it on Windows, and you can use it on Mac too, though only for basic file storage.

[@DarylSkinner]

You can buy a converter for the mac

[@brandonvalle2283]

Oh my God Gary! Astonishing work! You showed me what I needed to know and more. That command key tip is gonna go a long way for what I was trying to get done. Tysm! 🤙

[@beverlymulhall6315]

Thank you for teaching me how to work with flash drives on my Mac. Now I have to figure out how to take the photos from the flash drive and play them on my tv like a pan digital frame! Lol

[@sofiaposadac]

Can you do the same thing but on a windows? I need to format my flash disk as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) so that I can use it as scratch disk on photoshop but I have a windows computer and cant find any videos on how to do so. Please and thank you.

[@macmost]

I don't think you can. Even if you could, what would be the point? If you have Windows, you wouldn't be able to access it if it was Mac OS Extended.

[@hmaustips9742]

Thanks Gary. We're trying to format a bunch of USB A/C 3.0 drives for our Mac club. We want them to also be able to read on an iPad. Would ExFAT GUID be the best format? Do we format both the partition and the main thumbdrive levels the same? We're having problem with very slow transfer (30 - 40 min for 9 GB) or running First aid on the partition and coming up with Unable to unmount. Sometimes drive doesn't show on desktop. Is it how we're formatting or the drives? Thank you. We're so confused!

[@macmost]

ExFAT is for Windows. iPad should be OK with them, but why use a Windows format? If these are for iPad, use APFS. See support.apple.com/guide/ipad/external-storage-devices-ipad75b7b23f/ipados It sounds to me like these are poor Flash drives. These cheap drives are handy, but they slow down a ton when they get hot, and they get hot almost immediately. Then sometimes they stop working completely. Sounds like a bad batch or just a poorly-made device.

[@hmaustips9742]

@@macmost We're realizing that and had paid extra for 3.0. Thanks Gary.

[@andyturner7963]

Just came across your channel and info what format is ok to use I am copying music from a cd unit to the usb but need r To format it as it has old music on it any help

[@macmost]

Depends on what you will be plugging the drive into. Consult the docs for that device to see what it requires.

[@mac814u]

to reformat you didn't say how to get out of the erase without erasing, you jumped to another subject, I don't want to erase the flash drive I need to reformat it so it will play on other devices other than my Mac

[@macmost]

You reformat by erasing. You can't reformat with the data in place. So get the data off of it (move to to another drive or location where it is safe and check that you have it), then reformat the empty drive.

[@CokeusDemain]

Váyase señor Cuesta, váyase

[@ləxical]

How do you drag around files and folders, and still keep them in the same position that you put them in when you put the USB back in? It automatically puts them in rows and columns again when I unplug it and put it back in, versus the custom positions I need them in to organize them.

[@jimloader3920]

Thanks for the excellent video. I would like to know how to save .jpg photo files to print at Walmart? I have Mac OS X Catalina and Kingston USB. I've tried 2 different Walmarts and another drug store and the photos are not recognized. I formatted as MSDOS fat and EXFAT, believing that Walmart is more friendly to Windows. Should I be saving in a Mac format? Any help would be appreciated.

[@macmost]

Sorry, I don't know. I would think that FAT would work. You'd have to ask them.

[@jimloader3920]

@@macmost Thanks, I haven't found any employee at Walmart that can answer that question. I'll try somewhere else.

[@JerryAyon-jo4ts]

Can I keep adding new files to the same USB flash drive stick?

[@macmost]

As long as there is space for them, of course. It works just like any other external drive.

[@womenswellness1577]

What are the OTHER 960 GB ~ this has always been my issue with Mac!! How does Other get filled up and how do you get rid of it? Apple has not been able to help me with this question! thank you

[@Chipbayles]

I don’t even have an option for that format. Literally gives me 4 options.

[@macmost]

In Disk Utility, choose View, Show All Devices. Then make sure you have the drive selected, not a volume/partition inside the drive.

[@j.j4090]

If the flash drive is already formatted as FAT32 from a windows Pc with stuff on it, would it work on a Mac? Or should it be reformatted to exFAT?

[@macmost]

You can use it, but not everything will work well and there are limitations. If you plan on using it only for your Mac from now on, I would copy the data off of the drive, erase it and format as APFS, and then put the files back on it after.

[@j.j4090]

@@macmost would I be able to plug the F32 drive in the Mac, and put a second drive in and format it to APFS, and just drag/copy everything from the FAT32 drive to the APFS one?

[@macmost]

@@j.j4090 Sure.

