Part 3: Bonus Tips to Convert 'FAT32' to NTFS on Mac and Linux 1. Convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' on Mac. You can easily convert a 'FAT32' file system to 'exFAT' using the 'Disk Utility' option on Mac. Follow the below steps for the following: Step 1: Go to 'Applications'-' Utilities' and launch 'Disk Utility'. While Mac OS X includes only read-only support for NTFS, Macs offer full read-write support for exFAT. ExFAT drives can be accessed on Linux by installing the appropriate software. While exFAT is compatible with Macs — and will be compatible with some devices that don't support NTFS, like digital cameras — it still isn't quite as. In the 'File System' dropdown, choose exFAT instead of NTFS. Click Start and close this window when finished. From then on, that drive should work fantastically between Mac and Windows machines. Microsoft exFAT/NTFS for USB by Paragon Software is a universal non-root method for transferring files between onboard memory of your Android device and Windows or Mac-formatted USB Flash Drive. The app is fully integrated with Paragon File System Link document provider, based on Storage Access Framework (SAF), that ensures access to device storage, cloud storage services, USB storages.
Oct 16, 2020 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions
'exFAT' file system is the latest file system that has been launched and many people are looking to convert from the 'FAT32' to the 'exFAT' file system. This article is for those looking to convert their file systems.
This article gives a brief detail on the difference between the 'FAT32' and 'exFAT' file systems, different ways to format 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' on Windows which include using file explorer, disk management, command prompt, and AOMEI partition assistant tool. In addition to this, you can also see some bonus tips to be followed while formatting the partitions.
Part 1: 'FAT32' vs. 'exFAT': What's the Difference and Which One Is Better?
'FAT32' (File Allocation Table) is the most popular file system as it is the oldest and is used by almost every Operating system. But, 'exFAT' is the latest file system which is widely used in formatting external and USB drives. Let us understand which one is better by comparing the following
| Feature | 'FAT32' | 'exFAT' |
| Devices Supported | Compatible on any Operating system, video game consoles, media players, Android USB expansions, and many other devices | 'exFAT' is also compatible on all types of devices as 'FAT32' but it might not work for some media players and Android devices |
| Sizes Supported | Supports the files which are up to a max of 4GB in size. | There is no limit for any file sizes. So it is widely used to store large-sized files. |
| Speed | When compared to 'exFAT', 'FAT32' is slow in writing and reading data | 'exFAT' is faster than 'FAT32' in writing and reading the data |
Based on the above table, it is proven that the 'exFAT' file system is far better than the 'FAT32' file system when you have files with large sizes and need effective and efficient formatting.
Part 2: How to Format 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' on Windows?
Way 1. Format 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' in File Explorer
Using File Explorer, you can format the flash drive from 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' easily and effectively following the below steps:
Step 1: Open File Explorer by pressing 'Windows' + 'E' keys.
Step 2: In the explorer look for your USB flash drive and right-click on it.
Step 3: Click on 'Format' and select 'exFAT' from the 'File System' list.
Step 4: Click the 'Start' button in the end.
Way 2: Convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' using CMD
You can convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' using a CMD prompt if you know the commands to perform the Diskpart. To use this Diskpart tool, you need to follow the below steps:
Step 1: Open Run dialog box and type 'diskpart ' to the run the Diskpart.
Step 2: Type the following command and press enter after every command:
- 'list disk'
- 'select disk n'
- 'list partition'
- 'select partition m'
- 'format fs = 'exFAT'
From above n = no of external drives, m = no of external drive partitions.
Step 3: Once all the above commands are executed, the formatting progress will be completed within a short time.
Way 3: Convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' with Windows Disk Management
Windows Disk Management is an effective built-in feature provided by Windows which helps you in managing the hard disk partitions without any difficulties or errors. It might not be an effective solution when compared to other third-party tools but it is enough to convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT'. For this follow the below steps:
Step 1: Open 'Disk Management' by right-clicking on the Windows start menu.
Step 2: Select the 'FAT32' formatted partition, right-click on it and click on 'Format'.
