The Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant works by running tests to figure out what's wrong and offers the best solution for the identified problem. The RecoveryTools brand itself understands about the need of regular Apple Mac users to convert OLM emails to Various File Formats or migrate OLM Contacts to vCard, Outlook, Thunderbird, Windows Mail, or Yahoo contacts or Export OLM Calendars to ICS format keeping integrity of data maintained with the help of this single OLM Converter freeware tool.
Many users are looking for tools like 'HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool for Mac', 'Sandisk USB Format Tool Mac', 'Kingston USB Format Tool Mac', 'Lexar usb format tool mac', 'sd card format tool mac' or 'usb disk storage format tool mac' hoping that there are this kind of tools that could be used on Mac for formatting their hard drive or usb flash drive on MAC OS X, or sometimes you are searching for a bootable format tool on mac just as what HP Format Tool could perform the trick.
Some users may also want to erase the privacy files on their device by getting it formatted, is formatting true erasing on MAC? Could formatted files be retrieved? We will explain all this in this content.
Note: before any formatting or erasing the disk/pen drive, we would recommend you backup your data on your media that you want to format onto another device to avoid unintentionally data loss. We would not expect this happen that you accidentally reformatted your disk/usb stick and then later found out you had just lost some important files.
Also read: 5 best free backup software, or how to repair damaged usb drive on MAC
Table of Content
- HOT FAQs
8 MAC Formatters for USB/SD/HDD
Here is a list of disk or usb formatting tools for mac or ways of formatting disk/usb flash on MAC to get it done.
Tool 1 - Disk Utility provided by Mac OS, the best free tool to format device
Disk Utility - the best free mac format and erase tool that is provided by Apple Inc. for users to manage digital devices not only the internal media but also external drives like hard disk, usb flash and more.
Note: Erasing and formatting with Disk Utility would delete files on devices, the deleted files could be no longer accessible without some professional data recovery tools, which usually cost around $60-100.
How to format/erase usb disk or memory card on MAC using Disk Utility
Here are the steps that you may follow to get your device formatted/erased.
- Get your device connected to MAC, and backup your data to somewhere else at first as the preparetion.
- Open Disk Utility, which can be found in Applications -> Utility
- View -> Show all devices
- Select the one you want to erase/format, and then click the Erase button. (The same function that is to perform the function of 'Format')
Open Disk Utility - Select a file system for it (if you want to format it fat32, select FAT. Exfat would be recommended since it is more powerful that fat32, later the difference would be explained)
Choose a file system to format - Confirm Erase
Confirm erase to get it formatted/erased
See the video guide here.
Pros: - More than just a format tool on MAC
- It is able to format a disk or usb flash to be hfs+, fat, EXFAT and more. (FAT VS FAT32 VS NTFS will be explained in the following parts)
- It provides repairing functions to repair your storage device if it became damaged - that stars itself among the rest tools.
- It is free of charge
Cons
- It does not provide NTFS file system while formatting.
- It is not truely data erasing since formatted/erased files could still be restored by other paid mac data recovery tools
File System Difference HFS+ VS FAT VS VS FAT32 VS EXFAT VS NTFS (Which one to use?)
File System | Compatible with macOS? | Compatible with Windows? | Max. file size | Max. partition size |
---|---|---|---|---|
HFS+ | Yes | No | No limit | No limit |
FAT32 | Yes | Yes | 4GB | 8GB |
exFAT | Yes | Yes | No limit | No limit |
NTFS | Partially(Not provided by Disk Utility in Mac when formatting) | Yes | No limit |
Note: NTFS file system is not provided in Mac erasing/formatting inside of Disk Utility. If you want your device to be NTFS, you need to try other format tools or a Windows PC to get it formatted. Only by formatting could its file system be changed.
Which file system would you suggest for my device while formatting/erasing?->> EXFAT, which both works on MAC and Windows 10 compatible with no limit in file size and file storage size, volume size and you don't have to download other tools to get it formatted but just with the power of Disk Utility.
What if I want to use NTFS as my device file system, which tool shall I use to get it changed? Try some other mac format tools instead of Disk Utility. (We would tell you later in another article.)
How to tell which file system does my digital device apply?
