Format New WD External Hard Drive on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you having trouble using your new Western Digital (WD) external hard drive with your Mac? If so, you're not alone. Many users have reported issues when trying to format their new WD external hard drive for use with a Mac. The problem often arises when the disk is formatted in NTFS, which means your Mac can read the data but cannot write to it.

When this happens, you'll typically see a message indicating that the drive is read-only. There are two possible explanations for this issue:

1. The drive is indeed read-only, meaning your Mac has permission to only read data from the disk, not write to it.

2. The drive's file system is not compatible with your Mac, preventing you from writing data to the disk.

Fortunately, there is a solution to fix this problem and get your WD external hard drive working properly with your Mac. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Connect Your WD External Hard Drive to Your Mac

Begin by connecting your WD external hard drive to your Mac using the provided USB cable.

Step 2: Check Disk Utility

Open Disk Utility, which can be found in Applications > Utilities or Spotlight search. Select your WD external hard drive from the list of available disks and click on the 'Erase' tab.

Step 3: Format Your Drive

Choose a file system that is compatible with Macs, such as APFS (APplication File System) or HFS+ (Hierarchical File System Plus). If you're unsure which option to choose, select APFS. Click on the 'Erase' button to format your drive.

Step 4: Verify Your Drive

Once the formatting process is complete, disconnect and reconnect your WD external hard drive from your Mac. Open Disk Utility again and verify that your drive is now formatted correctly.

If you're still experiencing issues after following these steps, consider using third-party software like CleanMyMac to help resolve any potential problems. With its user-friendly interface and advanced features, CleanMyMac can quickly diagnose and fix common issues with your WD external hard drive on Mac.

By following these simple steps, you should be able to successfully format your new WD external hard drive for use with your Mac. Remember to always back up your important data regularly to prevent any potential losses in case something goes wrong during the formatting process.

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