📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses the suitability of FAT32 and exFAT for pen drives, with users highlighting that exFAT is preferable for larger storage capacities (>2GB) and cross-platform compatibility, especially between Windows and other OSes. However, one user notes that Linux systems do not natively support exFAT due to licensing restrictions and prefer NTFS for compatibility with Linux. Overall, the conversation emphasizes choosing the file system based on drive size and intended use across different operating systems.

Peterr

Essential Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2011
Messages
1,173
Thread Author #1
Is fat 32 acceptable for most pen drives.
I have read that exFat is also a choice; is it true?
 

Neemobeer

Windows Forum Team
Staff member
Joined
Jul 4, 2015
Messages
8,995
fat32 and exfat are fairly similar for compatibly use exfat.
 

ussnorway

Windows Forum Team
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May 22, 2012
Messages
4,597
yes I would go exfat if you want to jump from Windows to some other system... just be aware of the size limits and stay under 2g
 

nmsuk

Essential Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
4,328
exfat does large volumes greater than 2gb, I have my 64gb formatted to it for my windows installs
 

Solution

Peterr

Essential Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2011
Messages
1,173
Thread Author #6
Thank you all-good thing for alerts as I never got an email. better check my settings.
 

Joey1394

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2018
Messages
55
I dual-boot between Windows-10 and a Linux OS. So I don't use exFAT, because Linux doesn't support it. It comes with restrictive license which doesn't allow open-source operating system to implement it natively.

Linux has no problems with NTFS, so I format my usb-sticks with it.