Mac machines: right click your device in Mac -> Get Info -> General -> Format, and see what it shows, if it says 'MS-DOS FAT32', it means your drive is in fat32 file system, which is compatible with both Mac and Windows.
Windows PCs: You may get your device connected to Windows, and then right click it -> Property ->General, and you will see a photo that shows the information on file system.
File system is FAT32
Note: if your device is damaged and shows RAW FILESYSTEM, you may follow this guide to get it repaired: How to repair drive raw file system
Damaged media raw file system
You may also want to read: how to change raw file system to ntfs; how to convert raw file system to fat32
Tool 2 - WD Drive Utilities, formerly WD Quick Formatter by Western Digital Corporation (Freeware)
WD Quick Formatter is able to reformat any hard drive (not limited to WD Hard drives) to hfs+ or exfat file system and data on the drive would also be erased while changing its file system. No chance for a recovery unless with some special data recovery utility.
WD Drive Utilities formerly WD Quick Formatter
WD Drive Utilities software allows you to configure, manage, and diagnose your WD drive. With WD Drive Utilities, you can
- Run drive diagnostics
- Manage RAID configuration (For RAID supported models)
- Erase and format drive
- Set drive sleep timer (on supported drives)
- Register drive
(Information provided by WD)
You may download it here https://downloads.wdc.com/wdapp/WD_Utilities_Standalone_Installer_Mac_2_1_1_119.zip
If the above link expired, go to this page and get a download. https://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?lang=en
Tool 3 - Freecome Hard Drive Formatter or also called FHD Formatter for MAC by Freecome Technologies (Freeware)
This freeware is able to format digital device to be hfs+, fat32 as options while choosing a file system to format/erase.
It is called Freecom Mobile Drive CLS FHD Formatter Utility 1.15 or FHDFormatter for Mac.
Download sites: we checked the websites and only found the download is available on softpedia and softinformer. See the download link here
Bottomline: we would recommend you stay with the first two freeware Disk Utility or WD Disk Utility.
Tool 4 - SD Memory Card Formatter for Mac - free
SD Memory Card Formatter for Mac is introduced by SDCard.org as a external device storage formatter that is able to format usb flash, memory card on MAC for free. See details and download url at this page
Download url: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter/eula_mac/index.html
Tool 5 - BitRaser, formerly named Stellar Disk Wipe by Stellar Information Technology(30 days free trial, Paid utility)
This one is useful that could erase confidential information on your devices. It has both Mac edition and Windows edition. And admin console, network erasure is still available as enterprise solution offered by Stellar. Highly recommended paid tool.
BitRaser
File eraser and Drive Eraser for different users need. Mobile eraser available too.
Tool 6 - AweEraser by Magoshare (Paid utility)
Tool 7 - Super Eraser by DoYourData (Paid utility)
Tool for erasing data on digital device on MAC. The erased/formatted files could not be restored. It needs a pay.
Free alternative of DOYOURDATA Super Eraser Mac - Mac Disk Utility
Tool 8 - MacClean360 by DoYourData (Paid utility)
It is a Mac cleaning tool that could clean files on Mac for digital devices. You may use the first Tool 1 Mac Disk Utility or WD Disk Utility as free alternative instead of this paid tool.
Verdict
Mac Disk Utility and WD Disk Utility is highly recommended for no matter formatting a device or erasing a device, or repairing device errors.
If you want to erase files or erase drive permanently without any chance of recovery, try the Tool 3 - BitRaser provided by Stellar Information on Mac, if you don't mind erasing the device on Windows, freeware IM-Magic Partition Resizer Free could erase files/drive permanently.
Also read: 4 free tools to delete files or erase drive permanently on Windows
How to format usb flash or disk fat32 on Mac
Since Mac Disk Utility provides the formatting file system fat, exfat, you may want to know what's the difference between fat and fat32, or exfat?
See this is a photo that shows what's available when formatting the media in Disk Utility.
Choose a file system to format
More mac fat32 format tools? See how to format sd/usb fat32 on mac
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted)
- Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled)
- Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled, Encrypted)
- MS-DOS(FAT) ----This is fat32, what you need
- ExFat - recommended since it both works on Mac and Windows OS and it has no limit in file size and partition size.
