Here in the below, well show you how to fix and repair not detectable or unrecognized wd my passport or other brands of the external hard drive to work again. The wd drive utilities software allows you to configure, manage, and recognize your wd drive. You can still open or copy files on the disk, but you cant save changes to files on the disk. And to connect your ntfsformatted my passport to macos, youll need to utilize a formatting tool. Then, after making sure that it is the windows ntfs file system that makes your external hard drive readonly on mac, you can go head to fix this problem. How to format a hard drive to work on mac and pc youtube. How to format a wd my passport ultra hard drive when you only have a mac. Here in the below, well show you how to fix and repair not detectable or unrecognized wd my passport or. You may only want to erase, but not format, because formatting will delete everything,including the wd files that came on the disk. Fat32 has several limitations, including a 4 gb perfile limit.
You delete these just as you have been doing all along. This guide introduces three common scenarios in which you might find your wd my passport external hard drive readonly on mac. The wd passport for mac is one of several drives that i use for backup on my macbook pro, so i do not need to. Oct 20, 2019 you re mad as hell because your new wd my passport drive is read only on your mac. The most common reasons for a readonly wd external hard drive, like wd my passport, are listed below. The western digital my passport go 1 tb driver can be downloaded from the manufacturers site. Protect personal data with this western digital my passport ultra drive for the mac. How to format wd external drive for mac apple community.
Nov 04, 2019 two effective ways to format wd passport for windows. It supports usbd connectors for superior transfer speeds, and the included security software offers multiple options to keep your files safe from prying eyes. And in 10 quick steps ill tell you how to format wd passport for mac. Plugged it back into my mac, time machine doesnt recognize it, and the mac only shows the wd unlocker on the desktop instead of it being a separate hd or disc. If you want a drive to backup your mac, you can get another wd hard disk and reformat it via the disk utility on the mac and it will be totally usable on the mac only. This wd my passport mac model is an evolution over the 2015 my passport ultra. Mypassport for macs seem to always be out of stock, so i bought the 4tb. Fat32 will let you directly plug the drive into both windows and mac. Yes but depending on what file format your format it with, u might not be able to write on it using or mac, only read. I mistakenly ordered the wd my passport ultra drive for windows instead of my passport for mac.
Oct 11, 2018 want to reformat my wd passport so i can use it on a pc instead of apple only. Im not sure because it will not mount on my desktop however, i can see it with disk utilities. I intend to use the drive with time machine for back ups. Fix and repair wd my passport ultra not detectedshowing. For a hard drive to be able to be read and written to in both a pc and mac computer, it must be formatted to exfat or fat32 file format.
It does not offer the ability to format a drive larger than 32gb to fat32, the only available choices are ntfs or exfat. To use a wd my passport on mac, you need to know how to reformat it. In other times, it suddenly became readonly after you have been using it for a while. In this video tutorial, i show you how to easily format an external hard drive to work on both a mac and a pc. Reformat wd my passport ultra for mac not apple community. On the mac, go to the app store and downloadinstall onedrive for mac and transfer your files in that fashion.
Wd support how to low level format or write zeros full erase to a wd hard drive or solid state drive you need to use wd smartware or wd drive utility to format your external drive. How to format a wd hard drive to exfat or fat32 file system. If you wish to create a partition that is cross compatible with mac computers as well as pcs, you can select either the msdos fils system format or the exfat format. If your product is not listed above, please visit the product page. Instead boldly claim that it is impossible to do so you cant reformat a wd drive and then wait for some expert to quickly and clearly prove you wrong with clear instructions on how to do it.
Wd smartware for windows supports the following operating. The my passport for mac drive is trusted, portable storage that perfectly complements your onthego lifestyle. Compatible with usbc and usba, the my passport for mac drive comes equipped to connect with todays latest technology. Access and save data quickly with this western digital my passport ultra drive for the mac. Sep 01, 2011 i show you how to format a western digital or any brandhard drive for use on any device be it a mac, pc, linux, ps3, xbox 360, etc. It has pretty much every bit of information i really hold dear, and on any mac computer i can find everything on it. Two effective ways to format wd passport for windows. Hi, when i plug my hd in to my x1, it can only store music, pictures, and video.
