---
name: "fstyp"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fstyp"
---

# fstyp(8)

determine filesystem type

## NAME

**fstyp** – determine filesystem type

## SYNOPSIS

**fstyp** \[**-l**\] \[**-s**\] \[**-u**\] *special*

## DESCRIPTION

The **fstyp** utility is used to determine the filesystem type on a given device. It can recognize BeFS (BeOS), ISO-9660, exFAT, Ext2, FAT, NTFS, and UFS filesystems. When the **-u** flag is specified, **fstyp** also recognizes certain additional metadata formats that cannot be handled using [mount(8)](/mount/8.md), such as [geli(8)](/geli/8.md) providers, and ZFS pools.

The filesystem name is printed to the standard output as, respectively:

-

  befs

-

  cd9660

-

  exfat

-

  ext2fs

-

  geli

-

  hammer

-

  hammer2

-

  msdosfs

-

  ntfs

-

  ufs

-

  zfs

Because **fstyp** is built specifically to detect filesystem types, it differs from [file(1)](/file/1.md) in several ways. The output is machine-parsable, filesystem labels are supported, the utility runs sandboxed using [capsicum(4)](/capsicum/4.md), and does not try to recognize any file format other than filesystems.

These options are available:

- **-l**

  In addition to filesystem type, print filesystem label if available.

- **-s**

  Ignore file type. By default, **fstyp** only works on regular files and disk-like device nodes. Trying to read other file types might have unexpected consequences or hang indefinitely.

- **-u**

  Include filesystems and devices that cannot be mounted directly by [mount(8)](/mount/8.md).

## EXIT STATUS

The **fstyp** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs or the filesystem type is not recognized.

## SEE ALSO

[file(1)](/file/1.md), [autofs(4)](/autofs/4.md), [capsicum(4)](/capsicum/4.md), [geli(8)](/geli/8.md), [glabel(8)](/glabel/8.md), [mount(8)](/mount/8.md), [zpool(8)](/zpool/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **fstyp** command appeared in FreeBSD 10.2.

## AUTHORS

The **fstyp** utility was developed by Edward Tomasz Napierala ⟨*trasz@FreeBSD.org*⟩ under sponsorship from the FreeBSD Foundation. ZFS and GELI support was added by Allan Jude ⟨*allanjude@FreeBSD.org*⟩.