XColdPro BootVault ensures full interoperability across all major operating systems, supporting the most widely used file systems for USB-based cold storage. The Python-based executable runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux, enabling seamless read/write operations where supported.
Windows Support #
- NTFS – Default Windows file system, full read/write.
- FAT32 – Legacy USB drives; limited to 4GB max file size.
- ExFAT – Modern USB file system, optimal for cross-platform use.
- ReFS – Supported on Windows Server environments.
macOS Support #
- APFS – Default macOS file system since 2017.
- HFS+ – Legacy macOS file system.
- FAT32 – Legacy, still supported for cross-platform compatibility.
- ExFAT – Fully supported, recommended for cross-platform drives.
- NTFS – Read-only by default; write support requires 3rd-party drivers (e.g., NTFS-3G, Paragon).
Linux Support #
- ext4 – Default Linux file system, fully supported.
- ext3 / ext2 – Legacy Linux file systems.
- Btrfs – Modern Linux file system with advanced features.
- XFS – Enterprise-grade Linux file system.
- FAT32 – Legacy, universal compatibility.
- ExFAT – Supported via ExFAT-utils package.
- NTFS – Supported via ntfs-3g package.
Recommended Standard for Maximum Compatibility #
For optimal cross-platform performance and full USB binding functionality across Windows, macOS, and Linux, format your USB drives as:
- ExFAT – The universal standard
⚠️ Notes
- NTFS: Perfect for Windows-only setups. On macOS, access is limited to read-only unless 3rd-party drivers are installed. Linux requires ntfs-3g.
- FAT32: Supported everywhere but limited by 4GB file size restriction. Suitable only for small-volume cold storage keys.
- Enterprise environments: May require ReFS (Windows) or XFS (Linux), but for universal portability, ExFAT remains the recommended default.