If you’re using a 64GB USB flash drive and want to format it to FAT32 file system on Windows 10, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you achieve that. Formatting a USB drive to FAT32 is useful when you need compatibility with older devices or certain gaming consoles that have limited support for other file systems.
But before we proceed, make sure to back up any important data on your USB drive, as formatting will erase all existing files. Also, note that Windows 10 has a built-in feature that limits FAT32 formatting for drives with a capacity of 32GB or less. To overcome this limitation, we’ll be using a third-party tool called “FAT32 Format.”
How to Format a 64GB USB to FAT32 on Windows 10
To format your 64GB USB drive to FAT32 on Windows 10, follow these steps:
1. Download ‘FAT32 Format’: Download and install the “FAT32 Format” tool from a trusted source.
2. Insert the USB Drive: Plug your 64GB USB flash drive into an available USB port on your Windows 10 computer.
3. Open ‘FAT32 Format’: Launch the “FAT32 Format” tool.
4. Select the USB Drive: From the drop-down menu in the “FAT32 Format” window, select your 64GB USB drive.
5. Set the Volume Label: Enter a desired name for your USB drive in the “Volume Label” field.
6. Choose Allocation Unit Size: Leave the allocation unit size as default or select a different size if necessary (for most cases, the default option is appropriate).
7. Format the Drive: Click on the “Start” button to initiate the formatting process.
8. Wait for the Format to Complete: Depending on the size of your USB drive, the formatting process may take some time. Be patient and let it complete.
9. Format Successful: Once the formatting process is finished, you’ll see a success message indicating that the format was completed successfully.
10. Done: Your 64GB USB drive has now been formatted to FAT32 on Windows 10!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I format a 64GB USB drive to FAT32 using the built-in Windows 10 tools?
No, the built-in Windows 10 tools are unable to format drives larger than 32GB to FAT32. That’s why we recommend using the “FAT32 Format” tool.
2. Are there any risks involved in formatting a USB drive?
Yes, formatting erases all data on the USB drive, so ensure you have backed up any important files beforehand.
3. Will formatting my USB drive to FAT32 impact file transfer speed?
No, formatting to FAT32 won’t affect file transfer speed. However, it may limit maximum file size to 4GB due to FAT32’s file system limitations.
4. Can I format a USB drive to FAT32 on a Mac?
Yes, Mac computers provide the option to format a USB drive to FAT32 using the Disk Utility tool.
5. Can I use the formatted USB drive on macOS and Windows?
Yes, a USB drive formatted to FAT32 can be read and written on both macOS and Windows operating systems without any compatibility issues.
6. Can I convert a FAT32 drive to NTFS without losing data?
Yes, you can convert a FAT32 drive to NTFS without losing data using the built-in Windows conversion tool.
7. Is FAT32 the best file system for my USB drive?
The choice of file system primarily depends on your specific needs. FAT32 provides good compatibility, but if you don’t require it, you may consider other file systems like NTFS or exFAT.
8. Can I format a USB drive to FAT32 on Linux?
Yes, Linux distributions have tools like GParted that allow you to format a USB drive to FAT32.
9. What is the maximum file size supported by FAT32?
The maximum file size supported by FAT32 is 4GB.
10. Can I recover data from a formatted USB drive?
If you have formatted your USB drive, data recovery becomes challenging. It’s always advisable to have a backup of important files before formatting.
11. Is it possible to format a USB drive to FAT32 using the command prompt?
Yes, the command prompt also provides a method to format a USB drive to FAT32. However, using a graphical tool like “FAT32 Format” may be more user-friendly for some individuals.
12. Can I format a USB drive larger than 64GB to FAT32?
Yes, you can format a USB drive larger than 64GB to FAT32 using the same method described in this article. However, ensure you have the appropriate file system selected for drives with larger capacities.