Fix: This Volume is Not Formatted as APFS Issue [2020] - Saint (2023)

Keep getting the message “This volume is not formatted as APFS”?

If you are not familiar with APFS, it is a new file system developed by Apple which stands for Apple File System. Since the rise of micro design computers, they found a way to optimize SSD and flash memory through this. It is faster when it comes to data transfer as compared to older version file systems.

However, with this new improved file system, there is a slight disadvantage. Several Mac users have reported the issues that they’ve been constantly been getting the “This volume is not formatted as APFS” message. Now it’s important to note that APFS format is not backwards compatible with older version file systems. Transferring files from a hard drive that is using the old version file systems to APFS formatted disk is unsupported. Hence, we will need to convert your drive to APFS to remove that message being repeatedly thrown at your face. But the question is how do you convert your drive to APFS?

In this guide, we will be going over how you can fix the issues as well share a few alternative ways including formatting your existing drive to APFS in order to remove the annoying pop-up message once and for all.

Without wasting another second, let’s dive in!

Use Disk Utility App to Erase and Format
Convert the Drive Using a Bootable Backup Drive
Format the Drive Using Internet Recovery
Reach Out to Apple for Support

How to Fix This Volume is Not Formatted as APFS: 4 Ways

1. Use Disk Utility to Erase and Format.

If you know someone who uses macOS Sierra or other similar macOS, you can actually use their computer to convert your drive to APFS format. The possible reason why your conversion option to APFS is greyed out is that you are using the hard drive to process. The concept of this is similar to your computer operating system. Your computer does not allow you to tamper the system files to prevent malfunctioning while you are using it.

However, since you are using another computer to do this for you, the process of conversion is now possible. But it’s essential that you know how to remove your hard drive from your computer and put it in a drive enclosure (sounds complex, we know, but bear with us 😅). If you know how to do it, you can use this method to convert your hard drive. The same process is also applicable to convert your external hard drives and flash disks to APFS. Again if this all sounds complex and nerdy for you, simply follow along with the below steps in order to achieve it.

Note

(Video) How to Fix (This volume is not formatted as APFS Error) On Any Mac!

We strongly recommend that you back up your files on your macOS computerbefore you proceed with the steps below. This is because we will be erasing the disk and then reformating it to the APFS format which will erase all the data on your Mac. Alternative less risky solutions are provided below in this post so be sure to go through the entire guide first before settling down on a solution!

Here’s how you can do it:

Go ahead and click on the Spotlight Search icon and search for Disk Utility to launch the app.

Then, find and select your external hard drive on the hard drive list on the left side section. Click on the Erase option.
Finally, rename your hard drive that is erased and change the value on the Format option to APFS format. Click on the Erase button.

With the old format deleted and after having converted your drive to APFS, this should definitely remove the file system compatibility issues as well as the annoying “This volume is not formatted as APFS” message you keep getting. For your hard drive, you will be able to proceed and install the latest macOS version that uses the APFS file system.

2. Convert the Drive Using a Bootable Backup Drive.

Another method that you can use is to convert your drive to use a macOS bootable disk. If you don’t have another macOS computer to use to format your drive, then this method is suitable.

You will still, however, need to load the Disk Utility app from another source so you can make changes to your hard drive. The use of your external hard drive, or possibly use a flash disk if capacity is enough in order to make this happen.

Now again, before you do this, you must back up your data on your Mac, since you will be cloning the hard drive, once you are done with the backup and then deleting all the large files on your computer to lessen the time of the cloning process. Don’t worry, you can restore all your files from the back up after the process, so you’re not essentially losing anything from trying this. 🙂

(Video) Mac: Formatting a Drive with APFS

Here’s how you can do it:

First, connect your computer to the internet using Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable. Download the SuperDuper app into your macOS computer.

Then, click on agree to the licensing terms option. Drag the SuperDuper app to the Applications folder and launch it.
Next, create a clone of your hard drive and select your main hard drive in the first drop-down menu. Then, select the backup drive in the second drop-down menu and Backup – all files option in the third.

Now, click on the Copy Now option and wait for the cloning process to complete. This will take a few hours depending on how many files you have on your computer.
Once the process is done, click on the Apple menu icon, then System Preferences and click on the Startup Disk. Select the backup disk as the bootable drive and restart your computer.

During the startup process, press and hold the Command and R keys until the computer reboots again and open the Recovery Mode screen.
Then, click on Disk Utility on the macOS Utilities screen and click on the Continue option.

Select the main hard drive on your computer on the list of drives found in the left side section of the screen.
Click the > icon beside the hard drive label to view drive partitions that are currently installed in the drive.
Next, select the OS partition and click on the File option, then click Unmount. Do the same process for the other partition and the Bootcamp partition under the hard drive if there’s any.

