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WD My Book Desktop

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description WD My Book Desktop Overview

While technically a desktop unit, the My Book is often considered when Mac users need massive, dedicated backup storage that doesn't fit on a portable drive. It offers high capacity in a stationary format, perfect for setting up a reliable, always-on backup station for a home studio or small office environment connected to a Mac.

help WD My Book Desktop FAQ

Does the WD My Book Desktop require an external power source?

Yes, because it is a 3.5-inch desktop hard drive, it requires the included AC adapter to power on. Unlike portable 2.5-inch drives, it cannot draw enough power solely from a USB cable. This ensures the high-capacity drive has enough energy to spin the internal platters.

Is the WD My Book formatted for Mac or Windows out of the box?

It comes pre-formatted as NTFS, which is native to Windows operating systems. To use it seamlessly on a Mac for Time Machine backups, you will need to reformat it to APFS or Mac OS Extended. You can easily do this using the Disk Utility application on macOS.

Can I take the internal drive out of the WD My Book enclosure?

While people often shuck these drives to remove the internal white-label Western Digital HDD for use in a NAS or PC, doing so will void your warranty. The plastic case is designed to be permanently sealed to protect the drive. It is generally easier to just buy a bare internal drive if you need one.

What kind of USB connection does the WD My Book Desktop use?

It uses a USB 3.2 Gen 1 connection via a Micro-B port on the back of the drive. The package includes the necessary cable to connect it directly to your computer. This ensures fast data transfer rates for backing up large files.

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