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Why can't I format my external SSD drive to Mac?

Why can't I format my external SSD drive to Mac? I'm selected the the external drive at device level--- not volume. I'm also choosing to format as: "Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and the scheme is: "GUID Partition Map". However, I am getting error message: "Couldn't open disk: (69879) Operation failed..."

Posted on Jun 11, 2022 8:42 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 11, 2022 8:46 AM

DJBSincere wrote:

Why can't I format my external SSD drive to Mac? I'm selected the the external drive at device level--- not volume. I'm also choosing to format as: "Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and the scheme is: "GUID Partition Map". However, I am getting error message: "Couldn't open disk: (69879) Operation failed..."


If the drive is failing it is an issue.


Typically, especially by the time you are using Monterey you want to see GUID/APFS



Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 11, 2022 8:46 AM in response to DJBSincere

DJBSincere wrote:

Why can't I format my external SSD drive to Mac? I'm selected the the external drive at device level--- not volume. I'm also choosing to format as: "Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and the scheme is: "GUID Partition Map". However, I am getting error message: "Couldn't open disk: (69879) Operation failed..."


If the drive is failing it is an issue.


Typically, especially by the time you are using Monterey you want to see GUID/APFS



Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support


Why can't I format my external SSD drive to Mac?

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