After that, select the main partition and click the Edit option from the top menu. Find and click the Convert to APFS option from the drop-down menu.
Finally, click the Convert button from the message prompt to confirm the process. Wait for the conversion process and click on the Done option after the process.

Now you can proceed to install the newest macOS using the bootable disk. Restart the Mac and as your Mac restarts, press and hold on the Option key on your keyboard to select the startup disk. You can now click on your bootable disk with the installed macOS from the list of startup disk option. Then, click on Continue to install the macOS on your computer. Agree on the licensing terms and your computer will begin working as normal.

3. Format the Drive Using Internet Recovery.

Alternatively, you can also make changes on your hard drive to load the Disk Utility using the internet recovery method. Again, this method does not rely on your hard drive to load the utility app. Instead, it gets the data from the internet. Thus, you will be able to convert your hard drive from your computer with no restrictions.

(Video) 2 Easy Ways to Convert HFS/HFS+ to APFS Without Losing Data

It is also possible that the reason why your conversion to the APFS option is not available is that your Mac version is outdated. Since this method is loading from the Apple server via the internet, you can be sure that the Disk Utility app is up to date. With the latest version, there is an option to convert your hard drive to APFS.

Here’s how you can do it:

Go ahead and make sure to connect your computer to the internet using Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable.
Then, shut down the computer by clicking on the Apple menu icon and click on the Shutdown option.
Next, press and hold the Option + Command + R keys (or Alt + Command + R in other Mac keyboards) and press the Power button.
Now, hold down those keys until a spinning globe appears on the screen and the message “Starting Internet Recovery. This may take a while” prompts.

Wait for the progress bar to fill until you see the macOS Utilities screen appears.
Then, click on Disk Utility on the macOS Utilities screen and click on the Continue option.

Select the hard drive you want to edit on the list of drives found in the left side section of the screen.
Click the > icon beside the hard drive label to view drive partitions that are currently installed in the drive.
Next, select the OS partition and click on the File option, then click Unmount. Do the same process for the other partition and the Bootcamp partition under the hard drive (if there is any).

After that, select the main partition and click the Edit option from the top menu. Find and click the Convert to APFS option from the drop-down menu.
Click the Convert button from the message prompt to confirm the process. Wait for the conversion process and click on the Done option after the process.

You can also opt to select the current startup disk and click on the Erase option at the top portion of the screen. Label the drive and choose APFS from the list of file systems. After that, just click on the Erase button to confirm the deletion process. This will delete the drive but will convert your drive to the APFS file system.

Now you may proceed to install your macOS using APFS format using a bootable disk. You can then plug in your external hard drive that has your backup and restore it using the Migration Assistant app.

4. Reach Out to Apple for Support.

If you are not familiar with the technicalities of the process, it is better to have an expert handle this for you. You can visit your nearest Apple Store where Apple-certified technicians will be able to help you. They are capable of handling issues on the application, operating system, and hardware level. Be sure to check your warranty options for your Mac before you visit.

(Video) How-to: Format Your SSD as APFS on Mac

However, if you don’t have an Apple Store near you, check out the available support in your country. You can choose to set up an appointment for repair online so Apple-certified technicians can complete this process for you remotely. The only caveat to this is that you will have to send them your device through a carrier where they can fix it in their lab. Don’t worry, you will be able to monitor the repair progress online through their website.

And this wraps up our guide for today. We hope that this article has helped you with how to fix this volume is not formatted as AFPS issue on your Mac. Thank you for reading this guide and for your continuous support. If you have questions related to this topic, please feel free to leave a comment below.

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Jake Kovoor
(Video) How to Convert to APFS on macOS High Sierra
Jake is the Editor-in-Chief of Saint and an independent software developer, with a Bachelors in Computer Science from Lancaster University, UK. He loves trying out various tech from the Flipper Zero to coding Raspberry Pis for automation. He started Saint back in 2016, having written over 100 posts, with the sole purpose of creating guides for software that had yet to exist back then to help users navigate around their technical problems.

FAQs

What does it mean this volume is not formatted as APFS? ›

"This Volume is Not Formatted as APFS" is a complex issue that means your drive uses the old format. In this case, your system can?t benefit from the updated drive optimization features and you are unable to upgrade macOS or share files with other APFS drives.

Read On ›

How do I change the volume on my APFS? ›

Each volume you add to an APFS container can have a different APFS format, if needed.

In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, select an existing APFS volume in the sidebar, then click the Add Volume button in the toolbar. ...
Enter a name for the new APFS volume.
Click the Format pop-up menu, then choose an APFS format.

