WD My Passport 1TB SSD external drive and Big Sur

[Mikeo512]

Yesterday, I bought the above for my MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) that runs on Big Sur 11.4. However, I've just read on other sites that this external drive does not run with Big Sur. I've taken it out of the box but not attempted to use it. Has this compatibility issue been resolved? If not, I hope the shop will take it back and give me a credit at least!
M

 

[MacInWin]

Define "runs" for us. You can format that drive to APFS, or HFS+ and it should work with Big Sur just fine. If you want to boot from it, that's a bit more challenging. So, what does "run" mean in this case?

 

[chscag]

I'm not a big fan of anything that WD makes, however, like Jake said, if you format that drive to APFS or HFS+ it should work with Big Sur.

Out of the box that drive will not work with macOS because of the embedded software that WD includes with the drive. Since you're not running Windows, just format it for your Mac and press on. If you feel uncomfortable about using the drive, return it.

 

[Mikeo512]

OK and thanks to both.
I should have said that the system version on my current Mac is Big Sur IOS 11.4. And that I've read that the WD 'My Passport' is reported not to mount on Macs with Big Sur.
See:

My Passport will not show up on iMac running macOS Big Sur

I have reached out to WD Customer Support and exhausted all troubleshooting suggestions with them. Since my device reached End of Support in 2013, there really isn’t anything more they can do. Maybe someone else has seen this issue and might be able to help! I’m pasting below all of the...

community.wd.com

I've only ever used Lacie external drives before; they have performed well and were easy to set up. I was in a hurry and didn't look around properly as it was just on closing time. I'd assumed that the WD 'My Passport' would more or less be plug-and-play. I want to use it for temporary storage of e-mails that are 'On My Mac'.

I hope they'll take it back - all I did was remove it from the box and then look for reports about the set-up.
M

 

[MacInWin]

I have multiple WD My Passports and they work with my Big Sur just fine. Formatted for APFS/HFS+ using disk utility.

I doubt the store will take it back. For electronics, once the seal on the package is broken, it's pretty much yours. The store has no way to know if you attached it to something that destroyed it, they really can't resell it, so it's yours.

I've had several LaCie drives, and all of them failed me. I avoid LaCie.
For what you want, that drive should work fine. Use Disk Utility to format it to APFS and it will hold your mail just fine.

 

[Mikeo512]

OK and thanks for that tip.
I did wonder about the return but from what you say the drive should work if they don't take it back.
The formatting procedure via DU is straightforward enough.
M

 

[ferrarr]

You will also want to make sure the Scheme is set to GUID partition, not Master Boot Record.

 

[Mikeo512]

Thanks for all the information.
I want to copy the existing ‘On my Mac’ mailboxes to the external WD ‘My Passport’ drive.
Having first formatted the WD as described, I will export the Mailboxes to the WD drive.
This will copy them – it will not move them.
It will be possible to import them back into the Mac (or even to another Mac) if necessary.
Have I got this right?
Thanks in advance.
M

 

[chscag]

It will be possible to import them back into the Mac (or even to another Mac) if necessary.
Have I got this right?

Yes, as long as you used the Mail program to export them and did not make any changes to the file format or the mailbox file itself, you can import them.

But be warned... if you attempt to import mailboxes made with a different version of Mail that is on the Mac you're importing to, it may not work.

 

[Mikeo512]

OK and thanks for those warnings.
M

 

[Mikeo512]

I plugged in the WD My passport earlier this evening and got the message:
"Install Discovery for Mac.dmg"
(There was also an option for Windows, which does not apply, of course)

But presumably I first need to format 'My Passport' with Disk Utility APFS or HFS+ (my gut feeling is the former ... is that OK?)
And ensure that the Scheme is set to GUID partition, not Master Boot Record.

Is my understanding above correct - namely that I first need to do the formatting?

Thanks in advance - M

 

[harryb2448]

Yes APFS. And Big Sur 11.5 has been released.

 

[Mikeo512]

Further to my question about WD My Passport.
I confirm that I formatted as required and that everything is working fine.
Thanks to everyone who responded.
My download for 11.5 is up and running.
M

 

[MarkRL]

Which external SSD hard drives are compatible with a MacBook Pro 16" 2021 M1 chip running Monterey 12.1 OS please?

 

[MacInWin]

Which external SSD hard drives are compatible with a MacBook Pro 16" 2021 M1 chip running Monterey 12.1 OS please?

Welcome to the forum.

Just about any drive is compatible. It may need to be reformatted as the vendors tend to default the format for Windows. The interface, if you want to plug directly into the MBP, would need to be USBc/Thunderbolt4, or you can use a USB3 drive with an adapter from Apple to convert USBc to USB3.