The Tool Desk
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Choose the right format for your T5
The best format depends on which computers and applications will use the drive. Samsung says the T5 ships formatted as exFAT and lists exFAT as read/write on both Mac and Windows in its Portable SSD T5 User Manual.
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- Mac-only storage: Choose APFS if your Mac runs macOS 10.13 or later. Apple describes APFS as its default file system for those macOS versions and says it is optimized for flash and SSD storage. See Apple’s guide to file system formats available in Disk Utility.
- Mac and Windows file exchange: Choose exFAT for read/write compatibility on both systems, as listed by Samsung for the T5.
- Final Cut Pro, Motion, or Compressor storage: Choose APFS. Apple recommends APFS for external storage used with these Mac apps and cautions that ExFAT or FAT32 may not perform as expected. See Apple’s storage-format guidance for Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Compressor.
Samsung lists NTFS as read-only on Mac and HFS as unrecognized by Windows in its T5 manual, so neither is a good choice for ordinary two-way Mac/Windows file exchange.
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Copy any files you want to keep to another storage location before formatting. Apple warns that erasing a storage device deletes its data. Samsung also says that formatting the T5 partition deletes the Samsung Portable SSD software stored on the drive. If you rely on that software, plan to reinstall it from Samsung after formatting.
#1 Best Overall
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
Format the Samsung T5 in Disk Utility
- Connect the T5 to your Mac, directly or through a suitable adapter, then open Disk Utility.
- In the menu bar, choose View > Show All Devices.
- In the sidebar, select the T5’s physical device at the top level of its hierarchy, rather than an indented volume. Apple notes that the Scheme menu may be unavailable when a volume is selected instead of the storage device.
- Click Erase.
- Set Scheme to GUID Partition Map. For Format, choose APFS for Mac-focused use or ExFAT for Mac/Windows file exchange.
- Enter a name for the volume, click Erase, and wait for the operation to finish. Click Done.
Apple’s full Disk Utility instructions for initializing external storage describe the same device-selection and erase sequence.
If exFAT stops allowing writes
Samsung’s T5 manual notes that using exFAT across operating systems can sometimes leave writing locked. Its suggested recovery steps are to reconnect and eject the drive on a Mac, or use Windows Scan and fix/CHKDSK on Windows. These are manufacturer instructions, not a guarantee that they will resolve every cause of a write lock.
Rank #2
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
Formatting is not a secure erase
Do not treat a normal Disk Utility format as a secure overwrite. Apple says secure erase options are unavailable for SSDs in Disk Utility; its guidance points users to FileVault for added security when they start using an SSD.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- MASSIVE STORAGE. COMPACT CONVENIENCE: We went big and made it portable; It’s the T5 EVO—an ideal choice for gamers and content creators; This SSD is engineered to handle large file transfers while still small to take on the go
- CAPACITIES THAT KEEP UP: Make a big save wherever your projects take you with the small but mighty T5 EVO; It’s light enough to take anywhere and comes with capacities of 2TB to 8TB, making it an easy way to store more on-the-go
- PICK UP THE PACE: Forget external HDDs; The T5 EVO is optimized for large file transfers with improved Intelligent TurboWrite and speeds your hard drive will be jealous of; It’s supported by USB 3.2 Gen 1 for superb performance
- ALL FOR THE SHOT: Set your sights high; This strong, sturdy sidekick will help you see it through with shock resistance and fall protection up to 6 feet*
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether you’re using a desktop, camera or a gaming console** count on the T5 EVO Portable SSD for extensive compatibility; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
Rank #3
- Superfast read write speeds: SSD with V-NAND offers ultra-fast data transfer speeds of up to 540MB s (up to 4.9x faster than external HDDs); Ideal for transferring large-sized data including 4K videos, high-resolution photos, games and more
- Compact and portable design: Top to bottom shock resistant metal design fits in the palm of your hand and easily slides in your pocket or purse to take work and entertainment on the go
- Secure encryption: Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption keeps your personal and private data more secure
- Seamless connectivity: Includes USB type C to C and USB type C to A cables to connect to PCs, Macs, smartphones and other devices
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