how to format in fato exfat

If you lot asked me what is the perfect format for a removable drive, I would have to call back about my respond and I would end upward formulating another: Perfect for what? Surely you would reply me that to shop data, but I mean in which computers that pendrive is going to be used. The problem is that at that place are Mac, Windows and Linux and not all of them can read or write in all formats. What in that location are are two universal formats: FAT and exFAT.

So what is my recommendation? I take it clear, but first we have to explain a little in a higher place what each of the formats is. If we are going to use a pendrive on whatsoever reckoner Regardless of your operating system, it would not brand sense to format the bulldoze in a format not supported by any of them. Below we will explain what each format is used for.

Table of Contents

  • 1 Format types
    • 1.1 NTFS
    • i.ii Mac OS X Extended
    • 1.3 Fat:
    • 1.4 exFAT
  • 2 ExFAT or NTFS
  • 3 How to format pendrive in exFAT

Format types

NTFS

ntfs format

The format NTFS (New Technology File System) was created by Microsoft in 1993 for its operating system. Without going into too much detail, nosotros have to bear in mind that Mac Os Ten can read, just non write, on a drive formatted in NTFS. Without installing third-party tools, nosotros will non even exist able to format a pendrive in NTFS from a Mac and, if we want to use it on our estimator without having to install software that is not necessary (every bit we will explain later), it is all-time non to format our pen drives in NTFS .

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If you lot prefer to use the NTFS format, you lot have to know that there are tertiary-party tools that give Os X the ability to read and write to NTFS, such every bit Paragon NTFS or Tuxera NTFS. Simply, I insist, it is not worth it if we take into account that in that location are more universal formats.
NTFS works well for hard drives on computers using Windows every bit the operating system.

Mac OS X Extended

To summarize, nosotros could say that Mac OS X Extended It is the same as NTFS, but in this case everything is designed for Apple tree's desktop operating system. If we have a pendrive that we are too going to use in Windows, it is not worth formatting information technology in Mac OS X Plus because it volition not be able to admission its data. Better to use one of the following two options.
Mac OS X Extended it should exist used simply on hard drives on which Os 10 is to exist installed.

FAT:

format fat32

Created its commencement version in 1980 and the terminal (FAT32) in 1995, it could exist said that Fat (File Allocation Table) is the most universal file arrangement. It can be used fifty-fifty on devices such every bit consoles, mobiles, etc., but it has a big trouble if nosotros only want to use it on desktop computers: the maximum supported past FAT32 is 4GB. If, for example, we have a 5GB video and a Fat-formatted pendrive, we will have two options: either separate the file into 2 parts or leave it where information technology was because nosotros will non exist able to put it in our Pendrive.

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Every bit I said earlier, FAT, FAT16 and FAT32 should only be used on removable drives that we want to use, for example, in a Sony PSP or memories for cameras.

exFAT

exfat format

Finally nosotros take the format exFAT (Extended File Resource allotment Tabular array), the evolution of FAT32. It was also created by Microsoft and is compatible from Snow Leopard onwards and from XP onwards, just there are important differences from the previous version, such as the maximum file size in exFAT which is 16EiB. Without a doubt this Is the all-time option If we want to apply a pendrive on Windows, Mac and Linux computers, although the latter cannot be formatted without installing software.

We will use exFAT to format whatsoever external difficult drive or pendrive that we desire employ in especially on Mac and Windows. If nosotros have to employ it on devices such equally the same consoles or cameras, we volition not use this format.

ExFAT or NTFS

If you hesitate between ExFAT or NTFS, based on what nosotros just saw, the almost logical thing is to format a pendrive or external memory unit in ExFAT format since it is the selection that ensures the best compatibility, compatible with all current operating systems.

How to format pendrive in exFAT

Those of you who have never heard of this format, fear not. Formatting a hard drive, external or USB pendrive on Mac is very simple and the process does not change much if what we want is to format it in exFAT. But, to avoid defoliation, I will detail the steps:

guide format in exfat

  1. We have to open the Deejay utility. In that location are three dissimilar ways to access it: from the Launchpad, which is what you accept in the screenshots, entering the Applications / Others / Disk Utility binder or, my favorite, from Spotlight, which I access past pressing it Time the CTRL + Spacebar buttons.

steps format exfat

  1. In one case in the disk utility, nosotros will see an prototype like the 1 in the capture. Nosotros click on our unit of measurement. In that location is no clicking on what is inside the unit. That's the only sectionalisation there is, and so more volition appear if we have more partitions. Since what we desire is to format everything, we select the root.
  2. Adjacent, we click Delete, which is the equivalent of formatting in Windows.
  3. Nosotros unfold the menu and choose exFAT.
  4. Finally, we click on «Delete».

I take not formatted anything in NTFS for a long time. ExFAT is the format of all my external drives and at present you lot can exercise the same yourself.