With a new, stylish design that fits in the palm of your hand, theres space to store, organize, and share all the photos. Pick your wd my passport in the external hard drive list. The my passport for mac drives builtin 256bit aes hardware encryption with password protection helps keep your digital lifes contents secure. Look for your wd my passport drive on your desktop. Format wd my passport for mac, 10 quick steps mactakeawaydata.
This reliable and good to excellent performing line has a long positive history with me. Good news if you want to use this one with another os or would like to use the nonmac one with a mac. If you are having a similar problem on your wd my passport ultra hard drive or other brands of external hard drive or devices, dont worry. Files cant be copied onto the backup disk because it appears to be read only. Or if you re desperate to know how to reformat wd my passport. Check if an external hard drive is ntfs formatted in the finder. Apr 16, 2020 format wd my passport using file explorer. How to unlock a wd external drive without a password ccm. The loss of data from your wd hard drive can be caused by numerous things.
Aside from the for mac branding on the box and back of the case i think it is exactly the same physical product as the regular my passport drive. Easily use your wd my passport for mac and windows in 7 steps. If these differences are not important for you or you prefer the old models aesthetics, you may want to get that one last years my passport ultra mac only up to 3tb depending on which is least expensive. Enter a name for the drive in the name field, select the mac os extended journaled option from the format dropdown list, and choose the guid partition map option from the scheme dropdown menu. Luckily, you can easily format wd my passport for your mac. Its windows 10ready out of the box to seamlessly deliver plugandplay storage, while password protection with hardware encryption helps enforce the security of your content. The my passport for mac drive includes usbc and usba cables, so you can save tomorrows content with the mac computers of both today and yesterday. Once completed, the erased drive will function on both windows and macintosh systems. How to erase my passport and reformat wd portable drives. Want to reformat my wd passport so i can use it on a pc. Its a compact external hard drive with 1 tb capacity coupled with high transmission speeds. If you want the older 4tb you ll need to get the pc model and reformat.
If you want to format your wd my passport to fat32, you must make sure that the size is smaller than 32gb. By formatting the passport as an exfat or fat32 drive, you. Now, click the erase, button and wait a few minutes and let the macos. Fix and repair wd my passport ultra not detectedshowing up. Equipped with usbc technology, the my passport ultra for mac portable drive offers an easy way to expand your storage with a modern metal design that complements your pc. My question is if i am able to set my hard drive to a format in which it can work on both windows and mac. Accidental deletion, disk formatting, computer corruption or damage, etc.
My passport external hard drive in exfat or fat32 format, you can bank. Apr 16, 2020 to format western digital my passport for mac or windows, you can rely on inbuilt applications of your system to format your wd my passport in exfat or fat32 format. Automatically if you only have the one locked my passport for mac drive connected. You re mad as hell because your new wd my passport drive is read only on your mac. You can also check this in the finder with a few clicks. The tips and shortcuts below will give you the necessary info and tidbits you need to format wd elements for mac. This western digital my passport ultra drive has a 4tb capacity for massive storage. So i have a my passport drive that i had back before my mac computer killed itself. Of course you can also format it specifically for mac or pc and only use it on one. If you run into the issue of not having enough space format it to be the ex fat as. Oct 07, 2019 aside from the for mac branding on the box and back of the case i think it is exactly the same physical product as the regular my passport drive. Mar 06, 2020 wd smartware is another great tool for recuperating access to your hard drive. Dec 27, 2016 on the mac, go to the app store and downloadinstall onedrive for mac and transfer your files in that fashion. Trying to use it on my girlfriends computer is a completely different matter.
I forgot my password which is why i need to reformat it, but like i said, i got a mac so now i want it for this too. Physical description as shown in figure 2, the my passport drive has. External hard drives are key in a content creatoryoutubers life. After you re done, dont forget to remove the external hard. Rather than send it back, id like to format it for my macbook air. How to format wd my passport for mac and pc easeus. To help the users of wd passport hard drive, western digital has provided its own software for backup called wd smartware. What you should know that formatting will erase all data on the drive. Before proceeding further, it is recommended to take a backup of your important files. How to reformat passport external hard drive from read only to read and write for use with mac computersimportant. As shown in figure 1, your my passport ultra for mac drive kit includes the following. Formatting wd my passport will not only allow you to have full storage of your wd my passport, but will also remove virusinfected files.
