To transfer files from mac to PC using external hard drive, you must first format the drive to exFAT, the only file system both macOS and Windows can read and write to natively. This guide walks you through the verified steps: format the drive on either system, copy your files on the Mac, then move them to your PC, all without data loss.
Before You Start: Why exFAT Is Required to Transfer Files From Mac to PC Using External Hard Drive
Mac computers natively use HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) or APFS (Apple File System), while Windows PCs use NTFS. Neither system can read or write to the other's native format without extra software. exFAT is the universal solution because it allows both macOS and Windows to read and write files freely, with no size limits on individual files (unlike older FAT32). Critical warning: formatting an external hard drive erases every file on it. Before you begin, back up any data currently on the drive to another location, you will lose everything during the format step.
Format the External Hard Drive on Your Mac (Disk Utility)
If you have access to a Mac, use Disk Utility to format the drive. This is the most reliable method because you can set both the file system and partition scheme correctly.
Step 1: Open Disk Utility
Press Command (⌘) + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type “Disk Utility,” and press Enter. The app will launch in a new window.
Step 2: Show All Devices
In Disk Utility's top menu bar, click View and select Show All Devices. This reveals the physical drive (the top-level device) and its volumes (indented underneath it).
Step 3: Select the Parent Drive
From the sidebar, click the top-level device representing your external hard drive, not the volume indented below it. The drive name is usually the brand or model (e.g., “LaCie” or “Seagate”).
Step 4: Erase with exFAT Format and GUID Partition Map
Click the Erase button in the toolbar. In the dialog that appears:
- Enter a Name for the drive (e.g., “TransferDrive”).
- Click the Format pop-up menu and choose ExFAT.
- Click the Scheme pop-up menu and choose GUID Partition Map.
- Click Erase to confirm. Wait for the process to complete, then close Disk Utility.
If you don't have a Mac available, skip to the next section for the Windows alternative.
Format the External Hard Drive on Your Windows PC (Alternative)
No Mac? You can format the drive using Windows Disk Management. This method works equally well and produces the same exFAT result.
Step 1: Open Disk Management
Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management. Alternatively, press Windows + X and choose “Disk Management” from the menu.
Step 2: Locate Your External Drive
In the lower pane, find your external drive. Be careful to select the correct disk, do not touch your internal system drive.
Step 3: Right-Click and Choose Format
Right-click the external drive's partition (the blue bar) and select Format… from the context menu.
Step 4: Choose exFAT and Confirm
In the Format dialog:
- Enter a Volume label (name) for the drive.
- From the File system drop-down menu, select exFAT.
- Leave Allocation unit size as the default value.
- Click OK, then confirm the warning that all data will be erased.
Wait for the format to finish. Your drive is now ready for cross-platform use.
Connect the Drive to Your Mac and Copy Files Using Finder
Plug the external hard drive into a USB port on your Mac. The drive appears on the desktop and in the Finder sidebar under Locations.
Step 1: Open Finder and Select Files
Open a new Finder window (click the Finder icon in the Dock). Navigate to the files or folders you want to transfer, documents, photos, videos, or entire project folders.
Step 2: Copy Files to the External Drive
Select the items by clicking and dragging a selection box, or hold Command and click each file individually. Then do one of the following:
- Drag and drop: Drag the selected files directly onto the external drive's icon in the Finder sidebar.
- Keyboard shortcuts: Press Command + C to copy, then click the external drive and press Command + V to paste.
Wait for the copy progress bar to finish. Do not unplug the drive during this time.
Safely Eject the External Hard Drive From Your Mac
Never unplug the drive while files are still being written. Eject it properly to prevent data corruption.
Step 1: Eject the Drive
Right-click the external drive icon on your desktop or in the Finder sidebar, then choose Eject. Alternatively, select the drive and press Command + E.
Step 2: Wait for the Safe-to-Remove Notification
Wait until the drive icon disappears from the desktop and sidebar, or until you see a notification saying it's safe to disconnect. Only then unplug the USB cable from your Mac.
Connect the Drive to Your PC and Transfer Files Using File Explorer
Now plug the external drive into a USB port on your Windows PC. Windows will recognize it automatically as a removable drive.
Step 1: Open File Explorer and Locate the Drive
Press Windows + E to open File Explorer. The external drive appears under This PC in the left sidebar, labeled with the name you gave it during formatting.
Step 2: Navigate to Your PC Destination Folder
Open the folder on your PC where you want the files to land, for example, Documents, Pictures, or a project folder. Keep this window open.
Step 3: Copy Files from the External Drive
Click the external drive in the sidebar to view its contents. Select the files you want to transfer (hold Ctrl and click for multiple files). Press Ctrl + C to copy them.
Step 4: Paste to the PC Destination
Click inside your PC destination folder, then press Ctrl + V to paste. The files will begin copying. Larger files take longer, wait until the progress bar disappears before proceeding.
Verify and Safely Remove the Drive From Your PC
Before unplugging, confirm your files are intact and eject the drive properly.
Step 1: Verify the Copied Files
Open a few of the transferred files on your PC to make sure they open correctly, documents, photos, or videos. If everything looks good, the transfer was successful.
Step 2: Safely Remove the Hardware
Click the ^ arrow in the system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen) to show hidden icons. Click the USB icon (Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media), then select your external drive from the list.
Once ejected, you can store the drive. If you ever need to move files again, the exFAT format lets you use a LaCie external hard drive or any other brand without reformatting, just plug it into either system and copy files directly.
For the wider topic, see use lacie external hard drive.
