NTFS vs FAT32 file systems: Features, pros, and cons

FAT (File Allocation Table)

FAT is one of the oldest Windows file systems, introduced in the 1980s for MS-DOS and later adapted for Windows. Today, it remains compatible with most operating systems and small storage devices. Microsoft developed several versions over the years: FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, and exFAT, with FAT32 and exFAT being the most common today. The number (12, 16, 32) represents the maximum addressable cluster size.

NTFS (New Technology File System)

Introduced in 1993 with Windows NT 3.1, NTFS is now the most widely used Windows file system. It was designed to overcome the limitations of FAT, offering enhanced performance, reliability, and security. Features like encryption, journaling, large file support, and access permissions make NTFS ideal for modern Windows environments.

HPFS (High Performance File System)

HPFS was developed by Microsoft and IBM for OS/2 Version 1.2. It supports large files (up to 2GB) across multiple disk volumes (up to 2TB) and allows long file names up to 256 bytes. Although less common today, it was designed for high performance and reliability in enterprise environments.

How to check if a drive uses FAT32?

There are several ways to determine if a drive is formatted with FAT32. Let’s take a look: 

Method 1: Using the File Explorer

1. Open File Explorer and locate the drive you want to check.

2. Right-click on the drive and select Properties.

3. Look under the File system section to see if it says FAT32.

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

2. Type the command: chkdsk X:

Replace X with your drive letter.

1. The output will display the file system, such as FAT32.

Method 3: Using Disk Management

1. Press Win + X and select Disk Management.

2. Find your drive in the list, right-click it, and select Properties.

3. Under the General tab, check the File system field to see if it’s FAT32.

What are the features of FAT32?

FAT32 offers several key features that make it simple, compatible, and efficient for managing files on a wide range of devices. Have a look at the features here:

1. Compatibility: One of FAT32’s biggest advantages is its cross-platform compatibility. It works seamlessly with Windows, macOS, Linux, and even many embedded systems like cameras, gaming consoles, and media players. This makes FAT32 an excellent choice for drives that need to be used across multiple devices and operating systems.

2. File system simplicity: FAT32 organizes files using a linked list structure, where each file is stored in clusters, and the file allocation table keeps track of their locations. This simple structure makes it easy for operating systems to locate, read, and write files, which is especially useful for smaller storage devices or devices with limited processing power.

3. Removable storage support: FAT32 is widely used on USB drives, SD cards, and other flash storage devices. Its simplicity ensures that removable drives formatted with FAT32 can be recognized by almost any device without requiring additional drivers or software. This universal support is a key reason FAT32 is still popular today.

4. Lightweight structure: FAT32 has minimal overhead, meaning it doesn’t require extensive system resources to manage files. This makes it fast and efficient for small to medium-sized drives, particularly those used for transferring files or media between devices. Its lightweight nature also contributes to longer battery life on portable devices, as less processing power is needed for file management.

5. Stability and reliability for small drives: Although FAT32 lacks advanced features like journaling or encryption, its simplicity makes it stable and reliable for smaller drives. There are fewer system-level processes involved, which reduces the chances of corruption for basic storage tasks.

How does FAT32 work?

Just like its predecessors (FAT12 and FAT16), FAT32 adopts a similar organizational structure. In this file system, each file is represented as a linked list of blocks, also referred to as clusters. So whenever a new file is created, the file is broken down into multiple clusters and stored on the disk. These clusters are often distributed across the disk; they are not necessarily placed adjacent to each other. So, the File allocation table works as an index that records and maps the locations of these clusters. It indicates the sequence in which the clusters are stored on the disk. 

So whenever a user wants to read a file, the system will first check the root directory for the first cluster of each file in that directory. Then the system can traverse the FAT, looking up the cluster number of each successive part of the file as a cluster chain until the end of the file is reached.

What are the limitations of FAT32?

While FAT32 is simple and widely compatible, it comes with several limitations:

1. FAT32 cannot store individual files larger than 4GB, which makes it unsuitable for high-resolution videos, large databases, or virtual machine images.

2. Most FAT32 implementations limit partitions to 2TB, which restricts its use on modern large-capacity drives.

3. FAT32 does not support native file encryption or access permissions, leaving sensitive data less secure compared to modern file systems like NTFS.

4. Due to its older architecture, FAT32 can be slower in read/write operations, especially with large files or heavily fragmented drives, compared to modern file systems.

How to check if a drive uses NTFS?

You can easily determine if a drive is formatted with NTFS using several methods:

Method 1: Using File Explorer

1. Open File Explorer and locate the drive you want to check.

2. Right-click the drive and select Properties.

3. Under File system, check if it says NTFS.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt and type: chkdsk X:

2. Replace X with your drive letter.

3. The command will show the file system type, e.g., NTFS.

Method 3: Using Disk Management

1. Press Win + X and select Disk Management.

2. Right-click the drive> Properties> check the File system field.

What are the features of NTFS?