Mac Disk Utility already provides an option when choosing a file system - MS-DOS(fat), WHICH IS FAT32 WHAT YOU WANT.
Note: Mac OS (FAT) is compatible with both Windows PC and Mac platforms, however, there's a limit to trasnferring files over 4GB.
The Answer - choose MS-DOS(FAT) ----This is fat32, what you need. However we would suggest you use EXFAT.
Formatting VS Erasing (Is formatting or erasing permanent data deleting?)
Formatting, is to make a media a new place for data storage that you may change its file system while you format it. Formatted drive data would be marked as available for new data to take its space.
There are three levels of formatting
- quick format (no disk error checking and repairing)
- full format (includes repairing bad blocks)
- low-level format (it could only be performed by professional low level format tool, which is usually shorten the life of device)
Erasing, is to remove information on your device, which is more simplier than formatting, however it is not true wiping out all the information since erased files could be restored with help of free data recovery software.
Well, the truth is data could also be destoryed if you continue using your device after the formatting or the erasing and saved a huge number of files. If no data was saved to formatted/erased media, data could still be restored with professional tools.
How to erase data permanently on mac with freeware
Since erased files or erased media could still be recovered in Mac Disk Utilities and WD Disk Utlities, you may want to query how to erase data permanently on Mac? Is there any freeware that could do the permanent deleting?
The answer: BitRaser is a 30 days free program for erasing files permanently on Mac, we failed to find other free tools for the permanent erasing at this time.
Option: Erase data permanently with freeware on Windows OS using freeware IM-Magic Partition Resizer Free that provides 'Wipe Partition' to get everything truely deleted and removed without a chance of recovery.
Also read: 4 free tools to delete files or erase drive permanently on Windows
HP USB DISK Storage Format Tool for Mac Download
Is there HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool Mac available? Can I use HP USB Format Tool on Mac?
So far as we know that the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, also called HP USB Format Uility by users is only for Windows OS for example Windows 10/8.1/7/Vista/XP and there was no news coming from the developer that a MAC edition would be released.
HP USB Disk Format Tool is provided by HP for disk formatting and making a bootable usb, however this program only provides Windows editions which is compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista, and XP.
The Answer: There is no mac edition of HP USB Format Tool, however here are some free solutions if you want to use it on MAC.
Formatting in HP USB Disk Format Tool, could be replaced by Disk Utility in Mac that you may save downloading HP USB Format Tool for Mac.
Creating bootable usb in HP USB Disk Format Tool, could be replaced by a bootable MacOS high sierra usb install drive, see the following video
Another option: see how to create a bootable installer for MacOS on https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
Also read: HP USB Format Tool Review and Error Fixing
Last updated on June 17, 2020
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Many iOS users will encrypt iTunes backup by setting a password to protect personal information, however, you may forget the iPhone backup password after a long time. This article lists the top 7 best iPhone backup password recovery tools to give you more choices of choosing an iPhone backup password recovery.
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In most cases, iOS users make encrypted iPhone iPad or iPod backups by setting a password in iTunes. When you try to restore an encrypted iTunes backup via iTunes or some third-party applications, you will be asked to enter a password to unlock your iTunes backup, this is the encryption backup password. What if you forgot iTunes backup password? What can you do? Actually, you can search for some free methods to retrieve the backup password. For instance, have a try on all possible passwords that you can think of, try some special days like birthdays, anniversaries, or try to use Keychain on Mac, etc. Well, after a lot of effort, if you still can’t find out your password, then what can you do now?
There are many best iOS data recovery to help users recover kinds of iOS data, but most of them don’t support recovering iTunes backup password. So, you may wonder, “Is there any iTunes backup password recovery?” The answer is YES. Although Apple says there is no way to recover your information without the password and iTunes also never provides a way to recover iTunes backup password. There are still some professional iTunes backup password recovery tools that can do it for you. In most cases, people rarely encrypt iPad and iPod backup, so we always called these tools as iPhone backup password recovery tools, which also supports iPad and iPod.
