Format FAT32 Windows 11/10: How to Format HDD/External Hard Drive to FAT32

To format an HDD or external hard drive to FAT32 in Windows 11/10, follow the Windows 11/10 FAT32 format tutorial. You can use either the Windows Command Prompt or a third-party partition manager to format FAT32, even when there is no FAT32 option available in Windows 11/10 File Explorer or Disk Management.

To format a hard drive to FAT32 in Windows 11/10 using the Command Prompt, open the Command Prompt as an administrator. Type the command `format /fs:fat32 X:` (replace `X:` with the drive letter of the hard drive you want to format) and press Enter. This will format the drive to FAT32.

To format an HDD to FAT32 in Windows 11/10, you can use a third-party partition manager like EaseUS Partition Master or MiniTool Partition Wizard. These tools allow you to create, delete, resize, and format partitions, including converting to FAT32. First, download and install the partition manager, then launch it and select the HDD you want to format.

To format a 32GB/64GB/128GB SD card to FAT32 in Windows 11/10, follow these steps: Open File Explorer, right-click on the SD card, and select "Format." In the Format window, select "FAT32" from the "File system" dropdown menu.

Why Do You Format External Hard to FAT32

File System Name: File Allocation Table 32 (FAT32)

The oldest file system among the popular three (FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS) is FAT32, commonly used on removable storage drives and external HDDs.

The device has great compatibility with all kinds of storage devices, allowing both Windows OS and macOS to read a FAT32 device.

The external hard drive has some limitations, including a maximum individual file size of 4GB and the inability to offer FAT32 as an option for drives larger than 32GB.

You can make full use of your external hard drive by choosing the right file system. If you have an NTFS hard drive, it's only compatible with Windows computers, not Macs. However, if you have a FAT32 external storage drive, it's easily recognized by both Windows OS and Mac OS X, making it a more versatile option.

PlayStation console players should note that their external USB drive must be formatted in FAT32, and they can use command prompt or Qiling partition manager software to format their external hard drive to FAT32 in Windows.

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#1. Format HDD to FAT32 in Windows 11/10 with Command Prompt

To format an external hard drive or USB flash drive to FAT32 in Windows 11/10, you need to know that Windows File Explorer and Disk Management cannot format FAT32 on drives larger than 32GB. This means that if your drive's capacity is more than 32GB, you won't see a FAT32 option in the drop-down list in these native programs. To overcome this limitation, you need to use alternative disk formatting tools that can break the 32GB limit and format any-size drive to FAT32.

If you're experiencing issues with your Windows computer, you can try using the Windows Command Prompt to troubleshoot the problem. Alternatively, if you're hesitant to download third-party software, you can attempt to format the disk using the Command Prompt.

How to Format FAT32 Using CMD

Step 1. Plug in your external hard drive to your computer, then 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, which can be verified through Windows Disk Management by navigating to This PC > Manage > Disk Management.

#2. Format HDD to FAT32 in Windows 11/10 with Partition Manager

If you're hesitant to use the command prompt, you can try a more straightforward method using Qiling, a free partition manager that can help format an external hard drive, USB drive, SD card, and other removable storage devices to FAT32 easily and quickly. To do this, connect your storage device to your computer correctly and follow the steps to format the external hard drive to FAT32 using Qiling Partition Master in Windows 11/10.

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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

Qiling Partition Master combines the best features of both Windows command lines and Windows Disk Management, offering a comprehensive solution for managing partitions.

You can format any drive to various file formats, including FAT32, NTFS, and EXT2/EXT3, among others.
The program should provide a user-friendly graphical interface to display detailed disk information, including the file system, capacity, partition table, and other relevant details. This would make it easier for users to understand and manage their disk storage, and provide a more logical and informative way to view disk info.

In contrast, the third-The party-free partition manager offers customers a seamless experience in handling disk and partition management tasks, with its standalone functions being more intelligent and practical than others, allowing for effortless management of multiple disk and partition operations.

To manage and optimize your external hard drive, you can resize its partitions, merge them into a single larger partition, or check for any partition errors. This can be done using disk management tools or software specifically designed for this purpose, such as Disk Management in Windows or Disk Utility in macOS.
Migrate OS to HDD/SSD without reinstalling
Directly convert FAT32 to NTFS without formatting
Partition a hard drive in Windows 11/10/8/7...

The Qiling Partition Master offers a range of features that are easy to use and useful for managing hard disk drives and removable storage drives, making it a great alternative to the CMD which requires more advanced computer skills.

Format FAT32 Windows 11/10 FAQs

1. Are FAT32 and exFAT the same?

FAT32 is compatible with older operating systems, but has size limits, whereas exFAT does not, making it a better choice for large-capacity removable devices.

2. Can a 64gb USB drive be formatted to FAT32?

Qiling Partition Master is a free tool that allows formatting a USB drive larger than 32GB with the FAT32 file system.

3. Can you format a 500gb - 4tb hard drive to FAT32?

If you want to install FAT32 on a 500GB to 4TB hard drive, which is not recommended, you can still try using Qiling Partition Master. First, convert the MBR to GPT on the data disks without losing any data, and then format it as FAT32.

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