Yes, you can absolutely use an external hard drive with a MacBook Pro. In fact, external hard drives are very commonly used with MacBook Pros and Macs in general for extra storage space or to serve as a backup drive.
Quick Overview on Using External Drives with MacBook Pro
There are a few key things to know about using external drives with a MacBook Pro:
- Compatibility – Most external hard drives today use a USB, Thunderbolt, or USB-C connection which are all compatible with MacBook Pros. As long as you get a drive with one of these connections, it will interface with your MacBook.
- Formatting – You will need to format the drive to be compatible with MacOS. The most common formats to use are Mac OS Extended (HFS+) or APFS.
- Power – Some external hard drives are powered via the USB/Thunderbolt cable, while others require an additional power adapter. Make sure yours has the proper power connections.
- Uses – External drives are great for extra storage space for large files like photos, video, or music libraries. They can also be used as a Time Machine backup drive.
- Speed – Drive speeds vary significantly. Faster drives use connections like USB 3.0, USB-C, or Thunderbolt for the fastest transfer rates.
The steps to use an external drive with a MacBook Pro are very simple. We’ll cover the details in the sections below.
External Hard Drive Compatibility with MacBook Pro
When choosing an external hard drive for your MacBook Pro, you’ll want to make sure it is compatible. Nearly all external drives today are designed to work with both Windows and Mac, but there are few considerations to keep in mind:
Connection Type
The most important factor is the type of connection the external drive uses to interface with your MacBook Pro. Here are the most common types of connections:
- USB 3.0 or USB-C – The rectangular USB-A ports used by most external hard drives are compatible with any MacBook Pro. For fastest speeds, use USB 3.0 compatible drives.
- Thunderbolt – Thunderbolt 1, 2, or 3 ports are available on many MacBook Pros. Thunderbolt provides very fast transfer speeds.
- USB-C – USB-C connections are oval shaped and support the new USB 3.1 standard. These are the fastest interface for new MacBook Pros.
As long as the external hard drive connects via one of these types of ports, it will be compatible with your MacBook Pro.
Formatting
For full compatibility with your MacBook Pro, the external drive needs to be formatted properly.
The most common file system to use for external hard drives on Macs is Mac OS Extended (HFS+). This format allows you to use the drive for Time Machine backups.
The newer APFS file system can also be used on external drives formatted for Mac. This is the default file system used for internal SSDs on newer Macs.
When you connect the blank external drive to your MacBook for the first time, you’ll be prompted to format the drive. Be sure to choose one of these two Mac compatible formats to get full usability with Time Machine backups and efficiency with Mac file storage.
Power Source
Some external hard drives draw all the power they need from the USB or Thunderbolt cable connection to your MacBook Pro. But some larger capacity and higher performance drives may need their own power adapter in addition to the data cable.
Check if your drive requires external power connections. If so, make sure you have an appropriate power adapter before connecting the drive to your laptop.
Uses for an External Hard Drive with a MacBook Pro
There are several common ways to use an external drive with your MacBook Pro:
Extra Storage Space
One of the main reasons to get an external drive is for expandable long term storage. Photos, videos, music libraries, documents, and projects can quickly fill up the internal SSD storage on your MacBook. Having an external drive gives you a vast amount of extra space to work with these large files.
For example, storing your entire iPhoto or Lightroom photo library on an external drive rather than the main internal drive saves a ton of space. Just connect the external drive when you need to access the files, and disconnect when you are done.
Time Machine Backups
Another popular use for external drives on MacBooks is to use them as a backup drive for Time Machine.
Time Machine is the built-in Mac backup software. It allows you to periodically backup your entire Mac drive or select folders to the external drive. That way you have a bootable backup handy in case your main drive fails or needs to be erased.
Dedicate an external hard drive just for Time Machine backups to always have a copy of your important files.
Transporting Files
Having data on an external drive also allows you to easily transport files between different computers. Plug the drive into your MacBook Pro, copy over any files you need, then disconnect and plug the drive into another Mac or PC.
Large video and photo project files can especially benefit from being kept on a portable external drive like this.
Bootable MacOS Install
Finally, you can even create bootable installations of MacOS on an external drive. This allows you to plug the external drive into any Mac and boot from it. That way you can troubleshoot problems on the main MacOS system, or install MacOS on multiple computers easily.
Choosing the Best External Hard Drive for MacBook Pro
With so many drives available from hard drive manufacturers like Seagate, Western Digital, LaCie, Samsung, and others, how do you choose the right one?
Here are the most important factors to consider when shopping for an external hard drive for your MacBook Pro:
Storage Capacity
External hard drives come in sizes from 1TB up to 10TB or more. Consider how much extra space you need now, and what you may need in the future before settling on a capacity.
Drive Speed
Faster drives enable quicker file transfers and system performance. 7200RPM spinning hard drives are the minimum, while Solid State Drives (SSDs) are blazing fast. Look for drives with USB 3.0/3.1, Thunderbolt, or USB-C interfaces.