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Show Me More ›

How do I convert volume to APFS on Mac? ›

The process is very simple to do in Disk Utility.

Navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
In the left panel, select this external hard drive.
On the top pane, click the "Eidt" menu and select "Convert to APFS" options in the list.

Mar 27, 2023

How do I get rid of APFS volume? ›

Delete an APFS volume

In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, select the APFS volume you want to delete in the sidebar. If Disk Utility isn't open, click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, type Disk Utility in the Search field, then click the Disk Utility icon . Click the Delete Volume button in the toolbar.

Tell Me More ›

Can all drives be formatted to APFS? ›

While APFS is optimized for the Flash/SSD storage used in recent Mac computers, it can also be used with older systems with traditional hard disk drives (HDD) and external, direct-attached storage. macOS 10.13 or later supports APFS for both bootable and data volumes.

Find Out More ›

How do I know if my Mac is using APFS? ›

If the "file system is a newer version" and is labeled as "Apple File System" then your startup disk is using APFS and is not currently rebuildable.

Is Mac OS Extended journaled the same as APFS? ›

The main difference between the two is that the APFS format is faster, while the Mac Os Journaled format can work on any Mac Os since it has reverse compatibility. APFS works mainly with SSD and flash drives whereas Mac Os extended is mostly used on Mechanical hard drives.

How do I get the volume to work on my Mac? ›

Check your sound settings

From the Apple menu , choose System Settings (or System Preferences).
Click Sound.
Click the Output tab, then select the built-in speakers. ...
If the Output volume slider is set low, move the slider to the right and test again.
If the Mute checkbox is selected, deselect it and test again.

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Apr 19, 2023

View Details ›

How do I unmount APFS on Mac? ›

In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, select the disk set that you want to unmount in the sidebar. Click the Unmount button in the toolbar or beside the disk set name. Disconnect the disk member that you want to unmount.

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How do I change the volume scheme on my Mac? ›

Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Apply button and wait until the process has completed.

Get More Info Here ›

How do I recover data from corrupted APFS volume? ›

Open the volume context menu, select the "Decrypt encrypted storage" option and then choose the "APFS volume decryption" method. Enter the correct user password or copy the recovery key into the field, including all the dashes. Scan the decrypted storage to regain deleted or lost files.

Know More ›

Is APFS better than NTFS? ›

Both file systems have their unique capabilities and limitations. It highly depends on your scenario, needs, and expectations. Windows will prefer NTFS if he has to share his drive with others. On the other hand, APFS is a perfect option for Mac users for its seamless compatibility.

Tell Me More ›

How to format APFS to FAT32 Mac? ›

How To Format Your USB Drive to FAT32 - Mac

Insert the USB to be formatted to a Mac PC.
Navigate to Applications > Utilities, and click it twice to open.
Select the drive you want to format and click on Erase.
Rename the USB drive (optional), and choose the MS-DOS(FAT) for format.

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View Details ›

What is the best format for a Mac hard drive? ›

If you need to format a storage device, use the APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format for best performance. If your Mac is running macOS Mojave or later, use the APFS format. When you format a storage device, any data on the volume is deleted, so make sure you create a backup if you want to keep the data.

Keep Reading ›

Is APFS better for Mac? ›

APFS is also more reliable, leading to less file corruption when compared to Mac OS Extended. This, alongside its speed and optimization improvements, makes APFS a great file system format. The biggest downside to using APFS is that Macs with older macOS versions (macOS 10.12.

Read On ›

What is the advantage of APFS on Mac? ›

APFS offers several advantages over HFS+ for Macs with solid-state drives (SSDs). APFS has a 64-bit architecture that can handle more files and data than HFS+, and enables faster operations such as copying, moving, and deleting files, while also using less disk space and reducing fragmentation.

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Which macOS started APFS? ›

Apple File System (APFS) is a proprietary file system developed and deployed by Apple Inc. for macOS Sierra (10.12. 4) and later, iOS 10.3 and later, tvOS 10.2 and later, watchOS 3.2 and later, and all versions of iPadOS.

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How do I fix greyed out volume control on Mac? ›

If restarting the Mac didn't help, then check out these best solutions to fix the sound icon greyed out on Mac.

Reset Output Source to Speakers. ...
Clean Headphone Jack. ...
Restart Your Mac. ...
Create New User Account. ...
Reset CoreAudio. ...
Boot Your Mac in Safe Mode. ...
Update macOS.