NTFS is a modern Windows file system designed to overcome the limitations of FAT32. It offers advanced features that improve performance, security, and reliability for both personal and enterprise storage.

1. Support for large files and partitions: NTFS can handle extremely large files and storage volumes, far beyond the limits of FAT32, making it ideal for modern PCs, servers, and enterprise storage.

2. File compression: Files and folders can be compressed directly on the drive, saving storage space while allowing faster file transfers in some scenarios.

3. Encryption and security: NTFS supports file-level encryption and configurable access permissions, ensuring sensitive data is protected from unauthorized access.

4. Disk quotas: Administrators can assign disk space limits to individual users, which helps manage storage resources efficiently in multi-user environments.

5. Journaling: NTFS maintains a log of file system changes, which helps quickly recover data after power outages or unexpected system crashes.

6. Fault tolerance: With built-in recovery mechanisms, NTFS protects files from corruption due to system failures, improving overall reliability.

7. Metadata support: NTFS stores additional information about files, such as creation and modification dates, permissions, and attributes, aiding organization and management.

How does NTFS work?

Like FAT and FAT32,  NTFS also uses clusters to store data files. However, the size of the clusters does not depend upon the size of the disk or partition. It uses small clusters that help to use disk space more effectively. The default cluster size in NTFS is 4k, however, one can choose a smaller size, too. This ability to use small clusters enables NTFS to provide good performance, especially on large drives. 

NTFS uses an advanced data structure called the Master File Table (MFT) to record the location of the scattered clusters. And, it also contains meta-data about the files. This includes information such as file creation dates, last modification dates, access dates, physical and logical file sizes, and the files’ access control lists. There are a few attributes that make NTFS stand apart from other file systems. It incorporates properties such as security access control lists and file system journaling.

What are the limitations of NTFS?

While NTFS offers advanced features and strong security, it also comes with some drawbacks, especially when used on non-Windows systems or smaller external drives.

1. NTFS works best on Windows and may require additional drivers for macOS or Linux.

2. USB drives or SD cards often need reformatting or third-party software to use NTFS.

3. Compared to lightweight systems like FAT32, NTFS can be less efficient on small or portable drives.

NTFS vs FAT32 vs exFAT

The table below compares NTFS vs FAT32 vs exFAT, highlighting their key differences and ideal use cases to help you pick the best option for your drives.

Which is better: FAT32 or NTFS?

NTFS is better for modern Windows systems due to its support for large files, advanced security, and reliability. FAT32 is preferable for smaller drives and devices needing broad compatibility across multiple platforms. Your choice depends on file size requirements, device type, and cross-platform usage.

What are the disadvantages of FAT32?

The biggest drawback of FAT32 is its 4GB maximum file size limit, which prevents storing high-resolution videos, backups, or disk images. It also only supports up to 2TB volumes in most implementations. Additionally, FAT32 lacks built-in security, encryption, and journaling features, making it less reliable and less secure compared to NTFS.

Should I change FAT32 to NTFS?

If you primarily use Windows and need to store files larger than 4GB or want features like encryption, compression, and better reliability, then switching to NTFS is highly recommended. However, if your drive needs to remain compatible with devices like gaming consoles, cameras, or non-Windows systems, keeping it on FAT32 (or exFAT) might be the better choice.

Why do people still use FAT32?

Despite its age and limitations, FAT32 remains popular because of its broad compatibility. Almost every device, from game consoles to smart TVs, can read FAT32 drives without special drivers. It is also efficient for small storage devices, such as USB sticks or memory cards, where the 4GB file size limit is usually not an issue.

Can Windows 11 read FAT32?

Yes, Windows 11 fully supports FAT32. You can read and write to FAT32-formatted drives without any issues. However, when formatting new drives, Windows may recommend exFAT or NTFS for better performance, especially if the drive capacity is larger than 32GB.

Which operating systems can use NTFS?

NTFS is the default file system for Windows. Linux systems can usually read and write to NTFS with the right drivers installed, while macOS can read NTFS drives by default but needs third-party tools for write access. Some older or embedded devices may not support NTFS at all.

Can Windows run on NTFS?

Yes. In fact, NTFS is the primary file system used by all modern and later versions of Windows, including Windows 10 and Windows 11. The operating system itself installs on NTFS partitions, taking advantage of its advanced security and stability features.

What is the maximum disk size for NTFS?

Theoretically, NTFS supports volumes up to 16 exabytes, though practical limits depend on the version of Windows and hardware in use. In most real-world scenarios, NTFS is used with drives up to 256TB, which is more than enough for personal and enterprise storage needs.

How to convert NTFS to FAT32?

Windows does not offer a built-in option to convert NTFS back to FAT32 without reformatting. To do this, you usually need to back up your data, reformat the drive as FAT32, and then restore the files. Alternatively, third-party tools can perform the conversion, but they come with risks of data loss.