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User profile for user: JMWyatt
JMWyatt Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

M1 Macbook cannot delete any files from my Passport (window user before)

How can I delete files from my hard drive using my M1 Macbook, this is new for me because I was a window user for a long time, now I need this external hard drive for my profession, and we normally transfer files from laptop to Windows PC via USB, hoping it won't become hard, cos we dont have any data on our work place. Are there any options that it can be for free? It has a NTFS Format, Hope somebody can assist me through this.

Posted on May 19, 2021 7:51 PM

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User profile for user: Axel Foley
Axel Foley
User level: Level 10
149,598 points

Posted on May 19, 2021 9:34 PM

I understand that you would like to delete all files on your external drive and then make it ready to be used on your new M1 MacBook Pro. The drive is currently in the NTFS format and is therefore not readable on your MacBook Pro. Is my understanding correct? If YES then:

  1. Connect your external drive to your MacBook Pro
  2. It may or may not be mounted and seen on your desktop
  3. Open the Disk Utility app on your MacBook Pro
  4. Highlight the External Drive in the left column (Ensure that you have highlighted the correct drive)
  5. Choose ERASE option from the top row
  6. Do you want the External Drive to Read/Write on both Windows PC and Mac?
    • If Yes then choose the ExFat or FAT32 format OR
    • If you want to use the External Drive exclusively with the macOS then choose the APFS format.


Once the above has been completed then you can begin writing/copying files to it.


Axel F.

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User profile for user: Axel Foley
Axel Foley
User level: Level 10
149,598 points

May 19, 2021 9:34 PM in response to JMWyatt

I understand that you would like to delete all files on your external drive and then make it ready to be used on your new M1 MacBook Pro. The drive is currently in the NTFS format and is therefore not readable on your MacBook Pro. Is my understanding correct? If YES then:

  1. Connect your external drive to your MacBook Pro
  2. It may or may not be mounted and seen on your desktop
  3. Open the Disk Utility app on your MacBook Pro
  4. Highlight the External Drive in the left column (Ensure that you have highlighted the correct drive)
  5. Choose ERASE option from the top row
  6. Do you want the External Drive to Read/Write on both Windows PC and Mac?
    • If Yes then choose the ExFat or FAT32 format OR
    • If you want to use the External Drive exclusively with the macOS then choose the APFS format.


Once the above has been completed then you can begin writing/copying files to it.


Axel F.

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User profile for user: JMWyatt
JMWyatt Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

May 19, 2021 9:38 PM in response to Axel Foley

Thank you so much, I thought first I cannot create a back up file using may Mac, I can actually copy files from my External Hard drive to my Mac for back up before the erase process, now it is okay, thank you! It is just a hassle to save a back up and move it back to the External HDD but as long as I can transfer files from mac to windows or vice versa then I'm great with it :) , I thought I have to spend for some 3rd party apps. hehe good thing you replied and there was also this solution on youtube that I hesitated at first. :) Thank you!

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M1 Macbook cannot delete any files from my Passport (window user before)

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