# How to format a USB NVME disk for iPhone ProRes shooting

## Windows CMD (Command Prompt)

Run CMD as Administrator and use these commands:

```plaintext
diskpart
list disk
select disk X
```

(Replace X with your USB drive number - be very careful to select the correct disk!)

```plaintext
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
format fs=exfat quick unit=128k label="ProRes"
assign
exit
```

### Alternative using format command:

If you already know the drive letter (e.g., E:), you can use:

```plaintext
format E: /FS:exFAT /A:128K /Q /V:ProRes
```

## macOS Terminal

For Mac users, use this command:

```bash
diskutil eraseDisk ExFAT "ProRes" /dev/diskX
```

(Replace X with your disk identifier - find it with `diskutil list`)

Or with specific allocation size:

```bash
diskutil eraseDisk ExFAT "ProRes" /dev/diskX -b 131072
```

(131072 bytes = 128KB allocation unit size)

## Important Notes:

1. **File System**: Use **exFAT** for best compatibility between iPhone and computers
    
2. **Allocation Unit Size**: 128KB (131072 bytes) is recommended for video recording
    
3. **USB Speed**: Ensure your drive supports USB 3.0 or faster (USB-C preferred)
    
4. **Drive Speed Requirements**:
    
    * ProRes 422 HQ: ~220 MB/s sustained write speed
        
    * ProRes 4444: ~330 MB/s sustained write speed
        
5. **iPhone Compatibility**: Works with iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and later models
    

**Warning**: These commands will completely erase all data on the selected disk. Always double-check you're selecting the correct drive before executing the format command!