Actually, when you search in Google, you’ll find that there are some iPhone backup password recovery articles but not very comprehensive, so here in this iPhone backup password recovery review, we list top 7 best iPhone backup password recovery tools, as well as their pros and cons, which gives you more choice to select the best one to quickly recover iPhone backup password.
If you just want to remove iTunes backup password without using the backup again, you can refer to this guide: How to Remove iTunes Backup Password >
What is Best iPhone Backup Password Recovery Tool – Define Criterions
What is the best iPhone backup password recovery? The criteria of the best iPhone backup password recovery depend on users’ specific demands. Here are some common factors that users always think over.
- Best iPhone Backup Password Recovery Criterion #1 – Compatibility
First of all, you should take the compatibility into consideration, no matter what tools. Check if this tool supports your iPhone model, as well as iPad and iPod. And, the iOS version. Plus, your computer model and the system of your computer.
- Best iPhone Backup Password Recovery Criterion #2 – Design & Easy-to-use
The design of an iPhone backup password recovery should be simple, and easy to use. iPhone backup password recovery will offer several attack types, like Brute-force attack (fits completely know nothing about the password), Mask attack (fits remember part of the password), Dictionary attack (fits have a dictionary of possible password), Smart attack (fits try all possible character combinations). And, it’s easy to use, just needs 3 steps: Select your backup > Select a password attack type > Begin password recovery.
- Best iPhone Backup Password Recovery Criterion #3 – Recovery Ability
The most important thing you need to think about is the recovery ability. There is no denying that recovering data is a difficult task itself. Therefore, if your password is very complicated and long, some iPhone backup password recovery may not recover it for you. Hence the recovery rate becomes the most crucial standard to justify if an iPhone backup password recovery tool is qualified.
- Best iPhone Backup Password Recovery Criterion #4 – Cost
The price is another criterion you need to think it over. Precisely because what professional iPhone backup recovery can do what the free methods can’t do for you, so almost all professional iPhone backup password recovery tools are paid software. It’s our failure to find some free iTunes backup password recovery tools for you, but some of them will provide you a free trial.
Top 1. AnyUnlock – iPhone Password Unlocker
As a professional passcode management tool, AnyUnlock, which provides several passcodes issue solutions. You can unlock restriction(Screen Time), remove the iPhone screen password, decrypt Apple ID and retrieve iTunes backup passcode, etc.
Pros:
- Unlock Apple ID / iPhone lock screen / iTunes backup password / remove Screen Time passcode/easily manage passcodes on device.
- Remove passcodes within 3 simple steps, no tech knowledge required.
- Advanced technology + 24/7/365 support = highest success rate.
Cons:
- It would take a lot of time to decrypt the passcodes, but it depends on how complicated the code is.
The following steps will lead an easy and safe way to recover your iTunes backup passcode.
Step 1. Download AnyUnlock and launch it on your computer, choose iTunes Backup Passcode Recovery.
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
Using AnyUnlock to Decrypt iTunes Backup Passcode
Step 2. Click on the right backup you need, tap on the Continue to go on.
How to Recover iTune Backup Passwords via AnyUnlock
Step 3. Wait for a while, the time to decrypt the iTunes backup passcode will depend on how complicated the passcode is.
Step 4. When it finished the recovery journey, you can get back your passcode now.
Successfully Retrieve iTunes Backup Passcode via AnyUnlock
Top 2. iSunShare iTunes Password Genius
iSunShare iTunes Password Genius, a professional password recovery tool, which dedicates to offer you an easy way to recover iTunes backup password without effort. Its leading recovery rate, maximize compatibility, fluent user experience, and lowest price make it come to the top 1 iPhone backup password recovery on our list.
Pros:
- Supports all versions of iTunes backups.
- Supports Windows & Mac, iOS 11/10/9/8/7, all iPhones, iPads and iPods.
- Easy-to-use and risk-free.
- Provides four attack types to recover forgotten iPhone backup passcodes.
- Offers free trial to recover password containing no more than 3 characters.
Cons:
- If the password is complicated and long, it will take a long time to recover.
- Some Windows users reported it may not works for some backups in the latest iOS 11.
