

He has been using computers for 20 years - tinkering with everything from the UI to the Windows registry to device firmware. Nick Lewis is a staff writer for How-To Geek. ext2, ext3, & ext4: The extended file system (ext) was the first file system created specifically for the Linux kernel.exFAT: The extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) builds on FAT32 and offers a lightweight system without all the overhead of NTFS.

FAT32: The File Allocation Table 32 (FAT32) was the standard Windows file system before NTFS.APFS was released with iOS 10.3 and macOS 10.13, and has become the norm in modern versions of the operating systems. APFS: The proprietary Apple file system developed as a replacement for HFS+, with a focus on flash drives, SSDs, and encryption.HFS+: The Hierarchical File System (HFS+) was the file system older Macs used by default.NTFS: The NT File System (NTFS) is the file system that modern Windows versions use by default.We're going to take a look at these two factors as they relate to the most common file systems:
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Because of this variety, you need to format portable disks so that they can move easily between the different operating systems you expect to use.īut to make that decision, you need to understand the two major factors that can affect your file system choice: portability and file size limits. And if you carry files to friends' houses or when you travel, you never know what type of system you may want those files on. Many businesses and households have multiple PCs of different types in their home - Windows, macOS, and Linux being the most common. When you format a disk, the file system you choose essentially governs which devices can read or write to the disk. Since these file systems are key to the operating system making sense of the data, an OS cannot read data off of a disk without support for the file system with which the disk is formatted. Since only binary data is actually written to disks, the file systems provide a way to translate the physical recordings on a disk to the format read by an OS. Understanding File System Problemsĭifferent file systems offer different ways of organizing data on a disk. So, let's take a look at the major file systems, and hopefully, you can figure out the best solution for formatting your USB drive. But it can be confusing understanding what devices and operating systems support which file systems - especially when all you want to do is transfer some files or keep your collection readable by all the devices you use. The most common file systems are FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS on Windows, APFS and HFS+ on macOS, and EXT on Linux -though you may run into others on occasion.
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How do you know your Mac, Xbox, and Windows PC can read your files? Read on to find your perfect USB drive solution.įile systems are the sort of thing that many computer users take for granted. It can be tough transporting your videos and music to every device you use.
