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How to format usb to fat32 or fat16 as no fat32 option for formatting?
I'm trying to format a USB flash drive to FAT32 or FAT16 on Windows 10, but the default Windows formatting tool only offers NTFS and exFAT as options. I need FAT32/FAT16 for compatibility with older ...
Using Windows built-in tools to format USB to FAT32 is straightforward, but there are some limitations:
- For drives up to 32GB: Windows allows FAT32 formatting directly through File Explorer or Disk Management.
- For drives larger than 32GB: Windows does not natively support formatting larger drives to FAT32 via built-in tools.
How to Format USB to FAT32 Using Built-in Tools:
Method 1: Using File Explorer
- Insert your USB drive into your computer.
- Open File Explorer (Windows + E).
- Right-click on your USB drive icon.
- Select Format.
- In the Format window:
* File system: Choose FAT32 (Default).
* Allocation unit size: Leave as default.
* Volume label: Name your drive if desired.
* Check Quick Format for faster formatting.
* Click Start.
* Confirm any prompts, then wait for the process to finish.
Method 2: Using Disk Management
- Press Windows + R, type diskmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
- Locate your USB drive in the list.
- Right-click on the drive partition and select Format.
- Choose FAT32 from the file system dropdown (if available).
- Follow prompts to format USB to FAT32.