FAT32 was introduced way back in Windows 95 and was the successor to the older FAT16 that was used on Dos and Windows 3.įAT is an acronym for File Allocation Table.
It currently works on all Windows versions, Mac and Linux. This is the reason it is also one of the most ubiquitous file systems and comes pre-installed on almost all USB you buy at a store. Unfortunately, FAT32 comes with limitations. One of the biggest drawbacks is a maximum file limit size of 4GB. In today's world where video files can often be larger than that, FAT32 is often impractical. NTFS: NTFS or NT file system is the default file system used by Windows.įAT32 also limits partition sizes to 8TB.NTFS has a huge file size and partition limits that are theoretically impossible to surpass. It originally debuted in Windows NT and later in Windows XP. Your device is preformatted exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) for compatibility with both Mac and Windows computers. NTFS is compatible with Windows but files can only be opened in read-only mode in Mac and some Linux distributions. exFAT: exFAT is an acronym for the Extended File Allocation Table. It was created by Microsoft to replace FAT32 and address its limitations. The system has a file limit size of approximately 16 exabytes (over 1 billion gigabytes!) and is compatible with both Windows and Mac. If you work in an environment where you constantly use a flash drive between a Windows and Mac computer, you may find that you constantly have to format USB. Step 3: Select the desired file system from NTFS, FAT, FAT32 or exFAT from the File System drop-down, then punch in the name that you wish to assign to the USB drive under Volume label. an app on your mobile phone which is capable of reading exFAT format. This will open a dialogue box displaying the formatting options. Is your SSD or Flash Drive now showing files when you connect it to your Mobile. exFAT formatted USB drive has no realistic partition size limits.įrom the above descriptions of the three of the main file systems, it becomes immediately apparent why you would need to format a flash drive to exFAT. Step 2: Right-click on the USB drive shown in My Computer and select Format. As already mentioned, the FAT32 file system has a file limit size of 4GB. You continuously use a flash drive between Windows and Mac.In such a situation, you need to format the USB to exFAT to accommodate large file sizes. In such a situation, your USB drives need to use a file system that is compatible with both operating systems. ExFAT formatted USB drive solves this problem beautifully.