Before we start: Do you want to format a disk or usb drive on Mac? We've created one of the best mac disk formatting software - Donemax Data Eraser for Mac to fix this issue.
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Can I format a disk or usb drive on Mac?
My external hard drive is NTFS file format and designed to work for Windows PC. So when I'm trying to connect it to a Mac, I need to format the drive to a file system format supported by mac before using it. Can I format the usb external hard drive on Mac?
The answer is yes. Formatting a hard drive can help you rebuild the file system on a corrupted hard drive or memory card, as well as change the file system of external hard drive to that supported by mac. Formatting is also the quickest way to get rid of all data on the hard drive.
It is very simple to format a hard drive with built-in quick format feature for Windows users. Here, we will introduce best 5 disk formatting software for Mac users to securely and conveniently format HDD, SSD, external hard drive, memory card or usb flash drive on Mac.
π» Our macOS version |
13.0 Ventura |
π’ No. of tested formatting tools |
12 |
β How long we tested |
2 weeks |
π» Device we tested on |
M2 chip MacBook Air 13.6" |
Top 5 Mac Disk Formatting Software
We have researched and tested the top 5 best hard disk formatters for Mac as below:
1. Disk Utility - a built-in Mac disk tool
Disk Utility is a well-known disk management tool which is a built-in app in macOS. It can help you format any type of hard drive or external storage device on Mac. Just open it and select the hard drive you want to erase. Then click Erase to format the hard drive or device.
π PROS:
- Free: Totally free tool for Mac system.
- Easy to use: Simple and clear user interface, easy to operate.
- Multi-functional: Includes disk partitioning, erasing (i.e. formatting), recovery, resizing, repairing, etc.
- Good compatibility: supports various structures including HFS+, APFS, NTFS, FAT, etc.
π COS:
- Basic functions: Although there are many functions, they are very simple and have no advanced functions.
- Security is not high: formatted data is not permanently deleted and can be recovered by third-party data recovery software or service.
- Relatively not stable: irreversible errors often occur, resulting in data loss.
![Disk Utility - Mac Disk Formatting Software]()
2. Donemax Data Eraser - Mac disk formatting and data erasure tool
Donemax Data Eraser is an all-in-one Mac data erasure and disk formatting tool. It is a famous Mac data erasure application which is able to permanently erase data from any type of hard drive or storage device. The software can help you quickly format a hard drive or external device on Mac. Choose Disk Tools > Disk Format > Select the hard drive you want to format > Click Format.
π PROS:
- Efficient data erasure capability: Thoroughly erase sensitive data from various storage devices such as hard drives, SD cards, USB drives, digital media devices, etc., ensuring that erased data cannot be recovered.
- Multiple data erasing algorithms: Provides 5 data erasing algorithms, including advanced DoD, HMG and Gutmann algorithms, which can meet the needs of different users.
- Safe and reliable: Effectively protect personal privacy and avoid sensitive data leakage with high security.
- Friendly user interface: It's very easy to use, even for beginners.
π COS:
- Slow erase speed: Due to high-intensity erase algorithm, the data erase speed is a little slow, and the erase time is determined by the amount of data to be erased.
- Can not erase OS: Erase the system disk is not allowed.
- Its price: it costs $49.95 to format and permanently erase files.
![Donemax Data Eraser - top 5 Mac Disk Formatting Software]()
Tips: the formatted data isn't permanetly deleted and can be easily recovered by a Mac data recovery software. If you are going to donate or sell your hard drive, you should use data eraser rather than formatting. Erase Hard Drive can help you format and totally wipe the hard drive. All data information on the hard drive will be permanently erased.
![Top 5 Mac Disk Formatting Software]()
3. AweCleaner for Mac
AweCleaner for Mac is a powerful disk cleaner for Mac OS. It also offers a disk management tool - Disk Manager to help you quickly format hard drive on Mac.
