How do I make my flash drive compatible with Mac and PC?
If you’re frequently using both Macs and PCs with the same drive, the ideal solution is to configure a USB drive with a file system that both operating systems can read. That file system is called exFAT, and it’s designed for flash media cross-platform compatibility.
Does exFAT work for both Mac and PC?
Your exFAT-formatted drive or partition can now be used for both Windows and Mac.
What format should my USB be for Mac and Windows?
The Bottom Line If you absolutely, positively will only be working with Macs and no other system, ever: Use Mac OS Extended (Journaled). If you need to transfer files larger than 4 GB between Macs and PCs: Use exFAT. In all other cases: Use MS-DOS (FAT), aka FAT32.
Does FAT32 work on Mac and Windows?
However, FAT32 and exFAT work with nearly all operating systems.
What format is compatible with Mac and PC?
QWhat file format works on both Mac and Windows? FAT, FAT32, and exFAT formats work on both macOS and Windows operating systems. With a capable NTFS driver for Mac, the NTFS file system can work equivalently as these compatible file systems.
Should I use NTFS or exFAT?
Assuming that every device you want to use the drive with supports exFAT, you should format your device with exFAT instead of FAT32. NTFS is ideal for internal drives, while exFAT is generally ideal for flash drives.
Is exFAT the same as FAT32?
FAT32 is an older file system that’s not as efficient as NTFS and doesn’t support as big a feature set, but does offer greater compatibility with other operating systems. exFAT is a modern replacement for FAT32—and more devices and operating systems support it than NTFS—but it’s not nearly as widespread as FAT32.
Can I convert exFAT to FAT32?
On Disk Management, Right-click on your exFAT USB or external device, select “Format”. Step 4. Set the file system to FAT32, tick “Quick Format” and click “OK” to confirm. When the formatting process finishes, your device is ready for saving and transfer files in the FAT32 format.
Does NTFS work on both Mac and PC?
The native Windows file system is NTFS, which is only partially compatible with Mac OS X. Macs can read files on NTFS drives, but it cannot write to them. So if you need to get files from a PC to your Mac, NTFS is a decent option. However, you won’t be able to move files in the other direction, from Mac to PC.
What format works on Mac and PC?
FAT, FAT32, and exFAT formats work on both macOS and Windows operating systems. With a capable NTFS driver for Mac, the NTFS file system can work equivalently as these compatible file systems.