Portability
If you plan to transport the drive frequently, smaller portable form factors with durable construction are important.
Single vs Dual Hard Drives
Dual hard drive based RAIDs can increase speed. Or allow instant backups by mirroring data.
Brand Reputation
Stick with major reputable brands like WD, Seagate, and LaCie for the highest quality and reliability.
Warranty
Look for at least a 1 to 3 year warranty from the manufacturer to cover any potential issues.
Security
Some external drives feature data encryption and added security like waterproofing and shock resistance for sensitive data.
Recommended External Hard Drives for MacBook Pro
Based on the criteria above, here are some of the best external hard drives to consider for use with MacBook Pro:
| Hard Drive | Capacity | Connection | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| WD My Passport for Mac | 1TB – 5TB | USB 3.0 | $60 – $150 |
| Seagate Backup Plus Slim | 1TB – 2TB | USB 3.0 | $55 – $75 |
| Samsung T5 Portable SSD | 500GB – 2TB | USB 3.1 | $100 – $250 |
| WD My Passport Ultra for Mac | 2TB – 5TB | USB-C | $80 – $150 |
| LaCie Rugged Mini | 1TB – 5TB | USB 3.0 | $65 – $170 |
| G-Technology G-Drive Mobile SSD | 500GB – 2TB | USB-C | $170 – $300 |
| SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD | 500GB – 2TB | USB-C | $140 – $250 |
How to Connect an External Hard Drive to a MacBook Pro
Connecting and setting up an external hard drive on your MacBook Pro is very simple.
Here are the basic steps to get your new hard drive working with a MacBook Pro:
- Physically connect the drive – Plug the drive’s cable into one of your MacBook’s Thunderbolt, USB-C, or USB-A ports. For higher capacity drives requiring external power, make sure the power adapter is plugged in too.
- Power on drive – Many external hard drives have their own power button or switch to power up the unit.
- Wait for drive to mount – Your Mac will automatically detect the new drive and mount it on the desktop.
- Open Disk Utility – Go to Applications > Utilities and launch Disk Utility.
- Format drive for Mac – Select your external drive and click “Erase” to reformat the drive for Mac compatibility.
- Give it a name – Rename the newly formatted external drive with a descriptive name.
- Set backup schedule – If using for Time Machine backups, enable backups and set a schedule.
- Copy data over – Now you can transfer files between your MacBook Pro and the external hard drive.
That’s it! After following these steps, your external hard drive will be set up for use as extra storage space for your MacBook Pro.
Tips for Using an External Drive with a MacBook Pro
Here are some helpful tips for making the most of your external hard drive with a MacBook Pro:
- Eject the drive before unplugging it to safely disconnect it.
- To conserve power, unmount the drive when not in use.
- Utilize Time Machine for automatic backups while drive is connected.
- Use Finder to quickly transfer files between your MacBook and the drive.
- Organize the drive into folders for different types of files like photos, documents, etc.
- Add labels and descriptions to make files easy to find.
- Store large media files like photos, video, and iTunes on the external drive.
- Make two backups of important data in case one drive fails.
- Look for drives with at least 1TB capacity for ample storage space.
- Use fast USB 3.0+ or Thunderbolt drives for speedy transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What file system do I need to format the external drive for Mac compatibility?
Use Mac OS Extended (HFS+) or APFS formatting so the drive properly interfaces with MacOS features like Time Machine.
How do I choose between Thunderbolt, USB-C, or USB 3.0 external drives?
Thunderbolt and USB-C provide the fastest speeds. But USB 3.0 drives work very well too. Just try to avoid older USB 2.0 drives.
Can the external drive be used with a Windows PC too?
Yes, most external drives can also be plugged into and used with Windows PCs too after reformatting to NTFS or exFAT file system.
What’s the largest capacity external hard drive I can buy?
Consumer external hard drives go up to around 10TB currently. But many are in the 1TB to 4TB range which is ample capacity for most users.
Should I get a traditional hard disk drive or solid state drive (SSD)?
SSDs are much faster and more durable, but more expensive per GB. HDDs offer larger capacities for less money, but aren’t as fast.
Can I daisy chain multiple external drives together?
If your MacBook Pro has multiple Thunderbolt ports, you can daisy chain compatible Thunderbolt drives together to interface with one port.
Conclusion
Adding external storage expands the possibilities of your MacBook Pro. External hard drives give you more space for large files like photos, video, music libraries, backups, and even bootable MacOS installs.
Choosing the right interface like USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, or USB-C ensures full compatibility and speedy transfers with your MacBook Pro. Leading drive brands like Western Digital and Seagate provide reliable performance for Mac systems.
Once connected properly and formatted, the external drive appears right on your desktop. Then you can begin transferring files, enabling Time Machine backups, and enhancing your laptop’s storage, speed, and productivity.