Top 3. PhoneRescue for iOS iPhone Backup Unlocker
PhoneRescue is a comprehensive data recovery software for both iOS & Android. And PhoneRescue for iOS is specially designed for iOS users to recover lost data and fix various terrible iPhone related issues, such as stuck on white Apple logo, continuous reboot loop, black screen, or even unlock forgot iTunes backup password. The iPhone backup password unlocker function is totally free for users. So, it is worth having a try to get back you forgot iTunes backup password.
Pros:
- Free. While almost all iPhone Backup Unlocker tools in the market are charged, and more than $20, but this function of PhoneRescue for iOS is totally free for you.
- 100% safe and risk-free.
- It allows you to preview and extract data to devices from encrypted iTunes backup.
- Works well with both Windows and Mac computer. All iOS versions and iOS models are supported.
Cons:
- It may take you a long time to crack when the password is complicated.
How to Use PhoneRescue iPhone Backup Unlocker to Crack Encryption Backup Password
Step 1. Download PhoneRescue for iOS and install on your Mac/PC computer.
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
Step 2. Choose Recover from iTunes Backup mode > Click Right Arrow to proceed.
How to Crack Encryption Backup Password – Step 2
Step 3. Select the encrypted iTunes backup, and then click “Forget Password” > Finish the cracking settings > Click Start button to unlock the iTunes backup password.
Mac Data Recovery Tool
Step 4. Once the process completes, it will show you the password as below. After that, you can scan the backup and preview the content in your backup.
How to Crack Encryption Backup Password – Step 4
Top 4. Tenorshare iPhone Backup Unlocker
Tenorshare iPhone Backup Unlocker is another award-winning iPhone backup password recovery tool developed by Tenorshare. It’s ensure 100% decryption, as well as easy to use and risk free.
Pros:
- Compatible with iOS 11/10/9/8 and earlier, supports iPhone, iPad and iPod.
- Simple and initiative interface.
- Provides 3 attack types.
- Remove iPhone backup password.
Cons:
- Only compatible with Windows computer, not supports Mac.
- Currently, not including iPhone 8 and iPhone X.
Top 5. Jihosoft iTunes Backup Unlocker
Jihosoft iTunes Backup Unlocker, the third best iTunes backup password recovery, which offers you easy and efficient ways to recover lost or forgotten iPhone/iPad/iPod backup password without any damage to your backup data. Plus, it enables you to access iTunes backup file.
Jihosoft iTunes Backup Unlocker Screenshot
Pros:
- Compatible with Windows and Mac.
- Supports iOS 10.2/10.1/10/9/8 and earlier, supports iPhone, iPad and iPod.
- Easy to use and risk free.
- Provides 3 password attack types.
- Supports accessing iTunes backup.
Cons:
- Currently, not including iPhone 8 and iPhone X.
- Not supports iOS 11 & iOS 10.3.
Top 6. Daossoft iTunes Password Rescuer
Daossoft iTunes Password Rescuer is yet another tool that can help you recover iPhone backup password. Which provides you four attack types to recover iTunes backup password, with high password recovery speed, and won’t cause any data to lose and damage to your device and computer.
Pros:
- Supports all versions of iTunes backup.
- High password recovery speed.
- Offers four attack types.
- Easy to use and risk free.
Cons:
Mac File Recovery Tool
- Only supports Windows computer.
- Currently, not including iPhone 8 and iPhone X.
Top 7. 7thShare iTunes Backup Unlocker
Mac Recovery Software Free
7thShare iTunes Backup Unlocker is another versatile iTunes password recovery tool, which can help you recover iPhone/iPad/iPod backup password too, and also supports accessing to iTunes backup.
7thShare iTunes Backup Unlocker
Pros:
- Supports iPhone, iPad and iPod.
- Offers 3 attack types.
- Risk free.
- Supports accessing iTunes backup.
Cons:
- Only supports Windows computer.
The Bottom Lime
After comparing these top 6 best iPhone backup password recovery tools, according to your specific situation, you can choose the one that fits you best to find and recover your iTunes backup password. The recovering process may take you some time, especially when your password is complicated and long, and you don’t n have any info about it. If you can remember part of the password, or have a dictionary of password list, then it will be quicker to find out your iTunes encrypted backup password.
Product-related questions? Contact Our Support Team to Get Quick Solution >