Step 3: In the format page, change the 'file system' to 'exFAT' from 'FAT32' and click on 'Ok'.
Step 4: Now the formatting process will start and you may lose all your data so make sure that the important data is taken as a backup.
Step 5: Once the formatting is done, you can see that 'FAT32' is converted to 'exFAT' in the disk management interface.
Way 4: Format 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' through a third-party converter
Generally, the above-mentioned methods may or may not work as they may face issues like write-protection, file system corruption, etc. In such cases, third-party tools like the AOMEI partition assistant can give better results in formatting the 'FAT32' to the 'exFAT' file system. Follow the below steps for using the AOMEI partition assistant tool.
An important point to note is to take a backup of all the important files and data because once the formatting has been started, you may lose all your data and it will be difficult to retrieve the data.
Follow the below steps for using the AOMEI partition assistant tool.
Step 1: Launch AOMEI
Download, install, and double click on the AOMEI icon to launch the AOMEI partition assistant tool.
Step 2: Format Partition
In the interface, choose the drive that you wish to format and right-click on it. In the menu displayed, click on 'Format Partition'.
Step 3: Choose 'exFAT'
In the 'Format Partition' interface, select 'exFAT' from the file system menu. 'Partition Label' and 'Cluster Size' can be added as per the need. Click on 'Ok' and 'Apply' to perform the formatting.
Following the above-mentioned steps, you can format your disk partition or drive from 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' easily and effectively.
Part 3: Bonus Tips to Convert 'FAT32' to NTFS on Mac and Linux
1. Convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' on Mac
You can easily convert a 'FAT32' file system to 'exFAT' using the 'Disk Utility' option on Mac. Follow the below steps for the following:
Ntfs Or Exfat For Mac Iso
Step 1: Go to 'Applications'->' Utilities' and launch 'Disk Utility'.
Step 2: In the Disk Utility interface, select the external drive that you want to format.
Step 3: Under the 'Erase' tab, select the 'exFAT' file type from the menu list.
Step 4: Click on the 'Erase' button to start the formatting from 'FAT32' to 'exFAT'.
2. Format 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' on Linux
To format 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' file system on Linux, follow the below steps:
Step 1: To view all the drives attached to your system, type sudo fdisk -l in the command line.
Step 2: Select the drive that you want to format and type sudo wipefs -a /dev/sdb to start fresh with a new 'exFAT' file system
Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions and select 'exFAT' from the message 'HPFS/NTFS/exFAT' it displays
Step 4: Press 'w' to sync the disk partitions.
Step 5: Type sudo mkfs.'exFAT' -n hardDisk /dev/sdb1 to format your drive to 'exFAT'
The Bottom Line
As mentioned in the article, different ways can be used to convert or format from the 'FAT32' to the 'exFAT' file system. Follow all the above-mentioned procedures to easily and effectively format your drive.
While formatting your drive using file explorer, command prompt, or disk management, you may find some trouble because of the issues like write-protection, file system corruption, etc. So, it is recommended to use the 'AOMEI Partition Assistant' a third party tool which provides an interactive and easy to use interface to format effectively without any interruptions.
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People Also Ask
When compared to 'FAT32', 'exFAT' is a better file system type in the following aspects:
- There is no file size limit for 'exFAT', but 'FAT32' can support up to a size of 4GB only.
- 'exFAT' file system performs faster writing and reading of data when compared to 'FAT32'.
You can convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' on Mac using the Disk utility option that it provides. In the disk utility, follow the below steps:
- Select the disk partition that you want to format from the list of disks displayed on the left pane of the interface.
- Under erase tab->File system, select 'exFAT' and click on erase.
This will format your partition completely with file type as 'exFAT'.
How do I convert my flash drive from 'exFAT' to 'FAT32'?
Converting your flash drive from 'exFAT' to 'FAT32' has become very easy now. Follow the below steps to format:
- Double-click on 'This PC' and from the list of drives select the flash drive.
- Right-click on the flash drive and click 'Format'.
- In the Format window, select the 'file type' as 'FAT32'.
- Click on Format.