Jan 31, 2023

Explore More ›

How do you restart the audio driver on a Mac? ›

Go to Applications > Utilities and double-click on Activity Monitor to open it. In the search bar, type 'coreaudiod' to locate the Core Audio controller. Click on coreaudiod, then click 'X' in the toolbar to quit it. Coreaudiod will restart.

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Why is the volume on my Mac suddenly so low? ›

Check your settings

Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select System Preferences, then select Sound. Click on the Output tab, then select MacBook Pro Speakers. If the Output volume slider is set low, move it to the right and test your sound again.

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What is the best partition type for macOS? ›

GUID Partition Map is the best partition scheme for most situations. GUID stands for globally unique identifiers. It is the bootable standard for computers that use united extensible firmware interlace (UEFI). It is the standard for all the latest versions of Windows, macOS and Linux.

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Do you want to add a volume to the APFS container or do you want to divide the containers storage into separate partitions? ›

where volumes 2-4 are normally hidden or unmounted, so that you don't see them in Disk Utility. To add an APFS Container, you have to select the disk or Container and click on the Partition tool. Disk Utility then explains that it's normally preferable to add a Volume rather than a Container, and offers three choices.

Discover More ›

Should I partition my Mac hard drive? ›

1. To Easily Run Multiple Versions of OS on One Mac. There are scenarios where you need to run more than one version of macOS. In such case, it is a perfect option as it offers you the option to divide your disk and access them all on one system easily from a different partition.

Find Out More ›

Why is APFS not available? ›

Solution: To fix the "Convert to APFS" not available or greyed out issue, you need to first confirm whether it is formatted with Mac OS Extended. If not, you need to format it to Mac OS Extended and then implement the APFS format work.

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How to convert NTFS to APFS on Mac without losing data? ›

The detailed steps are mentioned below:

Back up all data: Begin with connecting NTFS with your Mac device. Copy and paste from your drive.
Reformat Disk. Go to utility and click on Disk Utility. Select your NTFS drive. From the toolbar select Erase. Now, input the name of your drive and choose APFS as the format.

Get More Info ›

How to reformat hard drive from APFS to Mac journaled extended? ›

How to Convert APFS to Mac OS Extended

Launch the Terminal. ...
Once in the Terminal, type in the command diskutil list and then click on the return button. ...
Type in: diskutil eraseDisk HFS+ ExternalDrive /dev/disk1. ...
Once you're sure that you have everything entered correctly, click return on your keyboard.

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Dec 4, 2022

Keep Reading ›

What was the default file system in macOS before APFS? ›

Compare to Mac OS Extended (aka HFS Plus, or HFS+), APFS (Apple File System) is a way more modern file system. It made its way into the Mac in 2017 with the release of macOS High Sierra, and replaced HFS+ as the new default file system for Mac drives.

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Is APFS OK for Time Machine? ›

APFS or APFS Encrypted disks are the preferred format for a Time Machine backup disk. If you select a new backup disk that's not already formatted as an APFS disk, you get the option to erase and reformat it.

Discover More Details ›

What is the difference between Apple APFS and exFAT? ›

exFAT: The primary difference between exFAT and other Mac file systems is that APFS and HFS+ are only compatible with macOS, but exFAT also works with Windows. As a cross-platform file system, users can use it to move files between their Mac and Windows computers easily.

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How do I format Mac OS Extended to APFS? ›

How to convert your drive to APFS:

Restart the Mac into Recovery Mode.
Launch Disk utility.
Click-select your named boot volume. (Not the physical drive above it.)
Click the "Unmount" button. <- This enables "Convert to APFS"!
Select "Convert to APFS" from the Edit menu.

Apr 13, 2019

Learn More ›

What is the purpose of APFS? ›

Space sharing. APFS allocates storage space on demand. When a single APFS container has multiple volumes, the container's free space is shared and can be allocated to any of the individual volumes as needed.

Find Out More ›

Does Big Sur use APFS? ›

Starting with Big Sur, APFS is now the default for Time Machine. APFS does not natively work with Windows. If you need to go between macOS and Windows then format your drive ExFAT.

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Why is my volume up and down not working on Mac? ›

By far the most common reason for Mac volume keys not working is having your keyboard set to use F1-F12 function keys by default. In this case, you can control volume by pressing the fn key + F10, F11, or F12. Alternatively, you can get the standard functionality back: Go to System Settings ➙ Keyboard.

Why is my audio not working? ›

A reboot often clears up any software glitches that may disable the sound. Press and hold the power button until you see options on the screen. Tap Restart to reboot your phone. Turn off your device and turn it back on.

Find Out More ›

Why don t my volume keys work? ›

Why Are My Volume Keys Not Working? In most situations, the cause is a glitch. It can be in the driver of the keyboard or any other program related to the sound. Or, there may be a problem with the USB connection or a 3rd party keyboard control utility is running on your device.

