File Systems for External Drives – Which One is the Best?

Are you running out of storage space and wondering what to do? The simplest solution would be to get an external drive. When you search for external storage, you might come across terms like NTFS, FAT32, etc. Unless you are a technology freak, these terms might appear Greek to you.

In layman’s terms, these refer to the file format. The disk format tells the drive how to store files, and certain formats might be compatible with specific operating systems. In this guide, you will learn about the different file systems for external drives to make your choice easier. However, you can always change the file system by formatting the drive. So let’s first look at how to format an external drive.

Formatting an External Storage Device on Mac

If you wonder how to format SD card on Mac, USB drive, or external hard drive, here’s how to do it. First, you must plug the device into your system and head to Applications. Click Utilities and open Disk Utility. Then, you need to choose the relevant drive or device and click Erase. You can give the device a name and select the desired format. Then, click Erase to reformat the device.

Formatting an External Storage Device on Windows

On your Windows computer, plug in your external drive. If there’s already any written data, remember to back it up before proceeding to the other steps. Then, open Windows Explorer and click the Computer section to find your drive. Right-click on the drive and select Format. Then, you have to select the file system you wish to use under File System and check the Quick Format option. Next, under Volume Label, you have to name your external storage device and click Start to format it. Once you are done, safely remove the drive and unplug it.

Different File Systems for External Drives

• HFS+

Macs read NTFS-formatted hard drives by default. So, users need a third-party driver to write to NTFS formatted drives. Mac users are better off using HFS+ for native support. It supports large files and uses Unicode for naming files. The format has optional journal features for enhanced data reliability. Being a proprietary system of Apple, the HFS+ formatted drives cannot work with other devices and operating systems. Windows computers won’t even recognize the drive.

• NTFS

The hard drive in a Windows computer typically runs the NTFS format. The format has limits for file size, and the partitions are large. It offers additional features like hard links, security permissions to folders and files, a change journal, etc. Although the format works natively with Windows PCs, it does not work well with other OS. For example, Macs can only read this format and cannot write to them.

• FAT32

FAT32 was created to replace FAT16, and it is an old format. Its continued use is because it is compatible with modern and older systems. However, this format has partition and file size limitations. Even the filenames are limited and allow up to eight characters.

In FAT32, a file can be as big as 4GB, which is quite restricting because a typical uncompressed Blu-ray movie would be between twenty to forty GB. Therefore, the format is usually used for moving files to older systems.

• APFS

If you are using a Mac running macOS High Sierra or later, you might want to consider converting your external USB flash drive or SSD to APFS (Apple File System). The format is optimized for all-flash storage and features strong encryption, fast directory sizing, space sharing, and augmented file system fundamentals.

APFS can only be read by macOS systems running High Sierra or later. So, if you wish to use the external drive to move files between devices running different versions of macOS, you are recommended to format your drive in HFS+.

• exFAT

exFat is a hard drive format that appears to be the child of FAT32 and NTFS. The format takes everything good about FAT32, like the ease of use and compatibility. However, it leaves out the negatives, like the limited 4GB file size. On the other hand, the format allows for large files and partition sizes. Also, this format is an excellent option if you have to work with Mac and Windows computers. It makes it easier to transfer files between two OS and reduces the hassle. Moreover, Linux is also supported, but you might have to install additional programs to take full advantage of the format.

The Bottom Line

If you are considering purchasing or reformatting an external hard drive, you must keep in mind the file systems. You have to consider the OS you are using and your requirements before making the purchase. This guide will give you a fair idea about the different formats and make your decision easier. Also, there’s no best format because it depends on your needs, the OS, and the drive you purchase.