Partition Recovery
- Partition Management
- Solve Partition Problems
- Partition Tips
USB drives are extremely convenient to use for carrying data around. They come in various capacity options, and easy to slip into your pocket or handbag, and they're far more durable than physical disks such as CDs, DVDs, and BDs. The only challenge with USB drives, however, is to know what file system to use when formatting them. This is especially important when holding big files or making bootable install disk.
The three most popular ones for formatting a USB drive are FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT, all of which are compatible with Windows-based computers as well as other devices. Let's look at each of these in detail and then get into how to format your USB drive with the appropriate file system on a Windows 10 PC.
FAT32
File Allocation Table 32, shortened to FAT32, was introduced with Windows 95 and is one of the oldest of the Windows file systems in use today. It is also the most widely used file system in the world because of its compatibility with multiple devices like smart TVs and media players.
However, it has one limitation in that you can't store file sizes that are larger than 4GB. That's a hard limit so even if you have a file like a Windows 10 ISO that's about 4.1GB, you can't store it on a USB drive that has been formatted with the FAT32 file system. This file system is generally recommended if you need to use the USB drive with different types of hardware because of its wide compatibility.
NTFS
NTFS is a Microsoft format that debuted with Windows NT, but it was only made available in consumer versions of Windows since Windows XP. The NT File system is the default one that your hard drive is formatted with when you install Windows. It offers several features that are neither found in FAT32 or exFAT, such as a change journal for recovery after errors or crashes, security using file permissions, encryption support, and more.
The biggest advantage is that the partition and file size limits are extremely high, which is the major difference between FAT32 and NTFS. The ideal use for these is for cloning system drives and other large chunks of data. It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, but doesn't work with the majority of other hardware devices.
exFAT
exFAT, Extended File Allocation Table File System can be considered an upgrade to the conventional FAT32 format because it has higher size limits and is more lightweight. Incidentally, a larger number of hardware devices can be used with USB drives that are formatted with exFAT than with NTFS, making it a good alternative to FAT32. As such, if compatibility with other devices is a concern, it's a better option than NTFS.
Now that we have an overview of the basic differences between the three file systems, let's learn how to go about formatting a USB drive with one of them.
Format USB to FAT32/NTFS/exFAT in Windows 10 or Windows 7
The process is fairly simple and only involves a couple of clicks and menu option selections, but you will need to make sure that all the data on the drive is backed up before formatting it. By definition, formatting a drive erases all data on that drive, so be sure to back up any data that's already on the USB drive.
Once you have secured your data, follow the steps shown below to format your USB drive in Windows 10:
Step 1: Insert your USB drive into your Windows PC and open File Explorer.
Step 2: Right-click on the drive and select Format… from the contextual menu. A small window will pop up.
- 'list disk'
- 'select disk n'
- 'list partition'
- 'select partition m'
- 'format fs = 'exFAT'
From above n = no of external drives, m = no of external drive partitions.
Step 3: Once all the above commands are executed, the formatting progress will be completed within a short time.
Way 3: Convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' with Windows Disk Management
Windows Disk Management is an effective built-in feature provided by Windows which helps you in managing the hard disk partitions without any difficulties or errors. It might not be an effective solution when compared to other third-party tools but it is enough to convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT'. For this follow the below steps:
Step 1: Open 'Disk Management' by right-clicking on the Windows start menu.
Step 2: Select the 'FAT32' formatted partition, right-click on it and click on 'Format'.
Step 3: In the format page, change the 'file system' to 'exFAT' from 'FAT32' and click on 'Ok'.
Step 4: Now the formatting process will start and you may lose all your data so make sure that the important data is taken as a backup.
Step 5: Once the formatting is done, you can see that 'FAT32' is converted to 'exFAT' in the disk management interface.
Way 4: Format 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' through a third-party converter
Generally, the above-mentioned methods may or may not work as they may face issues like write-protection, file system corruption, etc. In such cases, third-party tools like the AOMEI partition assistant can give better results in formatting the 'FAT32' to the 'exFAT' file system. Follow the below steps for using the AOMEI partition assistant tool.