How do you change the volume quota in APFS? ›

Unfortunately, there is no way to change an APFS reserveSize nor QuotaSize without destroying the APFS volume and recreating it. You can only set these values when adding the APFS volume.

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How to skip converting to APFS when installing macOS High Sierra? ›

Use an external drive as the target for the macOS High Sierra install. Apple's new file system currently supports internal SSDs for automatic APFS conversion, so even if the drive is an SSD the external volume won't be converted, as such the existing formatting of the drive is retained during the installation process.

Tell Me More ›

Why can't I change the volume on my Mac? ›

What is the difference between APFS and APFS encrypted? ›

The only difference between APFS and APFS Encrypted is that the latter encrypts the APFS disk or volume, providing an extra layer of security.

How do I change the partition scheme in Mac Disk Utility? ›

Once Disk Utility is open:

In the left column, click the drive you would like to initialize or partition.
To the right, click the Partition tab.
In the drop-down menu under "Partition Layout" or "Volume Scheme:", choose the number of partitions you want to create during the initializing process.

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Jan 18, 2018

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How do I fix a corrupted volume on my Mac? ›

Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

In the Disk Utility app on your Mac, choose View > Show All Devices. ...
In the sidebar, select a volume, then click the First Aid button .
In the First Aid dialog, click Run, then follow the onscreen instructions.
When the First Aid process is complete, click Done.

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Find Out More ›

How do I format a corrupted hard drive on a Mac? ›

How to Fix a Corrupted Hard Drive on a Mac

Launch Terminal.
Type the following: diskutil repairVolume /Volumes/X, replacing X with the drive name.
Press Enter.
Disk Utility will now attempt to repair your disk – wait for the process to finish.

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Jan 30, 2023

Know More ›

How do I know if my Mac hard drive is corrupted? ›

You can check the health of many disks using Disk Utility. Many disks include Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T) hardware, which lets a disk test itself for potential problems. On your Mac, open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder in Applications. Select the disk you want to check.

Know More ›

What is the difference between partition and volume APFS? ›

Keep Reading ›

What format option is better APFS or macOS? ›

APFS is also more reliable, leading to less file corruption when compared to Mac OS Extended. This, alongside its speed and optimization improvements, makes APFS a great file system format. The biggest downside to using APFS is that Macs with older macOS versions (macOS 10.12.

View Details ›

What is the difference between Mac OS Extended journaled and APFS? ›

The main difference between the two is that the APFS format is faster, while the Mac Os Journaled format can work on any Mac Os since it has reverse compatibility. APFS works mainly with SSD and flash drives whereas Mac Os extended is mostly used on Mechanical hard drives.

What format partition is best for Mac? ›

If you need to format a storage device, use the APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format for best performance. If your Mac is running macOS Mojave or later, use the APFS format.

Which macOS supports APFS? ›

APFS is included in macOS Catalina (10.15), macOS Mojave (10.14), and macOS High Sierra (10.13), as well as in iOS 10.3 and later, tvOS 10.2 and later, and watchOS 3.2 and later.

Learn More Now ›

How do I change my Mac OS Extended to APFS? ›

If you want your internal drives to be APFS you can convert those by restarting your Mac by using Command + R to boot into recovery mode. Then, from Disk Utility>View>Show All Devices> Select your parent drive (or external) then click Edit and Convert to.

See Details ›

Why does my SD card say it needs to be formatted Mac? ›

What Causes "SD Card Needs to Be Formatted"? The formatting message in memory cards occurs due to the corrupted or interrupted process of writing in the SD card. This is because the computer or camera files required for reading or writing purposes are lost. Hence, the SD card is inaccessible without a format.

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Do SD cards need to be formatted for Mac? ›

It might be a good idea to format it first. Formatting an SD card wipes the slate clean by removing any trace of older files. It also allows you to change the file system on an SD card (new or old), allowing other devices the ability to read and write to them—including Macs.

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How to repair SD card without formatting Mac? ›

How do I fix a corrupted SD card that won't format on a Mac?

Open Launchpad and click Terminal to launch the app ( it is usually located in the Other folder).
Type in the following command: diskutil verifyVolume disk2s1 (replace disk2s1 with your SD card's identifier). ...
Wait for the command to execute.

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Mar 24, 2023

Should I use Mac OS Extended journaled or case sensitive? ›

Mac OS Extended

Choose this option if you don't need an encrypted or case-sensitive format. Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted): Uses the Mac format, requires a password, and encrypts the partition. Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled): Uses the Mac format and is case-sensitive to folder names.

Read On ›