File System

Each operating system's default or native file system.

Linux

Most distributions default to ext4, though Btrfs and XFS are common alternatives with features like snapshots and copy-on-write that ext4 lacks; which one you get depends on the distribution, not the kernel itself.

Windows

Uses NTFS as its primary file system, which supports permissions, journaling, encryption (via BitLocker), and large volume/file sizes; the older FAT32/exFAT formats remain around mainly for cross-platform removable media.

macOS

Uses APFS (Apple File System) by default since 2017, designed around flash storage with native support for snapshots, strong encryption, and space-efficient cloning of files and volumes.

iOS

Also uses APFS, sharing the same snapshot and encryption features as macOS, but exposes almost none of the underlying file system directly to users — access is mediated through app-specific sandboxed containers and the Files app.

Android

Primarily uses ext4 (or F2FS on some devices, which is optimized for flash storage), with each app’s private data isolated in its own sandboxed directory rather than a shared user-accessible file system.

ChromeOS

Uses ext4 for its underlying Linux-based system and local storage, but is designed around minimal local storage in general, leaning on cloud storage (Google Drive) for most user files.