Differences between the NTFS and FAT32 memory card file systems (2024)

FAQs

Differences between the NTFS and FAT32 memory card file systems? ›

The FAT32 file system is suitable for smaller capacity flash memory devices (such as memory cards, USB drives, and other storage devices), while the NTFS file system is suitable for large capacity disks.

NTFS can transfer files at 25 MB/s. It's low—it has a maximum speed of 5 MB/s. Users and user groups can be given specific permissions to read, write or execute drives, folders, or files. FAT32 provides very minimal security, every user on the same computer has access to data on that drive.

FAT is the more simple file system of the two, but NTFS offers different enhancements and offers increased security. Choosing the right operating system depends on your needs. Fault Tolerance: NTFS automatically repairs files/folders in the case of power failures or errors.

NTFS is very secure, and there are no back-door permissions into the file system. FAT32 does not have any known security vulnerabilities, and FAT32 wasn't designed to be a secure file system. If data on a FAT32 volume is designed to be secure, then third-party applications are required to encrypt the data.

Conclusion. The most important point that you should note here is that FAT32 is best suited for removable drives having max size of 8 TB, exFAT file system is best suited for flash drives, and NTFS is best suited for Windows Systems and Internal Drives used by Windows.

The FAT32 file system cannot store individual files larger than 4 GB, while the NTFS file system can. Compared to FAT32, the NTFS file system has higher disk utilization and can manage disk space more effectively.

According to the average benchmark results, which shows a normalized average performance for all types of benchmarks for each file system relative to the FAT32 file system performance, the NTFS file system delivers up to 19% of performance improvements and the exFAT file system delivers up to 7% of performance ...

One of the most notable drawbacks is the file size limit. FAT32 cannot store files larger than 4 GB, which can be a problem if you want to transfer or backup large videos, images, or archives. Another limitation is the security and encryption features.

(File Allocation Table32) The 32-bit version of the FAT file system. Employed on Windows PCs prior to the more advanced NTFS file system, the FAT32 format is widely used for USB drives, flash memory cards and external hard drives for compatibility between all platforms.

What is the difference between FAT32 and FAT? ›

When you create a partition, the FAT32 option only occurs when the partition is no more than 32GB and the FAT option only occurs when the partition is smaller than 4GB.

NTFS is the default file system for Windows 10. This is because it has no file limitations and supports file compression. It's unlike FAT32, which limits a single file to 32GB. Therefore, you should use NTFS for your Windows 10 bootable USB drive to ensure the system successfully installs.

2. NTFS or FAT32, Which to Use for Windows Hard Drive or SSD? For file exchange only between Windows operating systems, NTFS is a good choice. For SSD as a portable drive to transfer data among different devices, FAT32 is recommended.

If you want to optimize performance, it's best to format the drive using the computer's native file system. If you need to use your drive on both Mac and PC then it's best to format exFAT.

exFAT is the ideal file system for USB flash drives. It doesn't have the 4GB file size limit and it's compatible with most Windows and Mac operating systems. Older operating systems might require an update to properly read and write to a USB drive with an exFAT file system.

Microsoft removed today an arbitrary 32GB size limit for FAT32 partitions in the latest Windows 11 Canary build, now allowing for a maximum size of 2TB. "When formatting disks from the command line using the format command, we've increased the FAT32 size limit from 32GB to 2TB," the Windows Insider team said today.

Will converting from FAT32 to NTFS erase data? If you choose to use the CMD convert command line convert G: /fs:ntfs (G is the drive letter of the target device) or use the Convert to NTFS feature in EaseUS Partition Master, your data will be securely saved on the device. No data will be erased.

From the menu, click "Properties". 4. Under "Properties", the File System should display FAT32.

The main disadvantage of NTFS is limited OS compatibility; it is read-only with non-Windows OSes. Limited device support. Many removable devices don't support NTFS, including Android smartphones, DVD players and digital cameras. Some other devices don't support it either, such as media players, smart TVs and printers.

Both Windows and Mac can read from NTFS and exFAT. However, Smart TVs will often support one or the other. Sony TV's typically support FAT32 and exFAT, while Samsung and other brands typically support FAT32 and NTFS. Some TV's may even support all three file systems.