Sep 12, 2019 if you are having a similar problem on your wd my passport ultra hard drive or other brands of external hard drive or devices, dont worry. Im extremely frustrated because this drive is in a readonly mode. Want to reformat my wd passport so i can use it on a pc instead of apple only. External drive like wd elements, my book and my passport can be formatted to fat32 via this tool. Format western digital passport to fat32 with wd quick formatter wd quick formatter, also known as wd advanced format drivers afds, is an external hard drive format utility for windows and mac, developed by western digital technologies, inc. Here, you will find more information on how to erase the drive and unlock it. Wd my passport go 1tb setup and driver software installation. Free download western digital fat32 formatting tool for. Connect it, power it up, go to disk utility in applicationsutilities, select the wd disk on the left, go to the erase tab, and choose mac os.
How to reformat wd my passport for mac mediakits report not. You can format a drive as fat32, which would allow it to work on both windows and mac, but it wont do automatic backups, wont take files larger than 4gb and will have a high risk of data corruption. However, while doing this, there are things you have to keep in mind and follow the correct steps. How to format a wd my passport ultra hard drive when you. Once you click the erase button, the wd my passport hard drive will be formatted. To format western digital my passport for mac or windows, you can rely on inbuilt applications of your system to format your wd my passport in exfat or fat32 format.
We know, macs and windows have their native file systems such as the. Wd my passport troubleshooting mac format wd hard drive. May 21, 2018 in this video tutorial, i show you how to easily format an external hard drive to work on both a mac and a pc. If you want to use the drive with a mac computer, see reformatting the drive and troubleshooting. So, in the situation where you accidentally lost your files, the backup can be used to recover the files instantly. Choosing the right format for your external hard drive b. I then found the instructions to format it to mac but now whenever i connect it to a pc, it wont work. A confirmation screen opens, stating that all information on the drive will be lost if erased. You may need to repair or reformatt the disk using disk utility. It doesnt register that the drive even exists, though the device connected noise sounds. Oct 25, 2018 format western digital passport to fat32 with wd quick formatter wd quick formatter, also known as wd advanced format drivers afds, is an external hard drive format utility for windows and mac, developed by western digital technologies, inc. Sometimes, the wd external hard drive is readonly on mac when you just got a brand new wd external hard drive.
Disk drive format your my passport drive is formatted as a single ntfs partition for compatibility with all updated windows operating systems. If you want to use wd my passport or any other hard drive. You are best to erasedelete just the folders and files you put on the disk. Western digitals passport external drive for mac isnt eternally bound to macos. Format wd my passport for mac and pc with ms dos fat 32 or exfat. However, it only works with all versions of windows, but readonly with mac by default. Nov 21, 2019 the wd my passport drive is read only on your mac. You can rename the hard drive to whatever descriptive name you like then click.
How to format a wd my passport ultra hard drive when you only. Then, ill introduce you to workable and easy ways to format wd passport external hard drive, wd elements external hard drive and other external hard drives. If you are just going to use your drive on mac computers, you can select one of the mac os options. About your wd drive my passport for mac user manual 2. Wd passport external hd not recognized on windows 10. My passport external hard drive microsoft community. I have tried several data recovery programs, but they failed to search all lost files and couldnt perform the hard drive recovery. The my passport line of drives from western digital has been very good to me and my clients on mac, pc and linux systems. You can use it to backup all your files on the mac. Wd smartware is another great tool for recuperating access to your hard drive. Now, under the software for mac tab, select wd drive utilities for mac.
I show you how to format a western digital or any brandhard drive for use on any device be it a mac, pc, linux, ps3, xbox 360, etc. My passport ultra for mac portable hard drive kit components my passport ultra for mac portable hard drive, with the wd discovery, wd security and wd drive utilities software usb 3. If the wd my passport readonly on mac problem is caused by the ntfs file system, installing iboysoft ntfs for mac to edit, rename, delete the saved files and transfer files to the readonly wd my passport hard drive. Now, the erase dialogue window appears, here select the volume format dropdown list and choose msdos fat or exfat file system. You need to format your wd my passport ultra by using low level format. Under file system, choose the file system you want to use. How do i make my wd passport work on both windows and mac.
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