Unlock the Full Potential: Effortlessly Format USB Drives Over 32GB to FAT32 on Windows
Discover how to easily format USB drives larger than 32GB with FAT32 on Windows Learn effective methods using FAT32 Format and PowerShell for hassle-free formatting
Key Takeaways
To format larger USB drives with FAT32, you can make use of a third-party utility such as "FAT32 Format." An alternative method involves launching PowerShell as an Administrator and executing the command "format /FS:FAT32 F:" in the Window to format the USB drive assigned the drive letter "F:". Simply replace "F:" with the appropriate drive letter assigned to your USB drive.
For whatever reason, the option to format USB drives larger than 32GB with the FAT32 file system isn't present in the regular Windows format tool. Here's how to get around that.
What is FAT32?
FAT32 is an efficient file system for external drives, unless you require files larger than 4GB. In that case, NTFS or exFAT would be more suitable. The advantage of using FAT32 is its widespread compatibility, as it is supported by major operating systems and devices. This makes it ideal for drives that need to be accessed from different systems. The misconception that FAT32 can only format drives between 2GB and 32GB is due to manufacturer specifications, which has led to limitations in native tools on Windows and other systems. However, the truth is that FAT32 has a theoretical volume size limit of 16TB, with a current practical limit of approximately 8TB - more than sufficient for most USB drives.
We will now demonstrate two methods for formatting larger USB drives with FAT32. One method utilizes PowerShell (or the Command Prompt/Terminal on Windows 11), while the other involves using a free, third-party tool.
Format Large USB Drives with FAT32 by Using FAT32 Format
To format larger USB drives with FAT32 effortlessly, you can opt for a convenient solution of utilizing the GUI version of FAT32 Format. This can be achieved by downloading the application provided by Ridgecrop Consultants. Simply click on the screenshot displayed on the webpage and acquire the app. This portable software eliminates the need for installation and can be executed directly through the executable file.
In the "FAT32 Format" window, select the drive to format and type a volume label if you want to. Select the "Quick Format" option, and then click the "Start" button.
A window pops up to warn you that all data on the drive will be lost. Click "OK" to format the drive.
Formatting with this tool is significantly faster than using the command line method explained in the following section. In PowerShell, it took us approximately 40 minutes to format our 64GB USB drive, while this tool accomplished the task in just a few seconds.
It is important to remember that before formatting the drive, you must close any open File Explorer windows. Failure to do so will cause the tool to consider the drive as in use by another application, resulting in a formatting failure. If you encounter this issue, simply close the File Explorer windows and attempt the formatting process again. There is no need to reopen the tool or take any additional steps.
Format Large USB Drives with FAT32 by Using PowerShell
To format USB drives larger than 32GB with FAT32, you can utilize the format command in Teriminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt. The syntax for the command remains consistent across these tools. However, it is worth noting that this process can be time-consuming. For instance, when we formatted our 64GB USB drive, it took approximately 40 minutes. Additionally, it is important to be aware that formatting larger drives may require several hours. Lastly, although unlikely, it is only after the completion of the process that one can determine if the formatting was unsuccessful.
Still, if you prefer not to or are unable to download a third-party application, you can utilize the format command, which is relatively straightforward. To begin, access PowerShell with administrative privileges by pressing Windows+X on your keyboard and selecting "PowerShell (Admin)" from the Power User menu. However, if you are using Windows 11, locate "Terminal (Admin)" instead.
To quickly determine the assigned letter for the drive, follow these steps:
1. Open File Explorer and navigate to "This PC."
2. Simply look for the corresponding drive letter.
Alternatively, you can execute the "diskpart" command in PowerShell, Teriminal, or the Command Prompt. Then, run the "disk list" command to obtain a list of disks connected to your PC along with their respective drive letters.
To format a specific drive, enter the following command at the PowerShell prompt (substituting F: with the desired drive letter), and press Enter:
format /FS:FAT32 F:
Formatting a drive can be a time-consuming process. However, if you have access to the third-party download mentioned earlier, that would be the preferable choice. It is important to note that just because you can format a large drive with FAT32, it doesn't necessarily mean it is the best option. In fact, exFAT is generally a better choice as it is supported by most modern devices.
