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Asked: 2024-09-27T07:25:18+05:30 In:

What are the steps to install and mount an exFAT partition on Ubuntu?

So, I recently got this new external hard drive that I want to use with both my Windows laptop and my Ubuntu setup. I formatted it to exFAT, thinking that would make it easier to swap files between the two systems. But now I’m stuck on Ubuntu, trying to figure out how to install and mount it properly.

I remember back in the day installing various file system drivers was a bit of a headache, and I don’t want to go down that road again. I have a vague recollection that Ubuntu can handle exFAT pretty well, but I’ve also heard that you need to do some extra steps to make it work seamlessly.

What I really need is a step-by-step guide to get this thing mounted. First off, do I need to install any packages, or does Ubuntu come with exFAT support out of the box? If packages are necessary, which ones should I grab? I’ve seen a few recommendations like `exfat-fuse` and `exfat-utils`, but I’m not sure if those are the right ones to use or the latest way to get it up and running.

Once I’ve got the installation part figured out, how do I actually mount the drive? I vaguely remember some commands and mount points, but I can’t seem to recall the specifics. What are the exact terminal commands I should be using? And should I create a specific directory to mount it to, or can I just mount it anywhere?

Also, if I want this drive to always be accessible upon startup, what’s the best way to configure that? I’ve heard something about editing the `/etc/fstab` file, but I don’t want to mess it up and end up on the wrong side of a boot loop!

Long story short, if you could lay out the steps clearly for me, I would greatly appreciate it. I’m pretty comfortable with using the command line, but it’s just been a while since I’ve worked with mounting partitions. Thanks a bunch!

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    1. Mounting exFAT Drive on Ubuntu

      How to Mount Your exFAT External Hard Drive on Ubuntu

      So, you got yourself an exFAT formatted drive and want to use it on your Ubuntu setup? No worries! Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you mount it like a pro.

      Do I Need to Install Anything?

      First off, good news! As of Ubuntu 21.04 and later, exFAT support is built-in. But if you’re on an older version, you might need to install a couple of packages:

      • sudo apt update
      • sudo apt install exfat-fuse exfat-utils

      Finding Your Drive

      Next, plug in your external hard drive and open up a terminal. You can check if Ubuntu sees your drive by typing:

      lsblk

      This will show you a list of storage devices. Your external drive will likely be something like /dev/sdb1 or similar (the number may vary).

      Creating a Mount Point

      Now, you need to create a mount point for your drive. You can create a directory in your home folder (or anywhere you like). Let’s do it in /media/mydrive:

      sudo mkdir /media/mydrive

      Mounting the Drive

      Time to mount the drive! Replace /dev/sdX1 with the actual name of your drive:

      sudo mount -t exfat /dev/sdX1 /media/mydrive

      If all goes well, your drive is now mounted, and you can access it through the file manager!

      Automount on Startup

      If you want your drive to be available every time you boot up, you’ll need to add it to the /etc/fstab file. Before doing this, make a backup just in case:

      sudo cp /etc/fstab /etc/fstab.bak

      Then, open the /etc/fstab file in your favorite text editor:

      sudo nano /etc/fstab

      At the end of the file, add this line (make sure to replace /dev/sdX1 and /media/mydrive accordingly):

      /dev/sdX1 /media/mydrive exfat defaults 0 0

      Save the file and exit the editor. Now your drive should mount automatically on startup!

      Wrapping Up

      And that’s it! You should be good to go with your external hard drive on both Windows and Ubuntu. If you run into any issues, remember to double-check your mount point and the fstab entry.

      Happy file sharing!


    2. To get your exFAT external hard drive mounted on your Ubuntu setup, you first need to ensure that you have the necessary packages for exFAT support installed. Recent versions of Ubuntu (from 20.04 and onwards) come with built-in exFAT support due to the inclusion of `exfat-ntfs` in the kernel. However, if you’re using an older version or you want to ensure you have all potential utilities, you can install additional packages using the commands below. Open your terminal and run:

      sudo apt update
sudo apt install exfat-fuse exfat-utils

      Once you have the necessary packages installed, you can mount the drive. First, plug in your external hard drive and identify its device name by running `lsblk` or `sudo fdisk -l`. Look for a device that corresponds to your drive, such as `/dev/sdb1`. Then, create a mount point where you want to access the drive, using:

      sudo mkdir /mnt/external_drive

      Now, you can mount the drive to that directory by running:

      sudo mount -t exfat /dev/sdb1 /mnt/external_drive

      To ensure that your drive mounts automatically upon startup, you will need to edit the `/etc/fstab` file. Open it using a text editor, for example:

      sudo nano /etc/fstab

      Then, add the following line to the end of the file, replacing `/dev/sdb1` with the actual device name of your drive:

      /dev/sdb1  /mnt/external_drive  exfat  defaults  0  0

      Save the file and exit the editor. This will ensure your external hard drive mounts automatically each time you boot your computer. To test your setup, you can run:

      sudo umount /mnt/external_drive
sudo mount -a

      This will unmount and remount all filesystems listed in your `/etc/fstab`, allowing you to check if everything works as expected without restarting. If you follow these steps accurately, you’ll have a seamless experience using your external hard drive between your Windows laptop and Ubuntu setup.

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