An important point to note is to take a backup of all the important files and data because once the formatting has been started, you may lose all your data and it will be difficult to retrieve the data.
Follow the below steps for using the AOMEI partition assistant tool.
Step 1: Launch AOMEI
Download, install, and double click on the AOMEI icon to launch the AOMEI partition assistant tool.
Step 2: Format Partition
In the interface, choose the drive that you wish to format and right-click on it. In the menu displayed, click on 'Format Partition'.
Step 3: Choose 'exFAT'
In the 'Format Partition' interface, select 'exFAT' from the file system menu. 'Partition Label' and 'Cluster Size' can be added as per the need. Click on 'Ok' and 'Apply' to perform the formatting.
Following the above-mentioned steps, you can format your disk partition or drive from 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' easily and effectively.
Part 3: Bonus Tips to Convert 'FAT32' to NTFS on Mac and Linux
1. Convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' on Mac
You can easily convert a 'FAT32' file system to 'exFAT' using the 'Disk Utility' option on Mac. Follow the below steps for the following:
Ntfs Or Exfat For Mac Iso
Step 1: Go to 'Applications'->' Utilities' and launch 'Disk Utility'.
Step 2: In the Disk Utility interface, select the external drive that you want to format.
Step 3: Under the 'Erase' tab, select the 'exFAT' file type from the menu list.
Step 4: Click on the 'Erase' button to start the formatting from 'FAT32' to 'exFAT'.
2. Format 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' on Linux
To format 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' file system on Linux, follow the below steps:
Step 1: To view all the drives attached to your system, type sudo fdisk -l in the command line.
Step 2: Select the drive that you want to format and type sudo wipefs -a /dev/sdb to start fresh with a new 'exFAT' file system
Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions and select 'exFAT' from the message 'HPFS/NTFS/exFAT' it displays
Step 4: Press 'w' to sync the disk partitions.
Step 5: Type sudo mkfs.'exFAT' -n hardDisk /dev/sdb1 to format your drive to 'exFAT'
The Bottom Line
As mentioned in the article, different ways can be used to convert or format from the 'FAT32' to the 'exFAT' file system. Follow all the above-mentioned procedures to easily and effectively format your drive.
While formatting your drive using file explorer, command prompt, or disk management, you may find some trouble because of the issues like write-protection, file system corruption, etc. So, it is recommended to use the 'AOMEI Partition Assistant' a third party tool which provides an interactive and easy to use interface to format effectively without any interruptions.
iTunes. Remove itunes for mac.
People Also Ask
When compared to 'FAT32', 'exFAT' is a better file system type in the following aspects:
- There is no file size limit for 'exFAT', but 'FAT32' can support up to a size of 4GB only.
- 'exFAT' file system performs faster writing and reading of data when compared to 'FAT32'.
You can convert 'FAT32' to 'exFAT' on Mac using the Disk utility option that it provides. In the disk utility, follow the below steps:
- Select the disk partition that you want to format from the list of disks displayed on the left pane of the interface.
- Under erase tab->File system, select 'exFAT' and click on erase.
This will format your partition completely with file type as 'exFAT'.
How do I convert my flash drive from 'exFAT' to 'FAT32'?
Converting your flash drive from 'exFAT' to 'FAT32' has become very easy now. Follow the below steps to format:
- Double-click on 'This PC' and from the list of drives select the flash drive.
- Right-click on the flash drive and click 'Format'.
- In the Format window, select the 'file type' as 'FAT32'.
- Click on Format.
Partition Recovery
- Partition Management
- Solve Partition Problems
- Partition Tips
USB drives are extremely convenient to use for carrying data around. They come in various capacity options, and easy to slip into your pocket or handbag, and they're far more durable than physical disks such as CDs, DVDs, and BDs. The only challenge with USB drives, however, is to know what file system to use when formatting them. This is especially important when holding big files or making bootable install disk.
The three most popular ones for formatting a USB drive are FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT, all of which are compatible with Windows-based computers as well as other devices. Let's look at each of these in detail and then get into how to format your USB drive with the appropriate file system on a Windows 10 PC.
