Free image compression
Free image watermark
Free image edit
Free QR code
Free Image Format ConversionWhat is the PS4 USB format?
There are many file systems to choose from, such as NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, GFS, and so on. Which one should you pick?
When formatting your USB for your PS4, you should first know which file system to choose and format accordingly. Out of the different types of file systems, the PS4 supports only two – FAT32 and exFAT.
What is a file system?
A file system helps organize data on any drive; without it, all files would be in disarray and hard to find. Yet there are many different file systems.
If you're using a Mac, it uses the Apple File System (APFS), which Windows machines won't recognize or read without special software. There are also file systems that are universal and readable by any operating system.
Now that you know what a file system is and why it's important, let's look at which one you should choose between FAT32 and exFAT when formatting your USB drive for the PS4.
File System, File System Format, Types of File Systems
This article compares four common file system formats – NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and EXT2/3/4 – and helps you determine which file system format to use on your storage device.
FAT32 is a file system format introduced by Microsoft in 1996 as an improved version of the File Allocation Table (FAT) file system. It supports larger disk partitions and higher storage efficiency, capable of managing partitions up to 32 GB in size. FAT32 is widely used in the Windows operating system for organizing and storing files and data.
The FAT32 file system is used by Windows and is a successor to FAT16. The FAT32 file system was introduced in 1996 and is still in use today.
FAT32 is over two decades old and has serious limitations for file sizes in today's world. If your drive uses the FAT32 file system, individual files should be no larger than 4 GB – a major limitation these days.
exFAT stands for "Extended File Allocation Table," which translates to "扩展文件分配表" in Chinese. It's a file system developed by Microsoft, designed primarily for storing large amounts of data on devices like flash drives, SD cards, and other external storage devices. exFAT offers support for larger file sizes and more efficient disk space management compared to its predecessor, FAT32.
exFAT is one of the latest file systems that Windows introduced in 2006, and it supports much larger individual files. Because of its ability to handle large single files, most modern PC storage drives (like hard disk and SSD drives) are formatted with the exFAT file system.
Are exFAT and FAT32 the same on PS4?
Note that exFAT is not the same as FAT32, so don't confuse the two when selecting a file system for your PS4 USB drive.
Though FAT32 has been around for over 20 years, it's not an ideal choice here, since game files tend to be larger than 4 GB. So, format your USB drive with the exFAT file system instead.
How do I format a USB for use with a PS4?
If you're wondering how to format a USB drive for use with a PS4, here's how:
Format a USB Drive on a PS4
Formatting an external hard drive for use with a PS4 is simple, but formatting it to save backups is a little more complicated.
If you're not already using an external drive for backups, you should be.
Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to your PS4, and then open Settings.
Step 2: Next, select “Devices” and open “USB Storage Device.”
Step 3: Choose the “Format as Extended Storage” option to format the external drive as external storage.
Step 4: The PS4 will automatically format the drive using its own file system and encryption method.
If you want to use an external drive for backups, do this:
Step one: First, connect your external drive and format it as exFAT. Go to “Settings,” then “Devices” and “USB Storage Devices,” and select your external drive from the list.
Step 2: Click the "Options" button. You'll see a menu asking you what format you want to format the disk as. Select “exFAT.”
Step 3: Once that's done, or if your drive was already formatted as exFAT, you'll need to open the “System” menu.
Step 4: With that done, open the “Backup and Restore” menu, choose the type of backup you want to save to your external drive, and click “Backup PS4.”
Format a USB drive on a PC
Here are the steps to format a USB drive as exFAT on a PC:
Step 1: Insert the USB drive into your computer and open File Explorer.
Step 2: Right-click on your USB drive and select "Format."
Select the format option: 
Step 3: Then, under “File System,” choose “ExFAT.”
Step 4: Check the “Quick Format” box, and then click the “Start” button.
Step 5: If you don't see your USB drive in File Explorer at first, try this:
Step 6: After plugging in the USB drive, click the magnifying glass icon in the taskbar.
Step 7: Search for “Create and format hard disk partitions,” and open it from the search results.
Step 8: Right-click on your drive and select the “Initialize Disk” option. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 9: When you're done, click “New Simple Volume” in the striped area.
Step 10: Follow the prompts until you see the option for “File System.”
Step 11: Select “exFAT,” and then click “Next” and “Finish.”
Read more: Format a USB Drive that Does Not Show Up
How to Format a Hard Drive on a Mac
If you're a Mac user and want to format your USB drive as exFAT, follow these steps:
Step 1: Press the F4 key on your keyboard to open Spotlight Search, and then search for “Disk Utility.”
Step 2: In the Disk Utility window, select the USB drive in the left sidebar, then click it.
Step Three: Name your USB drive and choose “ExFAT” as the format, then click “Erase.”
Choose the "exFAT" format.
?Related Reading: How to Get More Storage on PS4
More Solutions: PS4 Not Recognizing USB?
If your PS4 doesn't recognize your USB device, it might be formatted with a file system other than NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT.
Here is what needs to be done to fix it:
- Format the USB drive to exFAT
- Ensure the USB drive is compatible with the PS4
For more detailed information, please click on the link below:
How to Fix PS4 Not Reading USB Devices [2023 Full Guide]
If your PS4 fails to recognize external USB drives, don't worry. We'll share some solutions to help you resolve this issue.
Format the USB drive as exFAT
While the FAT32 file system is accepted by the PS4, it's not an ideal file system, and you shouldn't format your USB drive to FAT32. It's recommended that you format the USB drive to exFAT. With the methods mentioned above, you can learn how to format a USB flash drive on PS4, PC, or Mac and change the file system from NTFS to exFAT or from FAT32 to exFAT.
Is your USB drive compatible?
If you're using an older USB drive that uses the USB 2.0 architecture, it might not communicate properly with the PS4. While USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0, it might not read your PS4 correctly.
It's best to buy a new USB flash drive from a well-known manufacturer, like Samsung, Sony, SanDisk, or another reputable brand.
Finally
The exFAT file system is the most advanced and widely-compatible file system available. If you want to use a USB drive on your PS4, format it with the exFAT file system.
If, for some reason, your PS4 doesn't recognize the USB drive when you connect it, it's either because the connection isn't correct or the format isn't exFAT.