Format FAT32 Windows 11/10: How to Format HDD/External Hard Drive to FAT32
Follow the Windows 11/10 FAT32 format tutorial to format HDD to FAT32 or format an external hard drive to FAT32 in Windows 11/10. You can apply either the Windows CMD or the third-party partition manager to format FAT32 in Windows 11/10 even when there is no FAT32 option in Windows 11/10 File Explorer or Disk Management.
#1. Format HDD to FAT32 in Windows 11/10 with Command Prompt
#2. Format HDD to FAT32 in Windows 11/10 with Third-party partition manager
Further reading: how to format a 32GB/64GB/128GB SD card to FAT32 in Windows 11/10
Why Do You Format External Hard to FAT32
File System Name: File Allocation Table 32 (FAT32)
Description: The oldest file system among the popular three (FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS); Commonly used on removable storage drives and external HDDs.
Advantages: Great compatibility with all kinds of storage devices; both Windows OS and macOS can read a FAT32 device.
Disadvantages: Support maximum individual file size is no more than 4GB; Windows offers no FAT32 option for an external hard drive over 32GB.
It is no doubt that you want to make full use of your external hard drive. Why do I say it like this? Because each operating system reads a specific file system. If you got an NTFS hard drive, then you can only apply it in a Windows computer other than in a Mac. However, the thing turns entirely different if you got a FAT32 external storage drive, either Windows OS or Mac OS X would easily recognize it.
In addition, PlayStation console players should know that the format of an external USB drive has to be FAT32, too. To add an external USB drive to the console, they have to format PS hard drive to FAT32. So in any case where the FAT32 file system is required, you can apply command prompt or Qiling partition manager software in the following to format the external hard drive to FAT32 in Windows 11/10/8/7 at once.
#1. Format HDD to FAT32 in Windows 11/10 with Command Prompt
By learning the FAT32 disadvantages, you should know that Windows File Explorer and Windows Disk Management cannot format FAT32 on an external HDD, of which the partition size is larger than 32GB. When your hard drive partition's capacity is more than 32GB, you won't see a FAT32 option in the drop-down list in both native programs. Hence, to provide you with an all-around solution to format FAT32 in Windows 11/10, you need some alternative disk formatting tools to break the 32GB limit and format any-size external hard drive or USB flash drive to FAT32 without a hitch.
Windows Command Prompt is a comprehensive computer troubleshooting program for most Windows issues. If you are reluctant to download any third-party software, try to start formatting the disk via Command Prompt.
How to Format FAT32 Using CMD
Step 1. Plug-in your external hard drive to your computer. Search for Command Prompt in Windows Search, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.
Step 2. Type diskpart into the Command Prompt window and hit Enter.
Step 3. Type list disk and hit Enter. Note down the number of your external hard drive.
Step 4. Type select disk N and hit Enter. You should replace N with your exact external hard drive number.
Step 5. Go on typing each of the following commands and press Enter after each line.
- create partition primary
- select partition 1
- active
- format fs=fat32
- assign
- exit
Your hard drive should now be formatted to FAT32. You can check the modified file system in Windows Disk Management (Navigate to This PC > Manage > Disk Management).
#2. Format HDD to FAT32 in Windows 11/10 with Partition Manager
If you're afraid of making a mess by using the command prompt, try this more straightforward method. Qiling free partition manager is a third-party HDD format utility that can help format an external hard drive, USB drive, SD card, and any other removable storage device to FAT32 easily and quickly, which should be the primary choice for average computer users. Connect your storage device to your computer correctly and learn how to format the external hard drive to FAT32 in Windows 11/10 with Qiling Partition Master from the steps below.
How to Format FAT32 Using FAT32 Formatter
Step 1. Launch Qiling Partition Master, click the partition you intend to format and choose "Format" in "Disk management" page.
Step 2. In the next window, set the Partition label, File system, and Cluster size for the partition, then click "Proceed".
Qiling FAT32 Format vs. Comand Prompt
As you see, Qiling Partition Master combines the highlights of both Windows command lines and Windows Disk Management.
- Be able to format any drive to FAT32, as well as other popular file formats (NTFS, EXT2, EXT3...)
- Offer graphic interface and even more logical and informative disk info, like the file system, capacity, partition table, etc.
In contrast, the third-party free partition manager empowers customers to effortlessly handle more disk and partition management jobs, and those standalone functions are much more intelligent and practical than others.
- Resize external hard drive partitions, merge partitions or check partition errors.
- Migrate OS to HDD/SSD without reinstalling
- Directly convert FAT32 to NTFS without formatting
- Partition a hard drive in Windows 11/10/8/7...
All in all, there are so many attainable yet useful features waiting for you to explorer. Compared with the CMD which requires somewhat high-level computer skills, Qiling Partition Master shall be the second-to-none choice to efficiently manage a hard disk drive or any removable storage drive on your PC!
Format FAT32 Windows 11/10 FAQs
1. Are FAT32 and exFAT the same?
FAT32 is compatible with more very old operating systems. However, FAT32 has limits on single file size and partition size, while exFAT does not. Compared with FAT32, exFAT is an optimized FAT32 file system that can be widely used for removable devices of large capacity.
2. Can a 64gb USB drive be formatted to FAT32?
Qiling Partition Master is a free FAT32 formatter tool that breaks the limitation of 32GB, enabling your to format 64GB, 128GB or larger USB drive with the FAT32 file system.
3. Can you format a 500gb - 4tb hard drive to FAT32?
If you want FAT32 on a 500gb to 4tb hard drive which we do not recommend you, you can still try this way to make it. First, download Qiling Partition Master, first convert MBR to GPT on data disks without data loss, and then format it as FAT32.
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