How to Format a USB Flash Drive to FAT32 (for 32/64/128GB...)

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Linda 

Updated on May 13, 2024

How to format USB to FAT32? If the USB flash drive is less than 32GB in size, you can easily format it to FAT32 using the built-in Windows File Explorer or Windows Disk Management utility. However, if you need to format a 64GB or 128GB USB drive to FAT32, you'll have to rely on the Command Prompt (usually using 'diskpart' or PowerShell) or a third-party FAT32 formatting tool.

*Tools Partition Master Free is a comprehensive FAT32 formatting tool that overcomes the 32GB capacity limit on USB flash drives, pen drives, or memory cards. With this software, you can format any drive from 2GB to 256GB or even larger to FAT32 without any restrictions. Keep reading to learn about the FAT32 file system and how to choose the right tool to format your USB as FAT32.

How to Format USB to FAT32: Windows Tools or Third-party Formatter?

32GB is the threshold when deciding how to format your USB flash drive to the FAT32 file system. In short, if the USB drive is 32GB or smaller, you can use any of the tools mentioned on this page to format it. However, if the USB drive's capacity exceeds the 32GB limit, you'll need to resort to more advanced solutions, including:

1. Free Partition Manager (FAT32 formatting software)

2. Windows 7/8/10 File Explorer

3. Disk Management

4. Command Prompt

Next, we'll cover all the free solutions to help you format a 2GB, 8GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB USB flash drive to FAT32 successfully.

#1. Format USB (32GB, 64GB, 128GB) to FAT32 using FAT32 Formatter tool

Since the FAT32 option is not available in the regular Windows formatting tools when the USB size is over 32GB, you need another capable USB formatter to get rid of that issue. Here, we recommend you try tools Partition Master Free, a free partition manager that can help you format your hard drive and USB drive without size limitations. In addition, it also lets you easily resize, create, delete, merge, split, copy partitions, convert MBR to GPT drive and vice versa, and many other things you cannot realize in the default Windows programs.

Now, you can download the program and follow the simple steps to format the USB flash drive in any size to FAT32.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition you plan to format and choose “Format”.

Step 2. In the new window, enter the Partition label, select the FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 file system, and set the cluster size as needed, then click "OK".

Step 3. You'll see a warning window. Click "Yes" to proceed.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the top-left corner to review the changes, then click "Apply" to start formatting the partition to FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4.

Smaller cluster sizes result in less waste of disk space. The smaller the cluster size, the larger the File Allocation Table (FAT) becomes. The larger the FAT, the slower the operating system operates with the disk.

Read Also: Best PNY USB Flash Drive Format Tool Free Download

#2. Format USB (Under 32GB) to FAT32 via Windows 7/8/10 File Explorer Format a USB drive (less than 32GB) to FAT32 using Windows 7/8/10's File Explorer: 1. **Connect the USB drive**: Plug in your USB flash drive into a USB port on your computer. 2. **Open File Explorer**: Click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar or press the `Windows + E` keys on your keyboard. 3. **Locate the USB drive**: In the left pane of File Explorer, you should see your USB drive listed under "This PC" or "Devices with Removable Storage." It might be labeled as "Removable Disk" followed by a letter (e.g., "Removable Disk (G:)"). 4. **Right-click the USB drive**: Hover over your USB drive in the list and click on it once to select it. Then, right-click and choose "Format" from the context menu. 5. **Set format options**: - **File system**: Select "FAT32" from the dropdown. - **Allocation unit size**: Choose the default option (usually "Default"). - **Volume label**: Optionally, enter a name for your USB drive (e.g., "MyUSB"). - **Quick Format**: Check this box if the drive doesn't contain important data, as it will speed up the formatting process. 6. **Format the drive**: Click the "Start" button to begin the formatting process. A warning message will appear, asking you to confirm the action. If you're sure you want to proceed, click "OK." 7. **Wait for the process to complete**: Formatting may take a few minutes, depending on the size of your USB drive. Do not remove the drive during this process. 8. **Eject the USB drive**: Once the formatting is done, right-click the USB drive in File Explorer and select "Eject" before physically removing it from your computer. Now your USB drive is formatted to FAT32 and ready to use.

