These instructions apply only to Mac computers with an Intel processor.
Erasing your Mac permanently deletes all of its files, so make sure that you make a backup of any files that you want to keep. If you're attempting to restore your Mac to factory settings, first learn what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac.
Start up from macOS Recovery
Open up Disk Utility. Your Disk Utility program lives within a folder called Utilities. And the Utilities. Press the 'Options' button, choose 'GUID Partition Table' and then click 'OK'. If you are using an older Mac with a PowerPC processor, choose the 'Apple Partition Map' option instead. Step 9 Enter a new name for the hard drive and select 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)' as the format type. You can reformat a MyBook external hard drive with a USB connection on a Mac computer. Western Digital produces a line of external hard drives called the MyBook. Although MyBook hard drives are capable of working with both Macs and PCs, they are initially formatted for use with only the Windows operating system.
Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold these two keys until you see an Apple logo or other image: Command (⌘) and R. You may then be asked to select a user you know the password for. Select the user, then click Next and enter their administrator password.
Use Disk Utility to erase your disk
Format your Macbook Pro using any of the methods in this article if a flashing question mark displays on-screen after starting up your Mac. This means your Macbook is unable to locate its system software, and cannot start up without your attempting to recover or perform a clean install of OS X. Format Western Digital Passport to FAT32 with WD Quick Formatter. WD Quick Formatter, also known as WD Advanced Format Drivers (AFDs), is an external hard drive format utility for Windows and Mac, developed by Western Digital Technologies, Inc. External drive like WD Elements, My Book and My Passport can be formatted to FAT32 via this tool.
Format My Book For Mac
- From the utilities window in macOS Recovery, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
- Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar of Disk Utility. Don't see Macintosh HD?
- Click the Erase button in the toolbar, then enter the requested details:
- Name: Continue to use Macintosh HD as the name, or enter a different name.
- Format: Continue to use APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), as recommended by Disk Utility.
- Click Erase Volume Group. If you don't see this button, click Erase instead.
- If Find My is turned on for this Mac, you may be asked to enter your Apple ID to authorize the erase. Forgot your Apple ID?
- After the erase is done, select any other internal volumes that may be listed in the sidebar, then click the delete volume (–) button in the toolbar to delete each volume.
You don't need to delete the Macintosh HD volume you just erased, or any external volumes or disk images. - Quit Disk Utility to return to the utilities window.
- If you want to start up again from the disk you erased, you should now reinstall macOS on that disk.
If you don't see Macintosh HD in Disk Utility
Your built-in startup disk should be the first item listed in the Disk Utility sidebar. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name. If you don't see it there, choose Apple menu > Shut Down, then unplug all nonessential devices from your Mac and try again.
If your disk still doesn't appear in Disk Utility, or Disk Utility reports that the erase process failed, your Mac might need service. If you need help, please contact Apple Support.
Reformat Macbook
Learn more
How To Format A Macbook
Your built-in startup disk should be the first item listed in the Disk Utility sidebar. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name. If you don't see it there, choose Apple menu > Shut Down, then unplug all nonessential devices from your Mac and try again.
If your disk still doesn't appear in Disk Utility, or Disk Utility reports that the erase process failed, your Mac might need service. If you need help, please contact Apple Support.
Reformat Macbook
Learn more
How To Format A Macbook
Format Wd My Book For Mac
For more information about using Disk Utility, see the Disk Utility User Guide. Arrow symbol mac keyboard.
