---
id: external-drives.how-do-i-check-which-format-my-drive-uses
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-check-which-format-my-drive-uses
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Drive formats"
question: "How do I check which format my external drive uses?"
alt_questions:
  - "What format is my drive Mac"
  - "Is my drive APFS or exFAT?"
  - "Check file system of external drive"
  - "find drive format in finder"
short_answer: "Select the drive in Finder and press Command-I (Get Info): the Format line shows APFS, Mac OS Extended, ExFAT or MS-DOS (FAT32). Disk Utility shows it too, and Storage Studio checks it when you choose a drive."
tags: ["format", "get info", "apfs"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-format-should-my-external-drive-be", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-do-looks-good-warnings-and-not-suitable-mean", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-reformat-an-external-drive-to-apfs"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I check which format my external drive uses?

Select the drive in Finder and choose **File → Get Info** (Command-I); the **Format** line shows it — for example APFS, Mac OS Extended (Journaled), ExFAT or MS-DOS (FAT32). Disk Utility shows the same thing under the drive's name.

Storage Studio also checks the format when you choose a drive and explains any warning — see [what the drive checks mean](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-do-looks-good-warnings-and-not-suitable-mean).