Plug your USB drive into a Windows PC or laptop and allow Windows to recognize the drive and assign it a drive letter. Check it in File Explorer and proceed with the steps to format the drive to FAT32 as desired.

Step 1. Press the Windows + E keys to open File Explorer.

Step 2. Right-click on your USB drive and choose Format.

Step 3. Select FAT32 as the target file system, check Quick Format, and click Start.

Format USB under 32GB to FAT32 in Windows Explorer

Download Partition Master for an easy solution:

#3. How to Format USB to FAT32 via Disk Management (Under 32GB)

Disk Management is a free, built-in Windows utility designed to assist users with common disk partition tasks. It's always on hand when you need to format a small USB drive to FAT32, for instance.

Step 1. Right-click This PC in Windows 10/My Computer in Windows 7, and choose Manage.

Step 2. Choose Disk Management under Storage.

Step 3. Right-click on your USB drive and select Format.

Step 4. From the File system drop-down list, choose FAT32 and click OK.

The built-in tools in Windows might have certain limitations that could result in the format option being grayed out, preventing you from formatting the drive to FAT32. If you encounter this issue, the following page can provide assistance:

[Solved] FAT32 Format Option Not Available in Windows

This page provides a practical solution to address the issue of the unavailable FAT32 format option in Disk Management. Continue reading to learn the details. Read more >>

#4. How to Format USB to FAT32 Using Command Prompt

Though Windows Command Prompt is another accessible way that allows users to format a storage device to any file system, it's somewhat advanced and riskier for regular people.

If you're skilled with computers and comfortable with command lines, you can use the diskpart and PowerShell commands to format your USB drive to FAT32, just as third-party formatting tools do.

Diskpart Command Line:

These commands are already in English, but here's a brief explanation of what they do in the context of Windows Disk Management: 1. `list disk`: This command displays a list of all the available disks on your system. 2. `select disk *`: Replace the asterisk (*) with a number to select a specific disk from the list. For example, `select disk 0` would choose the first disk. 3. `list volume`: This command shows a list of all the volumes (partitions or drives) on the currently selected disk. 4. `select volume *`: Similar to the `select disk` command, replace the asterisk with a volume number to choose a specific volume. For instance, `select volume 1` selects the first volume. 5. `format fs=ntfs quick`: This command formats the selected volume with the NTFS file system quickly. The "quick" option skips the thorough drive scan, making the formatting process faster. Remember that these commands can lead to data loss if executed without proper caution, especially the `format` command. Always double-check your actions before running these commands.

PowerShell Command Line: This is the translation in English: PowerShell Command Prompt:

Format /FS:FAT32 X:

You can also watch this video to see how to format your device using CMD.

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Why Do We Format USB to FAT32?

Related topic: Should you format USB to FAT32 or NTFS?

What's FAT32? FAT32 is considered the default file system for external drives, particularly removable USB flash drives and SD memory cards. It is the most compatible file system with major devices and operating systems such as Windows and macOS. Therefore, the advantage of using FAT32 lies in its portability.

However, FAT32 also has some drawbacks and, let's say, limitations. For instance, if you have a single file larger than 4GB, you'll need to convert FAT32 to NTFS or exFAT. Additionally, due to manufacturer specifications, FAT32 is limited to formatting drives ranging from 2GB to 32GB, which is why native Windows tools also have this constraint. When attempting to format a USB drive larger than 32GB using Windows Explorer, the "FAT32" option is not available.

Now You Know How to Format USB to FAT32

Regarding the topic "how to format USB to FAT32", we have discussed the pros and cons of the FAT32 file system and are aware that the standard Windows File Explorer and Windows Disk Management can only handle USB drives smaller than 32GB. When attempting to format a larger USB drive, such as 64GB or 128GB, you would need to utilize third-party formatting software like Partition Master Free or familiarize yourself with the Diskpart or PowerShell commands.

Overall, regardless of the size of your USB flash drive, using a FAT32 formatting software tool is the ideal choice for formatting your USB drive to FAT32. It doesn't have any requirements for the USB storage size, and most importantly, it's user-friendly, making it beneficial for everyone to use.