How to easy Format a Mac Drive or Partition with the APFS File System

How to easy Format a Mac Drive or Partition with the APFS File System.

Apple introduced APFS (Apple File System) in macOS 10.12.4 Sierra and fully implemented it as the default file system in macOS 10.13 High Sierra. Compared to the older HFS + (or Mac OS Extended) file system, APFS offers important advantages, particularly for solid state drives.

For example, APFS has blazing fast copy / write speeds, efficiently manages storage, and is less prone to data corruption. If you’d like to know more, here’s our in-depth review of APFS versus Mac OS Extended.

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If you want to format or convert an APFS disk or partition, the following instructions should help you.

Before You Start Converting

If you bought a Mac with macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later preinstalled, internal storage uses the APFS file system by default. If you update macOS 10.12 Sierra to a newer version, the conversion will happen automatically.

But if you still have a disk or partition (internal or external) in HFS + or another format (exFAT for example), you can convert it to APFS using the Disk Utility app on macOS.

APFS is focused on solid state drives, but you can convert or format both fusion and mechanical hard drives without any problem. However, if you plan to use an external drive with an old Mac running macOS 10.11 Capitan or earlier, converting or formatting the drive will make it unreadable.

Disk Utility supports the following APFS formatting options:

APFS APFS (encrypted) APFS (case sensitive) APFS (case sensitive, encrypted)

When erasing a disk or partition, just select APFS. Don’t get too carried away with the other options if you don’t prefer an encrypted or case-sensitive filesystem. Depending on your existing file system and partition scheme, you can also convert the disk or partition to APFS without losing formatting.

Important: Time Machine supports APFS when running macOS Big Sur. But if you have an older Time Machine drive in HFS + format, you won’t be able to convert it to APFS without data loss. If you haven’t configured a new Time Machine drive, we recommend using the old file system.

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Convert Drives and Partitions to APFS (Non-Destructive)

With a GUID Partition Map, you can non-destructively convert a disk or HFS + partition (excluding old Time Machine disks). This allows any existing data to be retained.

1. Open the launchpad and choose Other> Disk Utility to open Disk Utility.

2. Set the sidebar of Disk Utility to Show All Devices.

3. Control-click a partition on the disk and select the Convert to APFS option.

4. Select “Convert”.

5. Wait while Disk Utility completes the partition conversion. Then select “Finish.”

The partition will appear as a volume in an APFS container. You can add multiple volumes to a container (more on this below).

If the disk has additional partitions that need to be converted, repeat steps 3-5.

Format a Partition or Drive to APFS (Destructive)

You can also convert (or format) a partition or disk by deleting all data on it. This is the only way to convert partitions and disks that do not use HFS + or have a different partition scheme other than the GUID Partition Map.

1. Set the sidebar of Disk Utility to Show All Devices and select the partition or disk to format.

2. Click the “Erase” button.

3. Provide a new name for the partition and select APFS. If you have chosen to format the entire disk, you must choose a partition scheme. Install it in GUID Partition Map. Then select “Erase”.

4. Wait while Disk Utility finishes formatting the partition or disk. Then select “Finish.”

The partition will appear in a new APFS container. If you want to format other sections, repeat steps 2-5.

If you have formatted the entire drive, you will see one partition in the APFS container.

Create New Volumes in an APFS Container

After converting or formatting a partition or disk to APFS, you can easily create new volumes in an APFS container. These volumes can dynamically use free space without limiting themselves to a predetermined size, which is one of the key advantages of the format.

1. Configure the Disk Utility sidebar to display all devices and select the APFS container.

3. Click the Plus sign.

4. Select “Add Volume”.

5. Select Size Options. If you do not want to determine the size of the volume, skip to step 7.

6. Specify the quota size (volume size) and reserve size (the amount of additional space that the volume can access) and click OK.

7. Add a label for the volume. Then specify the format (APFS) and select “Add”.

8. Wait while Disk Utility finishes creating the volume. Then select “Finish.”

The volume should appear under the APFS container. You can create additional volumes whenever you want.

If you want to add a new APFS container, select Add Partition in Step 4. This can be done by partitioning a disk or an existing container.

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Format in APFS While Creating a New Partition

If you have a disk in a different format (such as HFS + or exFAT), you can create a new APFS container by partitioning the disk. If there is not enough free space on the disk, you will lose data.

1. Select a drive in the sidebar of Disk Utility.

2. Click the “Divide” button.

3. Click the Plus button.

4. Use a disk chart to indicate the size of the APFS container. Or enter its size in the “Size” box.

5. Add a partition name and select APFS as the format. Then select “Apply”.

6. Select a section.

7. Wait while Disk Utility finishes creating the APFS partition. Then select Done. The APFS partition will appear as a container (with a volume inside).

You can continue to add new volumes to the APFS container (see the section above). Or you can create new containers by partitioning a disk or partitioning an existing APFS container.

APFS Formatted Drives and Partitions

Whether it’s a solid state drive or a mechanical hard drive, the net benefit from converting or formatting partitions and disks to APFS can be significant. Compatibility is an issue, however, so do not format external storage devices to APFS if you plan on using them on older Macs.