FAT32
File Allocation Table 32, shortened to FAT32, was introduced with Windows 95 and is one of the oldest of the Windows file systems in use today. It is also the most widely used file system in the world because of its compatibility with multiple devices like smart TVs and media players.
However, it has one limitation in that you can't store file sizes that are larger than 4GB. That's a hard limit so even if you have a file like a Windows 10 ISO that's about 4.1GB, you can't store it on a USB drive that has been formatted with the FAT32 file system. This file system is generally recommended if you need to use the USB drive with different types of hardware because of its wide compatibility.
NTFS
NTFS is a Microsoft format that debuted with Windows NT, but it was only made available in consumer versions of Windows since Windows XP. The NT File system is the default one that your hard drive is formatted with when you install Windows. It offers several features that are neither found in FAT32 or exFAT, such as a change journal for recovery after errors or crashes, security using file permissions, encryption support, and more.
The biggest advantage is that the partition and file size limits are extremely high, which is the major difference between FAT32 and NTFS. The ideal use for these is for cloning system drives and other large chunks of data. It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, but doesn't work with the majority of other hardware devices.
exFAT
exFAT, Extended File Allocation Table File System can be considered an upgrade to the conventional FAT32 format because it has higher size limits and is more lightweight. Incidentally, a larger number of hardware devices can be used with USB drives that are formatted with exFAT than with NTFS, making it a good alternative to FAT32. As such, if compatibility with other devices is a concern, it's a better option than NTFS.
Now that we have an overview of the basic differences between the three file systems, let's learn how to go about formatting a USB drive with one of them.
Format USB to FAT32/NTFS/exFAT in Windows 10 or Windows 7
The process is fairly simple and only involves a couple of clicks and menu option selections, but you will need to make sure that all the data on the drive is backed up before formatting it. By definition, formatting a drive erases all data on that drive, so be sure to back up any data that's already on the USB drive.
Once you have secured your data, follow the steps shown below to format your USB drive in Windows 10:
Step 1: Insert your USB drive into your Windows PC and open File Explorer.
Step 2: Right-click on the drive and select Format… from the contextual menu. A small window will pop up.
Step 3: Depending on what the purpose of the USB drive is, choose the appropriate file system. For greater compatibility, FAT32 is best, but if you want to put large media files, then exFAT is preferred. NTFS is great if you're only using the drive on other Windows systems. Your purpose of use should be the main deciding factor when picking a file system, considering each one's limitations on size limits vs. compatibility.
Step 4: Set the other parameters like Quick Format. When the box is not ticked, it will check for bad sectors, which is a good idea if your drive was corrupted before formatting.
Step 5: Click on Start, and your USB drive will be formatted to the file system that you selected in Step 3. Once you see 'Format Complete' on your screen, you can eject the drive and remove it from the computer. It is now ready to use.
Ntfs Or Exfat For Mac
How to Format USB to FAT32/exFAT on Mac
Creating Windows 10 bootable USB on Mac is a common task for people who have multiple computers at home. You have to format the drive to exFAT or FAT32 if the burning process failed due to the wrong partition scheme. The good news is that formatting USB on Mac is also as easy as on Windows 10.
Step 1: Insert the target USB drive into Mac and you should see the drive name on Finder sidebar.
Step 2: Find and open Disk Utility from Launchpad.
Step 3: Click on the USB drive name in Disk Utility app and click 'Restore' button displayed on the top menu. At this time, a couple of formatting options available. There are: Mac OS Extended, MS-DOS(FAT) and ExFAT.
Ntfs Or Exfat For Windows Mac And Linux
Step 4: Select one of the format from drop-down menu and click 'Erase' to start formatting USB to FAT or ExFAT on Mac.
Ntfs Or Exfat For Mac Windows 7
Summary
Ntfs Or Exfat For Mac Os
This is the easiest way to format your USB drive in Windows 10 or Mac. Alternatively, you can also use the DISKPART command line utility in Windows CMD to do this, but it requires some level of technical knowledge and is not generally recommended for new or inexperienced users.
