Best External Hard Drives for Mac of 2025

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External hard drives for Mac are a great solution for those who need extra storage space or want to backup important files. These hard drives are specifically designed to work with Mac computers and come in various sizes and speeds. They can be easily connected to the computer via USB, Thunderbolt or FireWire ports, and are compatible with Time Machine, Apple's built-in backup software. With a wide range of options available from different manufacturers, it's important to choose one that meets your specific needs and requirements.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 External Hard Drives for Mac
Seagate 2TB Portable External Hard Drive
The Seagate Portable Drive is a handy 2TB external hard drive that allows you to easily store and access your content while on the go. It is designed for seamless compatibility with both Windows and Mac computers, making backup as simple as drag and drop. Setting it up requires no software, just connect it to your computer for automatic recognition. Additionally, the included 18-inch USB 3.0 cable ensures plug and play convenience, allowing you to transfer files effortlessly.
WD 4TB My Passport for Mac External Drive
The WD My Passport for Mac is designed for effortless use with your Mac devices, allowing you to simply drag and drop files or set up backups with Time Machine. The included USB-C and USB-A cables ensure compatibility with both modern and older Mac computers, making it a versatile choice. With built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection, your files remain secure and private. Additionally, the WD Discovery software enhances your experience by enabling you to connect with social media and cloud services for easy backup and organisation of your digital life.
WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
The WD Elements 2TB Drive offers ample extra storage for your videos, music, photos, and files, making it an ideal choice for those needing to expand their digital library. Its plug-and-play feature ensures you can easily connect it to your Windows PC without any hassle. Enjoy fast data transfer speeds with USB 3.0, allowing you to quickly move large files. Additionally, this drive comes with a free trial of WD SmartWare Pro software, providing automatic and cloud data protection for your important information.
Toshiba Canvio Partner 1TB Portable Hard Drive
The Toshiba Canvio Partner is an excellent external hard drive that offers a generous 1TB of storage, allowing you to easily store all your important documents, photos, music, and videos. Its USB 3.0 interface ensures fast transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps, so you can quickly move large files without hassle. Designed for convenience, the drive is plug-and-play, meaning you can start using it immediately without any software installation. Furthermore, its compact and lightweight design makes it perfect for those who need to take their data with them wherever they go.
LaCie Rugged Mini 2TB Portable Hard Drive
The LaCie Rugged Mini is a robust 2TB portable hard drive designed for both PC and Mac users. Its shock and drop resistance of up to 1.2 metres ensures your data remains safe even in challenging environments. You can count on its pressure resistance of up to 1000 kg, making it perfect for transporting your important files without worry. Additionally, the included automatic backup software and AES 256-bit encryption help keep your data secure, giving you peace of mind that your information is protected against loss or theft.
Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim External Hard Drive
The Maxone 500GB HDD boasts an ultra slim and sturdy metal design, making it both portable and durable. Measuring just 0.4 inches thick, its all-aluminium build ensures it remains cool and quiet during use. You will enjoy fast and stable performance, especially with your PS4 or Xbox One, as it supports USB 3.0 technology for speedy data transfers of up to 5 Gbit/s. Plus, it’s a plug-and-play device that eliminates the hassle of installation, allowing you to easily add extra storage to your computer or game console.
ModusTech 1TB Portable External Hard Drive
The ModusTech External HDD offers ultra-fast USB 3.0 and Type-C connectivity, allowing you to transfer files at speeds up to 5 Gbps. This means you can back up large files like HD movies and games effortlessly. Its compact and portable design makes it easy for you to carry your data wherever you go. Plus, with a plug-and-play setup, you can start using it immediately without any software installation. With massive storage options, the drive caters to all your data storage needs.
Ezekers 1TB Portable External Hard Drive
The Ezekers External Hard Drive offers a hassle-free plug and play experience, allowing you to simply connect it without the need for software installation. With a generous storage capacity of 1TB, it effectively meets your data storage needs, whether for work or play. Its compact 2.5-inch size ensures portability, making it easy to carry around. Furthermore, its multi-platform compatibility means you can use it with a range of devices, including PCs, Macs, and gaming consoles, providing versatility for your data management.
WD My Passport Ultra 4TB for Mac
The WD My Passport Ultra offers a sleek metal design that complements your Mac while ensuring portability. With USB-C compatibility, it provides fast and easy storage solutions for your files. You can enjoy up to 5TB of capacity, allowing you to keep all your important photos, videos, and documents close at hand. Additionally, it is compatible with both Mac and Windows, enabling hassle-free plug-and-play access to your files right from the start.
ezekers Portable 500GB External Hard Drive
The ezekers External Hard Drive offers a generous 500 GB of storage in a compact 2.5-inch design, making it highly portable for users on the go. Its multi-platform compatibility allows you to easily connect it to your PS4, Mac, or Android devices, ensuring you can access your files anytime. With high-speed data transfer via USB 3.0 and USB-C, you can quickly move large files without any hassle. Plus, the sleek design not only looks good but also provides durability for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do Macs work with external hard drives?
Generally, yes—for the most part, a hard drive is a hard drive, and any hard drive you buy for a Windows PC should work fine on a Mac as well.
2. Can you add an external hard drive to Mac?
Usually, when you want to connect an external hard drive to your computer, you just plug it in and that's it. However, if you are using a Macbook Pro or any Mac computer, the hard drive must be formatted with a file system your Mac can support. Formatting the drive will erase all of the data on it.
3. How do I know if my external hard drive is compatible with Mac?
Check Apple's Disk Utility to see if an external drive is showing up. Disk Utility is within System Preferences, or you can find it using Spotlight. If it is visible, then click the option to Mount, which should make it visible on the desktop and in the External Drives option in the Finder menu.
4. How do I move everything from my Mac to an external hard drive?
Browse to the folder on your external drive where you want to store the files or folders and then drag and drop folders and files from your Mac's Finder window into the external hard drive's window. A status bar appears on your screen indicating progress. Wait until the full transfer completes.
During our external hard drive for mac research, we found 115 external hard drive for mac products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 3,450,617 customer reviews through our big data system to write the external hard drives for mac list. We found that most customers choose external hard drives for mac with an average price of £87.66.
The external hard drives for mac are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of external hard drives for mac, including Seagate, WD, Toshiba, LaCie, Maxone.

Kenneth Collin graduated from Imperial College, London, at 22. He is a UX/UI designer, a web developer, and a writer, amongst others. At age 14, Kenneth programmed his first app. Kenneth's app served as a remote control for censored devices. "When I was 8, I would pick up scraps from electronics and try to rebuild or at least fix them," Kenneth said in one of his recent articles on Home repairs for top gadgets.