Overview
New SSDs must be formatted before they can be used. This guide explains how to format your SSD on both Windows and macOS.

Windows: Format Your SSD
1. Open Disk Management

⦁ Press Windows + X → choose Disk Management.

2. Locate the New Drive

⦁ It will appear as “Unallocated.”

3. Create a New Volume

⦁ Right-click → New Simple Volume → click Next.

4. Choose File System
Recommended:

⦁ NTFS (general use)

⦁ exFAT (cross-compatible with Mac)

5. Name the Drive and Finish

⦁ Enter a name → Finish.

macOS: Format Your SSD
1. Open Disk Utility

⦁ Applications → Utilities → Disk Utility.

2. Select Your Drive
Appears on the left panel.

3. Click “Erase”
Choose:

⦁ APFS – Best for macOS

⦁ exFAT – Cross-compatible

⦁ Mac OS Extended (Journaled) – Older macOS use

4. Confirm and Format
Click Erase to complete.

Important
Formatting deletes all data on the drive.

Troubleshooting
If the drive does not appear:

⦁ Try another USB port

⦁ Confirm the enclosure is detected under Device Manager/System Report