What is the exFAT file system format?

Any type of data storage device needs to be formatted with the appropriate file system so that the operating system can read from and write to it. The most common file systems used for HDDs, SSDs, USB flash drives, flash disks, or memory cards are NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT. Mac computers uniquely use the HFS+, APFS, or exFAT file systems.

What is exFAT format disk

exFAT is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows and macOS/Mac OS X. It's also more flexible than NTFS and FAT32, which is why it's used by more and more drives.

Advantages of the exFAT file system:

    • Suitable for large-capacity drives
    • No file size or partition size limits
    • ExFAT replaces FAT32 and supports cross-platform scenarios
    • Supports up to 2,796,202 files in a single directory

How to Recover Files from an exFAT Hard Drive

So the more people who use exFAT, the greater the risk of data loss. Consider the story of one user:

“I have an external hard drive formatted in exFAT. After long use, it is not showing up on my system when I connect it. When I run Disk Utility, the drive does show up on my system but with an error message: 'Disk Utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files. Is this the only thing I can do? Please tell me how to recover data from exFAT drive. Is it dead?”

Fortunately, the disk seems to be okay. Disk Utility can't repair it, but when the drive does reappear on your desktop, all your important data appears to be intact. The problem is that you can't open the volume.

Can the data be recovered? It is advisable to seek professional help for repair after data recovery when you know that there is an issue with the exFAT drive.

Best exFAT Data Recovery Software

To recover data from exFAT drive, you can easily use a data recovery software that is capable of detecting and reading the exFAT formatted hard drive, external hard drive, HDD, USB flash drive, and SD card. Data Recovery Wizard is a powerful exFAT tool for this purpose.

Data Recovery Wizard surpasses the competition with the following wealth of features:

    - Simple 3-step recovery process - Free trial before purchase - 24x7 technical support - 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee

Download the Data Recovery Wizard, and follow the instructions below to recover data from an exFAT drive.

How to Recover Data from exFAT Drive on Windows 11/10/8/7

Even if you are a first time user, no need to worry. The user-friendly design and intuitive interface will not let you down. Three simple steps are all it takes to complete the whole recovery process easily.

Step 1: Select the hard drive where you lost data and click on "Scan".

Select and Scan the Hard Drive

Step 2: After the scan is finished, use the "Filter" or "Search" option to locate the lost files.

Preview Lost Hard Drive Data

Step 3. Select all the files you want to recover and click on “Recover.” Choose a different secure location to save them.

Recover Data from Hard Drive

Are you satisfied with the recovery result? The scenarios of exFAT data recovery are far more than what we mentioned above, but Data Recovery Wizard can do all the work for you. It's designed to recover data after accidental deletion, disk formatting, unable to open disk, inaccessible, unreadable, or even virus infection. It supports all file types, including photos, documents, videos, audio files, and more. Download this comprehensive data recovery software for data rescue without hesitation. It's worth a try.

How to Recover Data from an exFAT Drive on Mac

If you're a Mac user, the process might be slightly different. You can effectively recover data from macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, and later with the help of the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. It allows you to restore deleted files from Mac trash and recover formatted, corrupted, or otherwise lost data in just a few steps. Download this Mac data recovery tool to retrieve exFAT data.

Step 1: Search for the missing file

Connect your external hard drive to your Mac correctly. Launch the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, and select your external hard drive. Then, click “Search Lost Files” to look for lost or deleted files on your external device.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it's recommended that you click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of your external hard drive to prevent further data loss. After backing up the external hard drive, the software can recover data from the backup of the external hard drive. You can then safely remove the external hard drive and use it again.

Select the external hard drive and click “Search for Lost Files”. select the external hard drive and click Search for Lost Files

Step 2: Search and find your lost file

Once the scan is over, all file types will be displayed on the left panel. Choose the file type and look for the required files on your external device.

Scan for lost files on the external hard drive

Step 3: Preview and recover

Click on the file to preview it, then select the files you want to recover and hit the “Recover” button. You can save your data to both local and cloud drives.

Recover Lost Files from External Hard Drive

Conclusion

No need to worry about data loss from exFAT hard drive, USB flash drive, or SD card. Data Recovery tool provides the most effective way to recover exFAT data on Windows and Mac devices. Download the software to get your exFAT data back.

Frequently Asked Questions About exFAT Data Recovery

That's all about exFAT data recovery. If you still have issues, read the FAQs below for more information.

1. Can data from an external hard drive be recovered?

Yes, you can recover data from an external hard drive using the following methods:

    • Recover data from external hard drive using data recovery software
    • Restore lost partitions and data on external hard drive
    • Display hidden files on external hard drive
    • Run CMD commands to recover virus-hidden files on external hard drive

2. Is exFAT the same as FAT32?

Is exFAT the same as FAT32? No, they are different file system formats. The maximum file size in FAT32 is 4GB, while there's no such limit in exFAT.

How to Convert exFAT to NTFS in Windows 10?

The steps to convert exFAT to NTFS are as follows:

    1. Launch Partition Master, right-click on the partition you want to format, and select "Format." 2. In the new window, enter a partition label and choose the NTFS file system. 3. Set the cluster size as needed, then click "OK." 4. A warning window will appear; click "Yes" to proceed. 5. Click the "Execute 1 Task" button in the top left corner to view the changes. 6. Click "Apply" to start formatting the partition to NTFS.

4. Does exFAT work on Mac?

Does exFAT work on Mac and PC? Yes, it does. It works well on MacBook and iMac.