π PROS:
- multi-functional: In addition to the cleaning function, it also has some other practical tools like large-file finder, duplicate finder , etc.
- Safe and reliable: No important files will be deleted by mistake during the cleaning process, which can ensure users' data safety.
- Powerful cleaning: Thoroughly clean up junk files on Mac, including temporary files, log files, useless files, etc.
- Easy to use: Even beginners can operate it easily.
π COS:
- Multi-functional but not professional: No advanced functions specifically for disk wiper.
- Can't erase the OS: It can't erase the system disk.
- Expensive: $59.95 to format and erase files.
![AweCleaner for Mac]()
4. DMmenu for Mac
This application can help you quickly format hard drive on Mac. Open DMmenu for Mac -> choose Disk Manager -> Select the hard drive -> Format. Then the selected hard drive will be formatted.
π PROS:
- Multi-functional and key switchers: All-in-one switches in one place to monitor system memory, speed up your Mac, enable Bluetooth connection, and enable dark mode, etc.
- Control Mac's activity A menu bar toolkit allow you to use Mac with ease.
- Cost-effective: $19.95 for 2 Macs, with 30 day free trial.
π COS:
- A menu bar app: Reside in the menu bar all the time.
- No disk wiping function: It can't wipe a hard disk.
![DMmenu for Mac - A Mac Disk Formatting Tool]()
5. MacClean360
MacClean360 is a junk cleaner for Mac OS. This tool also offers a disk management tool to help you format and optimize disk on Mac. It also can help you uninstall applications on Mac and remove useless junk data to free up disk space.
π PROS:
- Multi-functionality: Offers trash cleaning, cache cleaning, optimization class features, and other practical tools.
- Simple interface: Its design is relatively avant-garde.
- Provides real-time monitoring: you can monitor the system data in real time, support one-click optimization operation.
π COS:
- High performance requirements: It will take up more system resources when scanning and cleaning.
- No trial: No trial function is provided.
- Expensive: $59.00 to format and erase files.
![MacClean360 - A Mac Disk Formatting Tool]()
How to permanetly erase formatted data on Mac to prevent data recovery
In fact, the formatted data on the Mac drive is not lost forever. Anyone else is able to recover formatted data from hard drive or USB flash drive, memory card, etc. with a Mac data recovery application. If you are going to sell, donate or dispose of an old device, you'd better permanently erase all your sensitive data to keep your privacy as below.
Step 1. Download and install Donemax Data Eraser on Mac, then launch the software.
Step 2. Choose Erase Hard Drive. It will help you securely and permanently erase all the data on the formatted hard drive.
![Select Erase Hard Drive]()
Step 3. Select the hard drive you want to wipe. Then click Erase Now. Donemax Data Eraser for Mac will securely format the hard drive and permanently erase all data on the hard drive.
![Erase the formatted hard drive]()
Final Thought:
Formatting a Mac hard drive will quickly remove all data from the hard drive and it can help you change or rebuild the file system as well. The best disk Mac formatting software above can help you securely and quickly format hard drive on Mac, and Donemax Data Eraser for Mac can also permanently wipe all data from a hard drive to prevent formatted data from being recovered by data recovery software.
FAQs on Mac Disk Formatting Software
Follow the steps to format a hard drive on Mac:
- Download and install Donemax Data Eraser on your Mac
- Launch the software and select Disk Format
- Select the drive to format
- Click "Format"
- The selected Mac devicec will be formatted.
Donemax Data Eraser for Mac is the disk formatter for Mac you need to format the usb external hard drive or totally erase the hard drive.
Here is a list of the top 5 disk formatter for Mac:
- Donemax Data Eraser for Mac
- DMmenu for Mac
- AweCleaner for Mac
- MacClean360
- Disk Utility
The answer is NO. Formatting Mac device does't totally destroy the data. The formatted files are still on the hard drive before the disk space of the formatted hard drive is completely overwritten by new files. So you'd better totally erase the data with Donemax Data Eraser for Mac.