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If you're sure you want to go with FAT32, here's how to format a storage drive on Windows 10. But you'd need to be sure that none of those files are greater than 4 GB. For example, if you need to boot up an old computer, maybe with a different operating system, and backup some of its files. These days, the only reason why you'd choose to format a drive to FAT32 is for compatibility. Also, it's a little more difficult to format a drive larger than 32 GB to FAT32 on Windows 10. On the other hand, FAT32's max file size of 4 GB is almost nothing now that phones can record 4K videos. (But it would be nice to have a 128 PB USB drive, wouldn't it?) Note that the maximum drive and file size of NTFS and ExFAT is so large that there's basically no limit. ** 1 exabyte is about 1 million terabytes * 1 petabyte is about 1 thousand terabytes However, though FAT32 is well supported, its maximum drive and file size is severely limited when compared to newer formats like NTFS and ExFAT: Meanwhile, macOS can only read NTFS drives, and you would need to install third-party software to write back to the drive. Every major operating system will allow you to read and write from a USB flash drive that's formatted to FAT32. Of those three common formats, FAT32 is the oldest and most widely supported. Some of the most common file system formats for portable storage devices are FAT32, NTFS, and ExFAT. What's a file system?Ī file system is a standardized way of organizing data on a computer storage device like a flash drive or HDD.Ī file system divides a storage device into virtual compartments, almost like a wall of post office boxes, and keeps track of all the information that gets stored in each box.
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In this article we'll go over what a file system is, the FAT32 standard, and several ways to format a storage device to FAT32 on Windows 10. This software has been tested to be malware free.If you need to format a USB flash drive, HDD, SDD, or some other form of storage to FAT32, you've come to the right place.
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Download and install EaseUS Partition Master.Follow these instructions to use it for formatting: While EaseUS Partition Master is trialware, its USB formatting option is free to use. Other errors are accumulating in the pen drive due to Windows being unable to complete the formatting process.Your USB is showing an error message that reads: “the disk is write-protected”.When your USB has turned into the RAW format, making it totally out of bounds for any formatting procedure using Windows methods.It is very useful in the following cases: We recommend EaseUS Partition Master for this reason. While the native Windows methods are sufficient to address any hard drive/USB drive formatting issues, it may be worth considering external software if you’re looking for extra functionalities. Ignore the “Inserting disk” part, press Enter, and enjoy your newly-formatted drive.Ħ. The command will ask you to insert a new disk and press Enter.Right-click on the drive in a File Explorer window and choose “Format” from the menu that pops up.The process is the same for both internal and external storage devices. The most popular way to format a storage device, and arguably one of the easiest, is directly through Windows’ built-in File Explorer utility. Next, let’s take a look at some ways you can format your USB drive in Windows 10 and 11.Īlso read: 6 of the Best Super Portable USB Flash Drives 1. * Flash drives if you want to work with files larger than 4GB * May need additional drivers to get exFAT compatibility on Linux * Provides an unlimited file and partition size * Devices that need to be plugged into a variety of operating systems * Removable storage devices such as USB flash drives * Cannot handle single files larger than 4GB, so you can’t copy a 5GB file in a FAT32 system * Compatible with all major operating systems Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of each file system. Windows 10 and 11 offer three file system options when formatting a USB drive: FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT. Support for various file systems varies depending on your operating system. File systems are ways of organizing data on a storage device (such as a hard drive or an SD card). Format USB Drive With External SoftwareĪlso read: Stop Your PC from Making Random USB Noises Which File System Should You Use?īefore you format your USB drive, you need to think about which file system you should use. Format USB Drive With Modern PowerShell Tools