What’s the Difference Between exFAT and NTFS?

Using USBs, SD cards, and various other external hard drives has become an integral part of our lives. They're not only a convenient way to ensure your data is never lost forever but also very useful for freeing up disk space on your computer. When using them, you'll also need to format and organize the data on them. This is where file systems come into play, as without these, you'd basically have a giant data block with no distinction between where one topic ends and another begins. Two of the most popular file systems are exFAT and NTFS, both catering to specific tasks and operating systems. There are some key differences between them, so read on for an easy-to-understand guide on exFAT vs. NTFS.

This image depicts a comparison of "NTFS vs exFAT" in the context of the Windows 11 operating system.

Before we dive into the differences, let's first look at what exFAT and NTFS are.

What is exFAT?

exFAT is a file system specifically designed for USB devices, SD cards, and SSD cards. It is a newer and updated version of the previous file systems, tailored for contemporary storage devices. It stands for "Extended File Allocation Table" and has a maximum cluster size of 32 MiB, allowing the storage of up to 2,796,202 files! This means you can store quite a number of files on it! It is compatible with Mac, as well as Windows and Linux operating systems, making data transfer between them incredibly easy and efficient. Additionally, certain iOS and Android devices, along with gaming consoles like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, support exFAT. You can even use this file system on multimedia hardware, where it will function flawlessly!

What is NTFS?

NTFS stands for "New Technology File System," created by Microsoft. This file system makes it easy to store, organize, and find files on storage devices like hard drives and solid-state drives. It also compresses data to take up less space on the disk, allowing you to store more information. The primary platform that uses NTFS is Windows. It also has advanced security and permissions. This means you can use NTFS to restrict access to files on your hard drive! It has large file and partition sizes, so in theory, you should never run out of file space using it!

exFAT vs. NTFS (Comparing the Advantages)

Now that you're familiar with these file systems, let's delve into the advantages of exFAT and NTFS. This will help you understand their differences and choose the file system best suited to your needs.

It's better suited for smaller SD cards and USB flash drives, but its file size is still large enough that you can use it for bigger devices, too.

exFAT and NTFS (Drawbacks)

Of course, both file systems have their drawbacks and limitations, as outlined in the following table:

How to Convert NTFS to exFAT, and Vice Versa

Since both file systems are great in their own way, you might want to convert one to the other. This guide details how to convert NTFS to exFAT and vice versa.

Method 1: How to Format NTFS Drive to exFAT in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

You might frequently transfer data between a Windows computer and a Mac. Instead of dealing with constant conversions, you can format your NTFS drive as exFAT following the steps below.

Before you proceed with the conversion, there are two important precautions to take. The first step is to back up your NTFS data, as formatting the device to exFAT will erase everything. Next, connect the external device to your computer and make sure Windows detects it.

Step 1: Press the “Win + R” keys simultaneously to open the “Run” dialog box. Type in diskmgmt.msc. This will open Disk Management.

Step 2: Right-click on the device you wish to format (such as a USB or SD card) in Disk Management, and select "Format."

Select the NTFS drive and click on the “Format” button.

Step 3: A window called "Format" will appear. Go to the File System and open the dropdown menu. Select exFAT. Add a label, then click "OK."

A warning will pop up, telling you that all data on the device will be lost. Click “Yes,” and the process should begin, formatting your NTFS device to exFAT!

Method 2: How to Format an exFAT Device to NTFS Using Partition Master Tool

Before we discuss how to convert exFAT to NTFS, you may want to know what the Partition Master tool is, what it does, and how to use it to change the file system. This disk management utility helps you manage disks and partitions on your Windows computer. Its main functions include creating, cloning, merging, deleting, converting, recovering, formatting, migrating, resizing, and resizing disk partitions. The paid version also allows you to recover lost partitions and migrate the operating system to an SSD. Currently, it is available for use on operating systems like Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11, and so on.

Step 1: Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition on your external hard drive/USB/SD card that you want to format and choose "Format".

Step 2: Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected partition, then click OK.

Step 3: Click Yes in the warning window to continue.

Step 4. Click “Run 1 Task” on the top-left to preview the changes and hit “Apply” to start formatting the external hard drive/USB/SD card.

Conclusions

In summary, use exFAT when you need a more compatible file system that works on almost any operating system. Use NTFS when you need an advanced file system for Windows only. Both are unique and great in their own ways and get the job done well.