Wondering what the best format for your new external hard drive is. A window will pop up where you can choose the format ntfs, fat32, or exfat. Limited file size upto 4gb and partition size upto 16tb usage. The first format, fat32, is fully compatible with mac os. Select one of the format from dropdown menu and click erase to start formatting usb to fat or exfat on mac. Like ntfs, exfat has very large file size and partition size limits. Sep 19, 2011 the overwhelming majority of usb flash drives you buy are going to come in one of two formats. Read only ntfs from native mac os x to readwriteformat ntfs from mac os x. How to share an external hard drive between mac and windows. By default, macs use hfs, while pcs use ntfs, which are not compatible with each other. Apr 23, 2020 fat32, ntfs, and exfat are the three file systems users commonly use for windows system.
A western digital external hard drive can be used on both windows and mac osx. Format a usb drive as exfat for mac and windows compatibility. How do i convert an ntfs external hdd to exfat without formatting. But, you can use readwrite compatibility for all ntfsformatted usb drives in mac. Thanks for answering my question about unit size with exfat. Its designed to be a lightweight file system as fat32 but with certain advantages over ntfs.
Use the exfat file system and never format your external drive. The fat32 file system is compatible with windows, mac and the linux operating systems. Being an upgrade over fat 32 system, this is an obvious option to enjoy the benefits of the exfat file system without the limitations. However, you may sometimes need to format an external drive with fat32 if exfat isnt supported on a device you need to use it with. This means if you plug an ntfs formatted thumbdrive into a mac you can copy the contents from it, but. How to format a drive for mac and pc compatibility macyourself. Fat32, ntfs, and exfat are the three file systems users commonly use for windows system. Ntfs on linux systems is spotty for both read and write operations. Difference between fat32, exfat, and ntfs file system. Whether youre formatting an internal drive, external drive, usb flash. Sep 20, 2019 exfat should basically only be used on drives that need to work with both windows and macos computers. Fat32, ntfs, and exfat are the three file systems created by microsoft which used to store data on storage devices. Formatting a ssd as ntfs or exfat data backup spiceworks.
While exfat doesnt quite match fat32s compatibility, it is more widelycompatible than ntfs. Jul 15, 2018 external drive used for windows and mac. If the drive comes formatted in ntfs, which is the default file system for. Aug 29, 2019 the exfat format is compatible with mac and also with some devices that do not support ntfs, such as digital cameras even if they are not yet fully compatible. If you have a windows pc nt on, including windows 7, then your system drive is most likely formatted in the ntfs format. Nov 22, 2014 thanks for answering my question about unit size with exfat. Then, you can do as the following stepbystep instruction. Let us looks at some of the most notable differences between exfat vs ntfs vs fat32. With ntfs3g or another ntfs driver installed, virtually every mac can read and write ntfs. While exfat is compatible with macs and will be compatible with some devices that dont support ntfs, like digital cameras it still isnt quite as. To answer the question, it is necessary to illustrate the advantage of new technology file system.
At the time of the installation of windows, ntfs format the system drive using the file particular file system. Regarding ntfs vs fat speeds, years ago i had read that fat was faster and i often format a partition for the swappage file as fat for the slight performance increase. Like ntfs, this format too supports a large file and disk partition size limits therefore, you can surpass the 4 gb limit of the previous system. Dec 21, 2018 fat32, ntfs, and exfat are the three file systems created by microsoft which used to store data on storage devices. The catch is, ntfs can be read by mac oses, but not written to without thirdparty software. The windows systems, developed by microsoft, have become standards for a lot of storage devices, though, so youll see them on devices much more frequently than. This file system can be read and written by both mac and windows with support for single files of up to 128 petabytes. However, virtually every windows pc in use can read and write ntfs. Mar 06, 2020 differences between exfat vs ntfs vs fat32. Make sure the allocation unit size is set to default and type in a volume label.
Just right click on the disk drive in windows file explorer and choose format, then you will get the options. Apfs vs ntfs vs macos extended vs hfs mac optimization. Jul 16, 20 there are other hacks and workarounds for ntfs on the mac, but in any case ntfs is only semicompatible with os x. If you plan on using an external drive with both macs and pcs, you should format the disk with the exfat file system instead. Hence, today in this article we will detail each of them and explain which. In the file system dropdown, choose exfat instead of ntfs. Windows, mac, linux, gaming consoles, practically any device with a usb port. Jako prvni pametova karta s timto formatem byla sdxc od spolecnosti pretec s kapacitou 32 gib, vyrobena v breznu 2009 jako prototyp. I have since seen contradicting info that ntfs is faster. It is also compatible with gaming consoles as well as with any device with a usb port.
Now, exfat is the newer version of fat32, and it solves most of the problems with the previous format. Sementara exfat kompatibel dengan mac dan bisa kompatibel dengan beberapa device yang tidak mendukung ntfs, ia masih belum cukup. Instead of reformatting it all the time, just use the much more platformindependent exfat and never format it again. Readonly with mac osx by default, and may be readonly by default with some linux. But since its new, its not compatible with older operating systems. Exfat a newer file format, supported in mac os x 10. I did not have the option for fat rather only exfat. The format dialog in windows doesnt explain the difference, so we will. The reason for its ubiquity is that it will work on any pc you plug it into, including both macs and pcs, linux boxes, and vintage machines that use. When we format a hard drive internal or external whether it is a usb drive or an sd card, we can usually choose different file systems. Actually you would use hfs extended or apfs for the mac. The nt file system is the most modern out of all three of the file systems available. Mar 15, 20 exfat vs ntfs file system comparison benchmark for flash drives pcwizkid pcwizkids tech talk.
