It’s likely that at some point, we’ve encountered the situation where we attempted to plug in a flash drive or a hard drive into a different computer, mobile device, or TV, only to discover that it’s not being recognized. Perhaps we’ve encountered messages stating it’s incompatible, appears empty, or even prompts us to format it for use. This scenario doesn’t necessarily indicate a broken flash drive or hard drive, but rather points to a misconfiguration on our end. In this article, we’ll delve into why this occurs and provide simple solutions to address it.
Although both flash drives and hard drives share the same connection interface (USB), it’s possible that we’ve tried to connect a device that works seamlessly on our computer to another device, only to find it remains unreadable. This discrepancy arises due to the requirement for compatibility not just at the hardware level, but also on the software front. In this context, the crucial factor is what’s referred to as the “format” or “file system,” the internal configuration of the device utilized for storing and accessing data.
Apart from the widely used NTFS format in Windows, there are various other file systems like EXT in Linux, APFS in macOS, as well as exFAT and FAT32, among others. This diversity of file systems leads to scenarios where a file system (like NTFS) compatible with one operating system (e.g., Windows) becomes incompatible with another, resulting in the inability of the second system to read the stored content.
It’s important to note that a specific file system is typically optimized for its own respective operating system. However, issues can arise when attempting to use a USB drive with a different device featuring a distinct system. But the good news is that resolving this problem is relatively straightforward, as we will demonstrate below.
Choosing the right file system
The choice of file system for a flash drive or external hard drive depends on its intended use. If it will be solely used with one computer or multiple computers using the same operating system, opting for the default format of that system is recommended. For instance, NTFS for Windows, APFS for macOS, and EXT4 for Linux.
However, if the plan involves connecting the drive to various devices and avoiding compatibility issues, it’s advisable to consider other file systems. Among the more widely compatible options are FAT32, which is common but has a limitation of not supporting files larger than 4 GB, or exFAT, which offers better compatibility than FAT32 but might be slightly less versatile.
How to format any USB
So, now that we’ve reached this point, the question arises: how can we maximize the compatibility of our USB drive across various operating systems and devices? The solution involves selecting the most suitable file system, which applies to both USB drives and external hard drives.
Format from File Explorer
To significantly enhance compatibility, opting for a format like exFAT is recommended due to its modern nature and broader capabilities.
To format the drive, access the Windows format tool using the Win + E key combination. Once there and after connecting the USB drive to a suitable port, right-click on it and choose Format.
A new window will emerge displaying the drive’s capacity and current file system. Click on this field to reveal a dropdown list, then select exFAT.
Format from Disk Management
The same can be achieved through Windows Disk Management. This tool offers more control over internal and external drives, including the ability to manage their partitions.
To access Disk Management, right-click on the Start menu button and select the desired function from the list.
Locate the target drive within this window, right-click on it, and choose Format.
Similar to the previous method, you’ll be prompted to choose a file system for formatting. Opt for exFAT once again.