exFAT or NTFS: which is better?
How to choose for a drive shared by Mac and Windows
Windows can read and write both; the difference lies in Mac support and data safety. exFAT is natively writable on both, but it has no journal, so unplugging unexpectedly is more likely to cause errors. NTFS is journaled and more robust, but a Mac needs a tool to write to it.
exFATNTFSFAT32APFSLast updated
The four common formats at a glance
| exFAT | NTFS | FAT32 | APFS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac read/write | Native | Native read-only; writing needs a tool | Native | Native |
| Windows read/write | Native | Native | Native | Requires a third-party tool |
| Single files over 4 GB | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Journaling / protection against unexpected unplugging | — | ✓ | — | Copy-on-write, fairly safe |
| Permissions, compression | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Best for | USB flash drives, camera cards, occasional transfers between systems | High-capacity external drives used long-term with Windows | Older devices, car stereos, small USB flash drives | Mac-only use, Time Machine backups |
To find out which formats TVs, car stereos, game consoles, and other devices support, check each device's documentation.
Choose based on how you use it
Mostly on Windows
Choose NTFS. Windows supports it natively and it's journaled; on a Mac, install CrossDriver NTFS to read and write in Finder.
On both, mainly to move files
Choose exFAT. Both systems read and write it natively with no software to install—just remember to "Eject" before unplugging every time.
Mac only
Choose APFS. It offers the best support for Time Machine, encryption, and snapshots.
Format a drive as NTFS on your Mac
macOS's built-in Disk Utility can't format as NTFS, but CrossDriver NTFS Pro (with a 7-day free trial) can. Formatting erases all data on the disk, so back up first.
- 1
Back up your data
Copy any files you want to keep somewhere else.
- 2
Select disks
Open CrossDriver NTFS and select the disk to format in the sidebar.
- 3
Format
Choose "Format" from the "Tools" menu, enter a volume name, check the confirmation box, and click "Erase."
- 4
Get started
When it's done, the disk appears in Finder as NTFS, readable and writable on both Mac and Windows.
Q&A
Can Windows read a Mac-formatted external drive?
Windows doesn't support Mac's APFS or Mac OS Extended (HFS+) formats out of the box. You usually won't see the files, and Windows may offer to format the drive, so don't accept. For a drive that works on both Mac and Windows, the simplest choice is exFAT, which both read and write natively; or use NTFS and write to it on the Mac with CrossDriver NTFS. Formatting erases the drive, so back up first.
Is exFAT safe?
It's fine for everyday use, but exFAT has no journal, so losing power or unplugging during a write is more likely to corrupt files, which then need First Aid in Disk Utility. For high-capacity drives holding important data, NTFS or APFS is more robust.
Can a Mac format a drive as NTFS?
Not with macOS's built-in Disk Utility, but CrossDriver NTFS Pro and All in One Pro can, and the formatted disk works on Windows right away.
Can I convert exFAT to NTFS without formatting?
No. Changing formats always requires formatting, which erases data. Back up your files first and copy them back after formatting.
Is writing to NTFS on a Mac slower than exFAT?
CrossDriver NTFS reads and writes with the native Linux driver, and large-file speeds come close to the disk's limit. See Performance for details.
NTFS drives work on your Mac, too
Download CrossDriver NTFS and open your NTFS disk in Finder for free.
Download for Mac — Free preview