APFS vs HFS+ vs exFAT vs NTFS: Mac and PC drives
Four file systems matter when a drive moves between a Mac and a PC. Only one of them is read and written by both without extra software. Here is what each system can do with each format, from Apple's and the drive makers' own documentation (checked October 30, 2026).
| Format | Mac | Windows | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| APFS | Read and write; the default since macOS 10.13 | Not readable without extra software | Mac-only drives, Mac SSDs |
| HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) | Read and write | "Not recognizable" (Samsung) | Older Macs, older Time Machine disks |
| exFAT | Read and write | Read and write | Drives shared between Mac and PC |
| NTFS | "Read only" (Samsung); "cannot natively write" (LaCie) | Read and write | Windows-only drives |
Mac and Windows columns for exFAT, NTFS and HFS from the Samsung T7 manual table; NTFS on Mac also from the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro manual: "macOS can read NTFS volumes but cannot natively write to them". APFS from the Apple Disk Utility guide, which lists only FAT and exFAT as "compatible with Windows".
Which one to choose
- The drive moves between a Mac and a PC: exFAT. Seagate: "If you need to use your drive on both Mac and PC then it's best to format exFAT" (Seagate). How to format a drive as exFAT
- Mac only: APFS, or the format your Mac suggests. Seagate recommends the computer's native file system "to optimize performance".
- Windows only: NTFS.
- Backups: LaCie notes that exFAT "is not compatible or recommended for built-in backup utilities such as File History (Windows) and Time Machine (macOS)" (LaCie).
Two warnings about exFAT
- LaCie: "exFAT is not a journaled file system, which means it can be more susceptible to data corruption". Always eject before unplugging.
- Samsung: "When using exFAT across multiple operating systems, data writing may become locked and you may only be able to read data"; its fix on a Mac is to connect the drive again and eject it.
Already have a Mac-format drive and a PC?
Changing the format erases the drive. If the files are on an APFS or HFS+ drive and you only have a Windows PC, copy them off first. Diskferry reads both Mac formats, read only, and checks every copy against the original.
Questions
Can I change the format without losing my files?
No. Formatting erases the drive; Seagate warns "Formatting erases all data on the drive". Copy the files somewhere safe first.
Why not FAT32?
Apple's guide suggests MS-DOS (FAT) only for volumes of 32 GB or less, and WD's manual notes "The FAT32 file system has a maximum individual file size of 4 GB". For larger drives and video files, use exFAT.
Last updated October 30, 2026. Still stuck? Support replies in person.
Related guides
- Format a drive for both Mac and Windows (exFAT)After the files are safe: how to set up one drive both computers can use
- What is APFS? The Mac file system, explainedWhat APFS is, why Windows cannot read it, and what that means for your drive
- What is HFS+ (Mac OS Extended)?The Mac format before APFS, still on many external and backup drives
- Samsung T7 on Mac and Windows: formats and fixesIt ships as exFAT and works on both, unless someone reformatted it on a Mac
- Diskferry comparedMacDrive, Paragon, TransMac, HFSExplorer and the free options, with sources