Maximum file size fat32 drive

Thanks to FAT32, smooth exchanges of limited amounts of data between otherwise incompatible systems like Windows and macOS continue to work well. FAT32 is also relevant as a format for the cross-platform transmission of data between Windows operating systems and non-Windows operating systems e. Linux distributions or macOS. But these applications will gradually decline as ever-faster and ever-larger flash storage media emerge. The successor exFAT is now being increasingly used.

Because fewer security mechanisms are present in the FAT structure, FAT32 data media should never be the sole storage location for important files. In the FAT32 file system, the maximum file size is only around 4 gigabytes.

With the prevalence of huge movie files as well as DVD and Blu-ray formats, this is far too small. Although this may sound spacious, this value is also achieved and sometimes surpassed by inexpensive SSDs with flash storage and mechanical HDD hard drives. On the classic operating system Windows XP, which some people continue to use to this day, the maximum partition size was only around 32 gigabytes.

This allowed files of up to gibibytes, but was only supported by a few systems and was unable to establish itself on the market. With this file system, partitions of up to around 8 terabytes are possible — which is considered relevant today. FAT32 scarcely plays a role anymore as a Microsoft file system.

The new standard is, thus, a better solution than the old FAT However, its prevalence is still relatively low. A comparison with NTFS is difficult. In comparison, FAT32 is now outdated, although it is still essential for many use cases — particularly when one needs to display and replay data on older devices like DVD players, car radios, or games consoles.

Incidentally, the older file system is not completely obsolete even for internal hard drives. Although you need to consider a few things when exchanging data in this case; using both formats simultaneously is no problem in principle. SSDs have been gaining ground for years now.

Until recently, these flash-based storage devices have been mostly used by mobile devices, like smartphones or MP3 players. Click OK and wait the process to complete. Resize the FAT32 partition and make an exFAT or other supporting filesystem partition that is large enough to hold the file. If you ever need to access the large file in place on the USB drive, this is probably the best solution.

FAT32 is a file system used for storage devices, and file systems are ways of organizing storage on devices such as hard drives, SSDs, memory sticks, microSD cards, and so on. Your email address will not be published. Windows uses NTFS for its system drive and, by default, for most non-removable drives.

FAT32 also has a 4GB limit to the size of individual files. Windows use NTFS system drive and, by default, for most non-removable drives. Solution 2. On Add to archive window, change Archive format as zip and Split to volumes.