When setting up an external hard drive, one of the first things you’ll need to decide is which partition type or file system to use. There are a few different options to choose from, and which one is best depends on your specific needs and situation. The most common partition types for external hard drives are FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, HFS+, and APFS. In this article, we’ll compare the pros and cons of each partition type to help you determine the best option for your external drive. We’ll look at factors like compatibility, file size limits, performance, security, and more to guide you towards the right file system for your needs.
Quick Overview of Partition Types
FAT32
FAT32 is one of the most widely compatible file systems. It can be read and written to by all modern versions of Windows, Mac OS, Linux, game consoles, and more. However, it limits individual file sizes to 4GB and only supports volumes up to 2TB.
exFAT
exFAT removes the file size and volume limits of FAT32 while maintaining wide compatibility. But it offers minimal security features and isn’t quite as widely supported.
NTFS
NTFS is the default file system for modern Windows operating systems. It allows large file sizes and partitions over 2TB. But it has limited compatibility with other devices and operating systems.
HFS+
HFS+ is the default file system for modern Mac computers. Like NTFS, it supports large partitions and file sizes but has limited compatibility outside of Mac devices.
APFS
APFS is the newest Apple file system designed for SSDs. It includes advanced features like encryption and snapshotting but only works with Mac computers.
Compatibility
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a partition type for your external drive is compatibility. You want to pick a file system that can be easily read from and written to by all the devices you plan to use the drive with. Here is how the main partition types compare in terms of device compatibility:
FAT32
FAT32 is the most universally compatible file system. It can be used with all versions of Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, game consoles, media players, cameras, and more. Its wide support makes FAT32 the best choice if you need your external drive to work with many different devices and operating systems.
exFAT
exFAT is supported on newer versions of Windows, Mac OS, Linux, game consoles, and some media devices. It has wider compatibility than NTFS or HFS+ but is not quite as widely supported as FAT32.
NTFS
NTFS is natively supported by all modern Windows operating systems but has limited cross-platform support. Read/write access on Mac and Linux requires third-party software. It will work for data transfers but is not ideal as a universal file system.
HFS+
HFS+ is the default file system on modern Mac computers. It has native read/write support on Mac OS and limited support on Windows and Linux through third-party software. HFS+ is not widely compatible outside of Apple devices.
APFS
APFS is strictly for Mac computers running modern versions of macOS. It will not work with Windows, Linux, or any other non-Apple devices. APFS offers no cross-platform compatibility.
Maximum File Size
The file system you choose will determine the maximum size of individual files you can store on the external drive. Here is how the partition types compare in regard to file size limits:
FAT32
FAT32 allows a maximum file size of 4GB. This makes it unsuitable for storing large media files like movies that are over 4GB in size.
exFAT
exFAT removes the file size limit, allowing you to store files over 4GB. This makes it good for large media files and other large data.
NTFS
NTFS also has no file size limit, permitting large files.
HFS+
Like NTFS and exFAT, HFS+ does not limit file sizes allowing storage of media and other large files.
APFS
APFS has no technical file size limit but is constrained by the volume size. On most external drives it can support files well over 4GB.
Maximum Volume Size
In addition to file size limits, partition types also impact the maximum size a volume/partition can be. Here is how they compare:
FAT32
FAT32 partitions are limited to 32GB in Windows. However, some tools allow FAT32 volumes up to 2TB on Windows. On Mac, FAT32 volumes can go up to 2TB as the size limit is imposed by Windows, not the file system itself.
exFAT
exFAT volumes can be up to 16EB, which is over 16 million terabytes. For practical purposes, exFAT does not limit volume size.
NTFS
The maximum NTFS partition size is 256TB. This makes NTFS suitable for very large external drives up to this limit.
HFS+
HFS+ supports up to 2TB by default but can be formatted to support volumes up to 16EB via GPT partitioning, similar to exFAT.
APFS
APFS volumes can be up to 16EB. For all practical uses, APFS has no volume size limit.
Performance
The performance of the file system matters if you want to use your external drive for tasks that need fast data writing or reading. Here is how they compare:
FAT32
FAT32 offers average performance that caps out at around 20-30MB/s transfer speeds for large files. This makes it suitable for general external storage use.
exFAT
exFAT is a bit faster than FAT32, providing up to around 50MB/s depending on the drive and computer system. It works well for SD cards and USB flash drives.
NTFS
NTFS is significantly faster than FAT32 and exFAT in Windows, offering high performance for demanding tasks. Maximum speeds exceed 100MB/s.
HFS+
HFS+ speeds are comparable to NTFS on Mac systems. Expect over 100MB/s transfers between HFS+ formatted drives and a Mac computer.
APFS
APFS is optimized for SSDs and high performance with quick random read/writes. On Macs with SSD storage, APFS enables incredible speeds well over 100MB/s.
Security and Reliability
The file system also impacts the security, reliability, and features you get. Here’s an overview:
FAT32
FAT32 offers minimal security. No file permissions. No encryption. No journaling. Higher chance of data corruption.
exFAT
Like FAT32, exFAT does not support permissions, encryption, or journaling. Reliability is still an issue.
NTFS
NTFS supports file permissions, encryption, and journaling. File data is less likely to become corrupted. Much more secure and reliable.
HFS+
HFS+ also has journaling and permissions. It is reliable and secure when used appropriately. However, encryption requires third party tools.
APFS
APFS further improves reliability through metadata checksumming. Native encryption available via FileVault. Much more secure than FAT32 or exFAT.
Ease of Formatting
The difficulty of formatting the drive to each file system is also an important consideration. Here is how they compare:
FAT32
FAT32 volumes are easy to format in Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Can be done with built-in tools.
exFAT
exFAT is also easy to format on most modern operating systems without third-party software.
NTFS
Native NTFS formatting only available in Windows. Requires third-party tools on Mac and Linux.
HFS+
Can be formatted in Mac OS with Disk Utility. Requires third-party software on Windows and Linux.
APFS
APFS formatting is only available in macOS as a proprietary Apple file system. Requires Mac computer.
Conclusion
So which file system is the best overall for external drives?
If you need universal compatibility across all devices including game consoles and media devices, FAT32 is likely the best option despite the 4GB file size limit.
For Mac users who only access the drive with Apple devices, APFS is optimal. But it offers zero cross-platform support.
Those who value performance, security, and advanced features like permissions and encryption should use NTFS on Windows and HFS+ on Mac. But expect limited compatibility.
exFAT strikes a nice balance. It overcomes FAT32’s limits while still offering wide compatibility across most platforms. The lack of security features is balanced by ease of use and no file size restrictions.
For those who don’t require maximum compatibility or advanced security, exFAT is typically the best overall file system for external hard drives used across multiple operating systems. It works on most computers and devices, supports large volumes up to 16EB, allows huge file sizes, and is easy to format. While NTFS and HFS+ are faster and more secure, exFAT works well enough for general external storage use while avoiding hassles with compatibility and formatting.
