Setting up a new drive or changing formats
Warning: Formatting erases everything on the drive. If there is any data you need to keep, back it up before proceeding. This cannot be undone.
Which format should you choose?
| Your Setup | Choose This | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Windows only | NTFS | Full Windows feature support, no file size limit |
| Mac only | APFS | Required for Time Machine, best Mac performance |
| Windows + Mac | exFAT | Both can read and write, no file size limit |
| PS5 | Let the PS5 format it | The console handles this during setup |
Avoid FAT32 for drives over 32 GB. It has a 2 TB partition limit and a 4 GB per-file limit.
Formatting on Windows
- Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management.
- Find your drive in the list (be very careful to select the right one).
- If the drive shows as "Unallocated," right-click the space and select New Simple Volume. Choose GPT if prompted for partition style.
- If the drive already has a partition, right-click it and select Format.
- Choose your file system (NTFS or exFAT), give it a name, and click OK.
Formatting on macOS
- Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility).
- Select View > Show All Devices to see the physical drive, not just its partitions.
- Select the drive (the top-level entry, not the partition beneath it).
- Click Erase.
- Choose your format: APFS for Mac-only use, or exFAT for cross-platform.
- Choose GUID Partition Map as the scheme.
- Click Erase and wait for it to finish.
Formatting for PS5
You do not need to format the drive beforehand. Insert the NVMe drive into the PS5 expansion slot, and the console will prompt you to format it during setup. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Still need help?
If the drive does not appear in Disk Management or Disk Utility, try the steps in our Drive Not Detected guide first. If you are unsure which format to choose for your setup, contact us and we will help.