How to Use WD My Passport/My Passport Ultra on Mac?

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WD My Passport and My Passport Ultra are popular external hard drives (HDDs and SSDs) known for their portability, reliability, and high storage capacity. These drives provide an excellent solution for storing important files, backing up data, and even transferring large files between different computers. While WD My Passport is designed to be compatible with both Windows and Mac, out of the box, it often comes pre-formatted with the NTFS file system, which is read-only on macOS.

If you're a Mac user, you may need to take a few extra steps to ensure seamless functionality, such as formatting the drive to a Mac-compatible file system or enabling Time Machine for automatic backups. This guide will walk you through the entire process of setting up, formatting, and troubleshooting WD My Passport/My Passport Ultra on a Mac.

Connect WD My Passport to a Mac

Before using the WD My Passport drive on a Mac, you need to connect it properly.

1. Check Compatibility

WD My Passport drives are compatible with macOS, but depending on the model and year of your Mac, you may need an adapter.

• If your Mac has USB-A ports, you can directly connect the drive using the included USB cable.
• If your Mac has USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 ports, you may need a USB-C to USB-A adapter or a USB-C to USB-C cable (if supported by your drive model).

2. Steps to Connect the Drive

• Plug in the WD My Passport drive into an available USB port.
• Wait for the drive to appear in Finder on the left sidebar under "Locations."
• If the drive does not show up in Finder, check Disk Utility:
  • Open Disk Utility (Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility).
  • Look for your WD My Passport under "External" drives.
  • If the drive appears but isn't mounted, click "Mount."

Format WD My Passport for macOS (Optional but Recommended)

When using an external hard drive like WD My Passport on a Mac, formatting is one of the most crucial steps to ensure compatibility, performance, and ease of use. Since many WD My Passport drives come pre-formatted as NTFS (New Technology File System), which is designed for Windows, you may run into issues where you can read files but cannot write new data to the drive. This limitation can be frustrating, especially if you plan to use the drive primarily on macOS.

In this section, we'll explore why formatting is necessary, which file system to choose, and a detailed step-by-step guide to formatting your WD My Passport drive using Disk Utility on Mac.

1. Why Formatting is Important

Here are a few key reasons why formatting your WD My Passport is recommended:

▪️ Read-Only Issue with NTFS Drives

By default, macOS allows you to read files from an NTFS-formatted drive but does not permit writing or modifying files. If you try to copy files to an NTFS drive on macOS, you'll see an error message stating that the drive is "Read-Only."

Solution: To fully utilize the drive, you must reformat it to a Mac-compatible file system like APFS, Mac OS Extended (Journaled), or ExFAT (for cross-platform use).

▪️ Enabling Time Machine Backups

Time Machine, Apple's built-in backup feature, does not support NTFS or ExFAT. If you want to use WD My Passport for automatic backups, you'll need to format it to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS.

▪️ Avoiding Compatibility Issues

• If you plan to use the drive exclusively on Mac, then APFS or Mac OS Extended is the best choice.
• If you frequently share files between Mac and Windows, use ExFAT since it is compatible with both operating systems without additional software.

2. Choose the Right File System

Selecting the appropriate file system depends on how you intend to use your WD My Passport drive. Below is a comparison of different file systems and their advantages:

File System	Best For	Pros	Cons
APFS (Apple File System)	macOS 10.13+ and SSDs	Faster, better encryption, optimized for macOS	Not compatible with older macOS versions, not good for HDDs
Mac OS Extended (Journaled)	Time Machine backups and traditional HDDs	Reliable for Mac, supports Time Machine	Not natively readable on Windows
ExFAT	Using drive with both Mac and Windows	Works on both platforms, no file size limits	No journaling (higher risk of corruption), not ideal for Time Machine
NTFS (Default for WD My Passport)	Windows users	Compatible with Windows	Read-only on Mac without third-party software

If you're unsure which format to choose, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is the safest option for macOS users who don't need Windows compatibility. If you need cross-platform support, go with ExFAT.

3. How to Format WD My Passport for macOS

Before formatting, back up any important data on your WD My Passport, as the process will erase everything on the drive.

Step-by-Step Guide to Format WD My Passport Using Disk Utility:

Step 1: Open Disk Utility

• Connect the WD My Passport to your Mac using a USB cable.
• Click on the Apple menu () in the top-left corner.
• Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.

Step 2: Select the Drive

• In Disk Utility, find your WD My Passport under the "External" section in the left-hand sidebar.
• Click on it to select the drive.

💡 Tip: Make sure you select the entire drive (not just a partition) to avoid formatting errors.

Step 3: Click "Erase"

• At the top of the Disk Utility window, click the "Erase" button.

