Which file system is most commonly used by Windows operating systems?

The most commonly used file system by Windows operating systems is NTFS, which stands for New Technology File System. NTFS was introduced with Windows NT 3.1 and has since become the standard file system for Windows operating systems, starting from Windows XP onwards.

NTFS supports large file sizes, whereas FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32) has a maximum file size limit of 4 GB and is therefore not suitable for modern applications that require handling larger files. Additionally, NTFS offers advanced features such as file permissions, encryption, disk quotas, and journaling, which enhances data integrity and security.

Other file systems mentioned, such as ext4 and HFS+, are used primarily in Linux and macOS environments, respectively. Ext4 is common in Linux distributions, while HFS+ (Hierarchical File System Plus) was used by older macOS versions. Nowadays, macOS primarily uses APFS (Apple File System). Thus, NTFS remains the most appropriate choice for Windows file systems due to its capabilities and compatibility with modern Windows operating systems.