To format ntfs to exfat, you have to connect the external drive to computer running windows and free download aomei partition assistant standard. Format a disk for windows computers in disk utility on mac apple. Difference between fat32, exfat, and ntfs file system a file system provides a way of organizing a drive. Most manufacturers use fat32 for crossplatform compatibility. Native ntfs support can be enabled in snow leopard, but is not advisable, due to instability. At this time, a couple of formatting options available. You can format the drive on your mac or windows computer. Formatting a disk or volume erases all the files on it. This article will illustrate to the differences between the three, analyzing their pros and cons, compatibility and usage in an allrounded way.
It is very easy to format a storage device to any of the three file systems on a windows computer. Apfs, or apple file system, is the default file system for solid state drives and flash memory in 2017s macos high sierra. From then on, that drive should work fantastically between mac and windows machines. No matter its a newly bought flash drive or a used one, you can directly use a capable usb format tool to format the usb drive to fat32 or ntfs. While mac os x includes only readonly support for ntfs, macs offer full readwrite support for exfat. Can macos high sierra read, and write on exfat devices. Fat32 is an older file system thats largely relegated to. This means you can store files that are larger than 4 gb apiece on a flash drive or. There are other hacks and workarounds for ntfs on the mac, but in any case ntfs is only semicompatible with os x. In disk utility on your mac, format a disk that can be used with both windows computers and mac computers. A file system uses a set of rules to control how data is stored and retrieved on a storage device.
This is the format that is used with all current versions of windows. One is to use a paid 3rd party tool to add ntfs write support to a mac, such as paragons ntfs for mac tool. The difference between ft32, ntfs, and exfat is the storage size that the file. Whats the difference between fat32, exfat, ntfs and which. The exfat format is compatible with mac and also with some devices that do not support ntfs, such as digital cameras even if they are not yet fully compatible. The first format, fat32, is fully compatible with mac os x, though with some drawbacks. In addition, microsofts xbox 360 is not supported, while the xbox itself. How to share files between mac os x and windows with boot camp. Difference between usb drive file systems ntfs vs fat32 vs. Jika mac hanya bisa read untuk ntfs, mac bisa memiliki full akses terhadap exfat. Before digging in, select a primary format youll use the most.
This means if you plug an ntfsformatted thumbdrive. Feb 25, 2019 exfat extended file allocation table is the file system optimized for flash drives. Jun 24, 2016 while mac os x includes only readonly support for ntfs, macs offer full readwrite support for exfat. Format the new drive on the win 7 machine, right click on its icon and format. For a hard drive to be able to be read and written to in both a pc and mac computer, it must be formatted to exfat or fat32 file format. Format exfat to ntfsfatfat32 using windows disk management first, you need to delete the exfat partition off from your drive and then create a new ntfsfatfat32 volume. Ntfs is the modern file system that is used as default in windows device. To make it happen, lets open disk management by rightclicking this pc in windows. Jan 31, 2019 ntfs and exfat are two different kinds of file system that can be read and write in windows operating system. It is the second most common, behind the exfat, and is used by windows and most flash drives.
Understandably, it is the default file system for windows pcs. Whether youre formatting an internal drive, external drive, usb flash drive, or sd card, windows will give you the choice of ntfs, fat32, and exfat. I believe macs can read data from drives formatted in ntfs but cant write to them. Whats the difference between fat32, exfat, and ntfs. By widely used i mean supported by different operating systems. Fat32 is an older file system thats largely relegated to usb flash drives and other external drives. The format dates back to 2006, and was made by microsoft to provide some of the crossplatform compatibility of the older fat32 format without the file and partition size limitations. Many users want windows 10 format external drive exfat to apply that drive to mac os or ps4. It is easy to conceive of a situation where you will not have access to missioncritical files on an exfat drive.
Your choice is msdos aka fat32 or exfat and i go over the difference in the video. First released in 2016, it offers all sorts of benefits over mac os extended, the previous default. But contrary to its name, its a rather old file system that was developed by microsoft decades ago and launched in 1993. What is the difference between fat32 exfat and ntfs. Ntfs and exfat are two different kinds of file system that can be read and write in windows operating system. Dec 25, 2016 your choice is msdos aka fat32 or exfat and i go over the difference in the video. I am sure if you check your windows computer you will see that the default file system being used is ntfs. Ntfs is ideal for internal drives, while exfat is generally ideal for flash drives. The overwhelming majority of usb flash drives you buy are going to come in one of two formats.
It specifies how data is stored on the drive and what types of information can be attached to filesfilenames, permissions, and other attributes. If you have ever formatted a hard drive as ntfs, you know that there is a lot of trouble in getting it to work with mac and linux. Use the exfat file system and never format your external. Exfat should basically only be used on drives that need to work with both windows and macos computers. Choose this format if the size of the disk is over 32 gb. Select your drive from the list and rightclick on it. Apfs vs ntfs vs macos extended vs hfs apple migrated its users to a new, modern file system called apple file system alongside the release of macos high sierra 10.
This is the easiest way to format your usb drive in windows 10 or mac. The other is to format your drives with the exfat file system. How to format usb to fat32ntfsexfat on windows and mac. As a matter of fact, in windows os for example, there are many accessible ways for users to format a disk. Ntfs windows nt file system readwrite ntfs from native windows. Open up windows explorer and rightclick on your drive in the sidebar. Much like the previous version, exfat also works with both mac and windows operating systems. If you want to write to ntfs formatted hard drives in mac os x, youre going to need. Aug 29, 2016 the catch is, ntfs can be read by mac oses, but not written to without thirdparty software. While it may sound like a weightloss product from a latenight infomercial, exfat is a hard drive format that feels like the child of ntfs and fat32. Format your external drive with exfat for both mac and. You can use fuse for macos to write over ntfs formatted disk by following these steps.
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