[@guyazulay]

What about iPad? How i can format ?Start videos on ipad as well it will be very successful

[@macmost]

I did a bunch of tutorials on the iPad back when iPadOS came out -- to covert the new stuff -- back in October. I also came out with a while iPadOS course at that time. I've never tried to format or erase a drive on the iPad though. That may not be a feature yet.

[@jryan6178]

WOW! YOU have to be the most comprehensive HOW TO I have founfd .. and boy have I been looking! I do have a question ... I need to free up a ton of space on my macbook pro ... Is it possible to take ALL the photos on my mac onto a USBC? Then delete them from my mac? SAFELY? ...

[@greatogbuagu1370]

next time go straight to the point!!!!

[@gusttavoo]

To eject, I’m able to click and drag to the “trash”. It changes the icon to eject. Is this still safe to do?

[@macmost]

Yes. That ways has been around for a long time. Usually it is easier to use the little eject button in the Finder sidebar.

[@ernietollar407]

I still can't find this USB disk anywhere, why ? tnx

[@macmost]

Do you mean it doesn't show up in the Finder or in Disk Utility? Perhaps it is broken.

[@_spectaecular6625]

Um Question. I brought a PNY attaché USB 2.0 flags drive and I wanna only use it for extra storage... So will the same instructions help? (I just immediately found I needed space on my Macbook Air so this is new for me).

[@crying_hippy]

I’m new to Mac and what a trip, I do t know what I’m doing and thought I need a special usb drive or sd card for Mac and I just spent cash on iCloud storage So I can just use any usb thumb drive and I’m good to go? I have a usb external flash drive 2 TB but it won’t let me drag files over from Mac, that’s why I thought I needed a special drive If I use the external drive I have now it tells me to format it but I’ll loose all the data on it now and don’t have enough cloud space to transfer before I do, I think there’s over 500gigs on it So only option is another external flash drive or a usb one and I saw a 128 gig istick for $80 What ya think I should do? Thanks man

[@macmost]

If the drive is formatted something Windows-specific, like NTFS, then you can't write to it. Can't advise you on what you should do. That depends on a lot of factors I don't know about.

[@crying_hippy]

@@macmost Just want to know how to free up space as cheeps possible, so a usb drive is the way to go I guess or external hard drive thats compatible with Mac. Thought I'd just ask the expert in case there was something I missed and this 2 TB hard drive doesn't go to waste, it will allow me to format it, but I have no where to put over 500G of videos, its all for court too in future once I pick through them and decide on what to keep and what to check out. Maybe someone else know? Or is that it, USB, External HD or iCloud?

[@macmost]

@@crying_hippy If money isn't a factor, get another drive and format it for Mac before transferring data there. If money is a factor then borrow a drive some someone, carefully move your data to that drive, reformat your drive for Mac, then move your data back. Stick with an actual drive as a Flash drive or SD card will be much slower. Another option is to take it to an expert who can first access what you really need, and if it is the problem then transfer the data to a temporary location, reformat your drive, and then transfer it back for you.

[@crying_hippy]

@@macmost Thanks Brother and I Midas well get a 2nd drive and have it just for Mac and other for windows, the boxing day sales are coming soon too after Christmas to save some cash with a sale. Do you recommend a drive for Mac maybe from best buy? Thanks again and be Blessed

[@macmost]

​@@crying_hippy I don't have a recommendation since I don't review products.

[@angelajolie1626]

hi! i can not see my usb on finder. does that mean my usb is broken? is there a way to fix this?

[@macmost]

Perhaps. Look in Disk Utility to see if you see it there and can use the Mount button with it selected. Also try a different USB port too.

[@SugaHoneyIceTea36]

Will try reformatting. Stood in one of those express photo print stands and it wouldn’t recognize the photos. from my MacBook

[@teresahaugen3974]

Time for an idiot question, I was given a flash drive with music on it. I plugged it into my Mac and nothing happens. No music. What am I doing wrong?

[@CAMILOH]

Thanks

[@melissagarcia3998]

why all of these videos do not mention when reformatting files are erased!

[@macmost]

The button is named "Erase."

[@pineappleroad]

ive known some people on windows to just remove the drive while a file is still being written to the drive (I remember when i was at school x number of years ago the teacher asked us to save a copy of our work to the USB, and when the USB was passed to me, when i put a copy of my work on the drive i noticed that there were some corrupted files on the drive)

[@SC-kq9zf]

Gary, Great video, I am seeing it second time since I need to do some related work. One point off the subject, if you can tell us which brand USB is good to have both USB A and C in two sides