• A pop-up window will appear asking you to set the drive name, format, and scheme.

Step 4: Choose the File System Format

• If you want to use the drive only on macOS: Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS.
• If you want to use the drive on both Mac and Windows: Choose ExFAT.

Step 5: Set the Partition Scheme

• Under "Scheme," select GUID Partition Map (GPT).
• If "GUID Partition Map" is already selected, proceed to the next step.

Step 6: Confirm and Erase the Drive

• Double-check your selections and click "Erase."
• Wait for the process to complete. This usually takes a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the drive’s size.
• Once the process is done, click "Done."

💡 Tip: If you ever need to format the drive again, you can repeat these steps anytime.

4. Verifying the Drive After Formatting

Once the formatting process is complete:

• Go to Finder > Locations and check if WD My Passport appears.
• Right-click on the drive and select "Get Info" to confirm the format type.

• Try copying a file to ensure read and write access works correctly.

Common Issue: If you accidentally formatted the drive with the wrong file system, simply repeat the formatting process and choose the correct option. If you have lost data due to formatting WD My Passport on Mac, you can use Mac data recovery software - such as Donemax Data Recovery for Mac to unformat the drive and get all lost data back.

🔗 Related link: recover lost data from WD My Passport on Mac.

Use NTFS WD My Passport Drive on Mac Without Formatting

If you don't want to format the drive but still need write access on macOS, you can use third-party software. Some popular options include:

• Donemax NTFS for Mac (Paid, reliable, fast)
• Tuxera NTFS for Mac (Paid, similar to Paragon)
• Mounty for NTFS (Free, slower, but works)

These programs allow Mac to write to an NTFS drive without formatting.

Step 1. Download and install the reliable NTFS for Mac tool - Donemax NTFS for Mac.

Step 2. Open Donemax NTFS for Mac, select the WD My Passport drive. If it is not mounted, click on Mount button.

Step 3. To read-write NTFS WD My Passport on Mac, click on Enable Writable button.

Set Up Time Machine Backup With WD My Passport Drive

Time Machine is macOS's built-in backup feature, allowing you to back up your files automatically.

1. Steps to Enable Time Machine

• Connect the WD My Passport drive to your Mac.
• Open System Settings > General. Click Time Machine.

• Click Select Backup Disk or + and choose your WD My Passport drive.
• Click Set Up Disk (You may be prompted to erase the drive if it's not in a compatible format).

• Time Machine will start backing up your Mac automatically.

2. Configuring Backup Preferences

• Click Options to exclude certain files/folders.

• Choose between Automatically Every Hour or manual backups.
• Check backup progress in Time Machine settings or the menu bar.

Transfer Files to and from WD My Passport

1. Drag-and-Drop Method

• Open Finder.
• Locate WD My Passport under "Locations."
• Open the drive and simply drag and drop files from your Mac.

2. Use Finder Shortcuts

• Command (⌘) + C to copy and Command (⌘) + V to paste files.
• Option + Drag to copy without affecting the original file.
• Right-click > Copy/Paste for quick file transfer.

Troubleshooting Common Issues of WD My Passport on Mac

1. WD My Passport Not Detected on Mac

• Check cable connections: Try a different USB cable or port.
• Check Disk Utility: If the drive appears but isn’t mounted, click "Mount."
• Try a different Mac: If another Mac detects it, the issue may be with your original computer.
• Reset SMC and PRAM: This can fix hardware recognition issues.

2. Drive is Read-Only

• This happens when the drive is formatted in NTFS.
• Solution: Reformat the drive to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or ExFAT using Disk Utility or use third-party NTFS for Mac tool.

3. Slow Transfer Speeds

• Use a USB 3.0 or USB-C cable for faster speeds.
• Ensure the drive isn't full; keep at least 10-20% free space.
• Run First Aid in Disk Utility to check for drive errors.

Eject the WD My Passport Drive on Mac Safely

Never unplug the drive without ejecting it properly to avoid corruption.

Steps to Eject Safely

• Right-click WD My Passport in Finder and select Eject.

• Wait for the notification that it's safe to remove the drive.
• Unplug the USB cable.

Alternatively, drag the drive icon to the Trash, which changes to an Eject symbol.

Conclusion

Using WD My Passport or My Passport Ultra on a Mac is simple once you set it up properly. If the drive is formatted in NTFS, you'll need to reformat it to a macOS-compatible file system for full access. You can also use Time Machine to automate backups and ensure your data is safe.

By following this guide, you can efficiently use your WD My Passport for file storage, backups, and cross-platform file transfers without issues. Always eject the drive safely and keep your backup strategy up to date to prevent data loss.