Seagate Drives Compatibility with Mac: How to Make Them Work Seamlessly

Seagate offers a wide range of drives to cater to various needs, from internal and external USB to Thunderbolt models. Understanding how to set up and use these drives with a Mac can make your computing experience smoother and more efficient. This guide will help you make Seagate drives compatible with your Mac system.

Different Types of Seagate Drives for Mac

Seagate drives come in different forms: internal, external USB, and Thunderbolt (TB). Each type is designed to work seamlessly with specific ports on your Mac. Here’s how to ensure compatibility for each:

Seagate Internal Drives with SATA Interface

Seagate drives with a SATA interface can be used directly with any Mac that has a SATA port. Installation is straightforward, as these drives are plug-and-play. Simply connect the internal drive, and it will work automatically without any additional setup.

Seagate External Drives with USB Interface

External USB Seagate drives are designed for compatibility with USB ports. Connecting these drives to your Mac is as simple as plugging them in. After connecting, you can format them according to your needs. These drives work without requiring any additional software or drivers.

Seagate Thunderbolt (TB3) Drives

For Thunderbolt 3 (TB3) drives, compatibility largely depends on whether your Mac has a TB3 port. TB3 ports offer both data transfer and charging capabilities, making them highly convenient. If you have a TB3 port, these drives will work out of the box, providing fast data transfer speeds.

Using Seagate Drives on Mac: The Paragon NTFS Driver Solution

For Seagate drives using NTFS file format (common in Windows), the Paragon NTFS Driver is the solution. This driver allows you to use the drive on both Windows and Mac without the need to reformat the drive. If you purchased a standard version of Backup Plus or GoFlex from Seagate, you will need to install the Paragon NTFS Driver on your Mac computer.

Installing the Paragon NTFS Driver on Mac

Download the NTFS Driver:

Click here to download the Paragon NTFS Driver.

Locate and Mount the File:

Find the .dmg file in your Downloads folder. Double-click the .dmg file to open it.

Install the Driver:

Click on Install NTFS for Mac. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

Restart Your Computer:

After the installation, restart your computer.

Use the Drive:

After restarting, you should be able to move data to and from the drive without any issues.

Alternative Approach: Formatting the Drive for macOS

If you prefer to use a Seagate drive exclusively with your Mac, you can format it to be fully compatible with macOS. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Using Disk Utility to Format the Drive

Ensure the Drive is Connected:

Make sure the Seagate brand external USB hard drive is connected to and mounted on your computer. The drive should appear in either the sidebar, on the desktop, or both.

Open Disk Utility:

From the Go menu at the top of the screen, select Utilities Disk Utility. Choose Show All Devices from the View menu to display all connected storage devices, partitions, or disk images in the left column.

Select the Drive:

Unindented in the left column, you should see the Seagate drive, which will display an identifier like Seagate Technology ST and the model number.

Start the Erase Process:

Click the Erase button at the top of the window. Confirm the new volume name, select the Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS, and choose GUID Partition Map for the Scheme or partitioning scheme. Click Erase to start the process. This should take just a few seconds.

Move Back Data:

After the drive is erased, if you had previously moved files off the drive, now is the time to move them back using a command-drag.

Back Up Before Formatting:

Caution: Formatting the drive will erase everything on it. Always back up all data before performing these steps.

Conclusion

Making Seagate drives work seamlessly with your Mac involves understanding the type of drive you have and using the appropriate method to ensure compatibility. Whether you’re using a Paragon NTFS Driver or formatting the drive, the process is straightforward and can enhance your workflow. Remember to always back up important data before making any changes to your storage devices.