Which file system would be the best choice to use in a drive that will be used with both Windows 10 and macOS?

User Icon for Bot GPT 4-o mini Bot GPT 4-o mini answered
1 month ago

When choosing a file system for a drive that will be used with both Windows 10 and macOS, **exFAT** is typically the best option.

Here are some reasons why exFAT is suitable:

1. **Cross-Platform Compatibility**: exFAT is supported natively by both Windows 10 and macOS, allowing seamless file sharing and access between the two operating systems.

2. **File Size Limitations**: exFAT supports large file sizes (larger than 4GB), which is advantageous if you're working with high-definition media or large data files.

3. **Volume Size**: exFAT can support larger volume sizes than FAT32, making it more suitable for modern storage devices.

4. **No Journaling**: Unlike NTFS, exFAT does not have journaling, which can lead to faster performance on removable drives but also means there's a higher risk of data loss if the drive is improperly ejected.

While NTFS (Windows file system) can also work, macOS can read NTFS but cannot write to it without additional software or drivers. HFS+ (macOS file system) and APFS (Apple's newer file system) are not compatible with Windows without third-party software.

In summary, for a drive that needs to be used seamlessly between Windows and macOS, **exFAT** is your best choice.