tune.exfat

Print the volume label of a filesystem

$ tune.exfat [[-l|--print-label]] [/dev/sdXY]

$ tune.exfat [[-L|--set-label]] [new_label] [/dev/sdXY]

$ tune.exfat [[-u|--print-guid]] [/dev/sdXY]

$ tune.exfat [[-U|--set-guid]] [new_guid] [/dev/sdXY]

$ tune.exfat [[-i|--print-serial]] [/dev/sdXY]

$ tune.exfat [[-I|--set-serial]] [new_serial] [/dev/sdXY]

tune.exfat [options] device

-l
    Set the new volume label for the exFAT filesystem. The label can be up to 11 Unicode characters.

--label new-label
    Long form of the -l option to set the new volume label.

-i
    Set the new volume serial number for the exFAT filesystem. This is a 32-bit hexadecimal number.

--serial new-serial
    Long form of the -i option to set the new volume serial number.

device
    The special file (e.g., /dev/sdb1) corresponding to the device or partition containing the exFAT filesystem.

tune.exfat is a utility from the exfatprogs suite designed to modify various administrative parameters of an existing exFAT filesystem. Unlike more complex filesystems like ext4 or XFS, exFAT offers a limited set of tunable options.

Primarily, it allows administrators to change the volume label and the volume serial number of an exFAT filesystem directly on a device or partition. These changes are typically written directly to the filesystem's metadata. This command is useful for identifying volumes, especially when multiple exFAT filesystems are present, or for compliance with specific naming conventions.

It's crucial to unmount the filesystem before making changes to prevent data corruption.

Modifying filesystem parameters directly carries inherent risks; it is strongly recommended to unmount the exFAT filesystem before using tune.exfat to prevent potential data loss or corruption. Incorrect usage or interruptions during the process can lead to an unmountable or damaged filesystem.

exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) was developed by Microsoft primarily for flash memory such as USB flash drives and SD cards. Initially proprietary, Microsoft released specifications and patents for exFAT to the Open Invention Network (OIN) in 2019, paving the way for better native support in Linux. The exfatprogs package, which includes tune.exfat, provides robust open-source tools for managing exFAT filesystems on Linux, developed after this opening to ensure full compatibility and control over exFAT partitions.

mkfs.exfat(8), fsck.exfat(8), exfatlabel(8), tune2fs(8)