How to Check the File System of a Drive in Windows 11 or 10
If you’re like me, you’ve probably had that moment where you’re trying to figure out what file system your drive is using — whether it’s NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, or something else — and the options aren’t immediately obvious. Yeah, Windows makes it possible to check easily, but sometimes, the info is buried in menus that aren’t super intuitive or get hidden during updates. I’ve spent way too long digging through settings only to find out I needed a different approach. So, here’s what finally worked for me, and hopefully it saves someone the same headache.
Use Disk Management
This has been my go-to for a while. It’s reliable and straightforward once you get the hang of it. Just right-click on the Start menu and choose Disk Management, or hit Win + X and select it from the menu. When the window pops up, you’ll see all your drives and their partitions. The File System column in this view tells you if a drive is NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, or something else. Easy, right? Well, I’ve found that this method is usually pretty quick and accurate. The tricky part? If you’ve recently plugged in a new drive, it might take a moment to show up, and sometimes drives can look weird if you have multiple partitions or if Disk Management is still indexing. Also, on some laptops like my older ASUS, I noticed the File System info is hidden deep in a different menu, but for most, it’s right there in the main window.
One thing to watch out for—if a drive shows as “Unknown” or “Unallocated,” it might be because it’s not formatted yet or is in a weird state. Always verify you’ve selected the correct disk if you have a bunch of drives connected, especially external ones. It’s a simple check, but it saved me a lot of confusion during some upgrades.
Check Through File Explorer
This is probably the most familiar for most people. Head over to This PC, right-click on the drive or partition you’re interested in, then pick Properties. The General tab shows the File System right there, next to the volume label. It’s quick, no extra tools needed, and kind of foolproof — unless the drive is hidden or not mounted. I’ve had cases where external drives don’t show the right info because they’re offline or have permissions issues, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Sometimes, if the system is busy or if the disk is corrupted, the properties window might hang or take a second longer to load. Not a big deal, but frustrating if you’re in a hurry. Still, for most drives, this is fast enough to give you an answer without fuss.
Use Windows Settings
If clicking around in the modern Settings app is more your thing, there’s a way to peek at drive info there too. Open Settings (Win + I), then go to System > Storage. Scroll down and click on Advanced storage settings, then choose Disks & volumes. This area shows some detailed info about each drive, including the file system. Honestly, I found it a tad confusing at first—sometimes, it’s hidden under nested menus and not straightforward—but once you get used to the layout, it’s worth checking out. Just be patient; the info isn’t always immediately visible, especially after updates.
Use System Information
If you’re after a more thorough, technical overview, try opening System Information. Hit Win + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. This opens a window with tons of details about your PC. Navigate to Components > Storage > Drives. Here, you’ll find a list of all detected drives and their properties, including the file system type.
This one’s a bit more verbose, but if you’re troubleshooting or just plain curious about what Windows thinks each drive is, it’s a good place to look. On my setup, sometimes drive info is spread across multiple entries—especially with external or network drives—so don’t be surprised if it’s a little messy. Still, it’s worth a peek if other methods aren’t enough.
Command Line: DiskPart
If you’re comfortable with Command Prompt, this is a pretty powerful way to get the info. Open an elevated Command Prompt (search for cmd, right-click and pick Run as administrator). You can also do this inside Windows Terminal—just open it as admin. Type diskpart and hit Enter. Then, run list volume. The command will display all your drive volumes, and look in the fs column for the file system info—like NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT.
It’s pretty reliable, and I’ve used it plenty of times during troubleshooting. Just double-check that you’re looking at the right volume, especially if you have a lot of external drives or network shares. Sometimes, drive labels can be misleading, and sizes can look similar, so verify carefully. Be cautious with diskpart commands though—mistakes can be costly if you start deleting partitions or formatting drives by accident.
PowerShell Method
If scripting is your thing, PowerShell is actually my favorite. Launch PowerShell as administrator (right-click the start button and choose Run as administrator), and run Get-Volume. It outputs a list of all drives, including drive letters, labels, sizes, and crucially, the FileSystem info. You can make the output cleaner with a command like Get-Volume | Select-Object DriveLetter, FileSystem. Very handy for quick checks or scripting repetitive tasks.
Again, sometimes the info can be overwhelming if you have a lot of drives, but it’s reliable and can be automated if needed. I use this mostly for quick scans or when I’m troubleshooting in scripts.
Final Tips & Takeaways
At the end of the day, Windows offers a bunch of ways to see what file system a drive is running. Sometimes, one approach is quicker or clearer depending on your setup. I’ve definitely had to switch methods a couple times when a drive just wouldn’t cooperate — permissions, encryption, or odd drive states can block some tools. Just remember to run things as admin if needed, and always double-check which disk or volume you’re examining. It’s easy to get mixed up if you have a cluttered disk array.
Honestly, I spent way too long figuring out some of these tricks in the middle of the night, so hope this short guide helps others avoid that same confusion. The biggest tip? Be patient, double-check the drive labels and sizes, and don’t be afraid to try multiple methods if you’re not getting clear info right away.
Hope this helped — it took me way too long to figure it out. Anyway, good luck, and I hope this saves someone else a weekend of frustration!