Which file system to choose - FAT32 or exFAT?Īs mentioned above, both file systems are compatible with Windows or macOS/OS X operating systems. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of read more. You will need to purchase the full version to remove infections and eliminate computer errors. It is recommended to run a free scan with Combo Cleaner - a tool to detect malware and fix computer errors. Video showing How to Format Drive for Mac and Windows Computers? This article describes the differences between these two file systems and how to format external storage using a Mac computer.

Windows and macOS use separate file system formats.įortunately, there is a simple solution: format your external storage with the File Allocation Table (FAT32) or Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) file system. This is a cross-platform problem that Windows and macOS users often experience. Despite the advantages of using external data storage to transfer content, some users encounter problems caused by the difference between operating systems.Ī common issue users discuss within various technical support forums is that of USB flash drives not working on their computers. How to Format Internal and/or External Drive to Work Properly on Mac and Windows Computers?Įxternal data storage devices such as USB flash drives, external Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), and Solid State Drives (SSDs) provide one of the easiest ways to transfer files between separate computers without accessing the Internet.

How to format mac drive in windows