How can I format or convert exfat to fat32 without losing data?

You need a disk formatting tool as FAT32 option is no longer available in Windows 11/10. Check this out:

https://www.techmodos.com/format-exfat-to-fat32

Unfortunately, Windows doesn't offer a built-in method to convert exFAT to FAT32 without losing data. The conversion typically requires formatting, which deletes all files. However, you can perform a conversion without data loss using third-party software. 

1. Download and install the free edition of Partition Assistant Standard.

2. Open the program and find your exFAT drive.

3. Right-click the drive and select "Advanced → Convert to FAT32."

4. In the pop-up window, confirm the conversion and click OK.

5. Click Apply at the top-left corner to execute the pending operation. This will convert exfat to fat32 without losing data.

This free exfat to fat 32 converter preserves your data during the conversion, making this process safe and straightforward.

Important Notes:

Even though this method is generally safe, it's strongly advised to create a backup first to avoid any risk of data loss from unforeseen issues.

Always safely eject the drive after conversion.

Using third-party disk format software is the simplest and safest option for formatting exFAT to FAT32 without losing data on Windows.

To format exFAT to FAT32. Use a Free Command-Line Tool: fat32format
fat32format is a lightweight, free command-line utility specifically designed for formatting large drives to FAT32, bypassing Windows' size restrictions.

How to use fat32format to format exFAT to FAT32:
1. Download fat32format:

2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
Search for "cmd" or "Command Prompt," right-click, and select Run as administrator.

3. Identify your drive:
Use diskpart or wmic to identify your drive letter or disk number.
For example, you can list disks with:
wmic diskdrive get caption, deviceid
Alternatively, check in File Explorer to confirm the drive letter.

4. Format the drive:
Use fat32format with the drive letter:
fat32format X:
Replace X: with your drive letter.
Or, if you have the disk number, specify it:
fat32format \\.\PhysicalDriveN
Replace N with your disk number.

5. Follow prompts:
The utility will ask for confirmation—press Y to proceed.

Windows 11/10/7 has a native function to let you convert exFAT to FAT32 via File Explorer.

Step 1: Connect your external drive or USB stick to your Windows PC.

Step 2: Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E.

Step 3: In the left pane, click on This PC to display all connected drives.

Step 4: Right-click the exFAT drive you want to format and select Format.

Step 5: In the Format window:

Select FAT32 from the File system dropdown menu.

Optionally, enter a drive label.

Make sure Quick Format is checked.

Step 6: Click Start, confirm the warning about data deletion, and exFAT to FAT32 formatting will begin.

Note: Windows built-in formatting supports FAT32 formatting only for partitions up to 32GB.

Are you going to format exFAT to FAT32 on Windows computer?  First off, FAT32 has some limitations—like it can't handle files bigger than 4GB, and the max partition size is around 32GB on Windows (though tools can go bigger). exFAT is more flexible with larger files and bigger partitions, so switching back to FAT32 might mean losing some of that flexibility.

When you format exFAT to FAT32 on Windows computer, it essentially wipes the drive clean, so make sure you've backed up all important stuff first—no funny surprises or data loss. Also, using Windows' built-in formatting tools to switch from exFAT to FAT32 isn't straightforward for large drives—Windows doesn't offer FAT32 for large partitions natively. You might need third-party tools like GUIFormat or FAT32 Format to do the job.

From my own experience, if you're just doing this for compatibility with older devices or gaming consoles that only support FAT32, it's usually fine as long as you're aware of the 4GB file size limit. Just double-check that your data is backed up, use a reliable tool, and go easy—don't rush the process.

Converting an exFAT to FAT32 directly is not supported by Windows built-in tools. Typically, Windows can format drives to FAT32 only if the drive size is 32GB or less, and it doesn't support direct conversion from exFAT to FAT32. To achieve this, you generally need to:

• Backup your data — because formatting will erase all data on the partition.
• Format the drive to FAT32 — using Windows or third-party tools.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Backup your data
Copy all important files from the exFAT drive to another location.
2. Format the drive to FAT32
You can do this via Windows Disk Management or Command Prompt.

Converting exFAT to FAT32 Via Disk Management:

1. Right-click on This PC or My Computer and select Manage.
2. Choose Disk Management.
3. Find your drive, right-click on the partition, and select Format.
4. In the File System dropdown, select FAT32 (if available).
5. Complete the process.

Note: Windows Disk Management may not show FAT32 for drives larger than 32GB.