How to convert NTFS to FAT32 without losing data on Windows 11/10?

[Callumow]

Hi all,

I have an external hard drive formatted by NTFS. I bought a new Mac recently but writing to NTFS is not supported by Mac. FAT32 is supported by both Windows 11 PC and Mac. Is it possible to convert NTFS to FAT32 without losing data on Windows 11/10 PC ?

It is a 4T drive and formatting is not the choice. I can't afford to lose so much data. Please kindly make a suggestion if you know how to do this.

Thanks

[#2]

I have used Partition Manager to convert an NTFS hard drive to FAT32 directly before, without formatting and without losing any data. I suggest you try it!

I get it here: (works for me)

https://www.makeuserof.com/convert-ntfs-to-fat32

The operation is very simple, especially for people like me who have large hard drives. This tool is very stable and saves me a lot of trouble.

[#3]

When it comes to convert NTFS to FAT32 on Windows 11. Not all tools out there are reliable. Some might promise a lot but then just end up messing things up. If you're using built-in Windows tools, make sure you're following the right steps. Alternatively, third-party software like EaesUS Partition Master or MimiTool Partition Wizerd can help, but always double-check user reviews and do a little research on the tool.

FAT32 has a file size limit of 4GB, which can be a bummer if you have larger files. If you try to convert a drive with bigger files lying around, you'll hit a wall. So, either delete or move those chunky files before converting, or you might have to re-evaluate which file system is really best for you. If the drive is failing or doesn't have good health, any conversion attempt could go south. Always check the health of your drive using tools like Windows Error Checking or third-party software. If there's an issue, fix it before proceeding.

[#4]

The Disk Management app on Windows is a built-in utility that allows users to manage their hard drives and partitions. It provides a graphical interface to perform tasks such as creating, deleting, and formatting partitions or volumes. It can also converting between disk types, such as MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table).

Unfortunately, you can't convert NTFS to FAT32 directly using the Disk Management app in Windows without losing data. Disk Management only allows you to reformat a drive, which would erase all data. 

To safely convert NTFS to FAT32 without losing data, you would typically need to:

1. Back up your data to another drive.
2. Reformat the drive to FAT32 using Disk Management.
3. Restore your data from the backup.

[#5]

Converting NTFS to FAT32 can improve compatibility across various devices. FAT32 is an older file system supported by a wide range of devices like game consoles, cameras, and older operating systems, including Linux and macOS. If you plan to use an external drive or USB stick across multiple platforms, FAT32 ensures it can be read and written by most devices without additional drivers or software.

FAT32 is also more efficient for smaller storage devices. NTFS, designed for modern hard drives and large file systems, can be overkill for smaller storage devices like USB drives or memory cards. By converting to FAT32, you might reduce the overhead that NTFS adds, which can make FAT32 a better choice for devices with lower storage capacities or for drives primarily used for small files.

[#6]

Before doing that, please check File Size, FAT32 has a maximum file size limit of 4GB, so make sure none of your files exceed that. If you have files larger than 4GB, you'll need to split them using a file splitter tool or consider a different file system that can handle larger files, like exFAT or just stick with NTFS.

Next, you can use Built-in Tools to convert NTFS to FAT32. Windows doesn't allow direct conversion via its built-in Disk Management tool, but you can delete the NTFS partition and create a FAT32 partition. Just remember this will wipe everything, so that's why the backup is essential!

[#7]

You can use format command in the Command Prompt to convert your NTFS drive to FAT32. Here's how:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type format X: /FS:FAT32, replacing "X" with your drive letter.
3. Press Enter, but remember this will erase all data on that drive. So, it's just a formatting method, not a conversion.

Ensure your PC or device stays powered throughout the process. If your system shuts down mid-conversion, it could lead to data loss or corruption. I had my laptop crash once, and boy, I learned that lesson the hard way!

[#8]

@Callumow Windows 11 and Windows 10 come with a built-in Convert command to help to convert a file system between FAT16/FAT32 and NTFS without losing data. This is a one-way process. This means that once a drive is converted to NTFS using the convert command, it cannot be converted back to FAT32 without reformatting (which would erase the data).

How to convert NTFS to FAT32 without formatting on Windows:

convert E: /FS:FAT32

This command initiates the conversion of the E drive to FAT32. You will be prompted to confirm the conversion, and the process will complete without affecting the existing data on the drive.

[#9]

@Callumow 

If you want to convert NTFS to FAT32 format, the safest way is to back up the data on the hard drive to another place first, then format the hard drive to FAT32, and then copy the data back. Although this is troublesome, it can ensure data security.

I have actually used this method myself. Although it is a bit troublesome, it is indeed the safest. The basic operation is to back up the contents of the hard drive first, format it, and then copy the data back. The whole process is to avoid data loss. Let me briefly describe the steps:

1. Backup data: You have to find a large enough place to back up first. For example, find an external hard drive, or directly transfer it to a cloud drive. My hard drive was almost full at the time, and it took me a long time to back up all the data.
2. Format the hard drive: After backing up, open "Disk Management" in Windows, find your NTFS hard drive, right-click and format it to FAT32. It should be noted that FAT32 has a 4GB limit on the size of a single file, so you may need to consider large files.
3. Recover data: After formatting, the hard drive will be in FAT32 format. Then you just need to copy the previously backed up files back. I remember that it took me several hours to copy the files, after all, it was several terabytes.

Although this method seems a bit old-fashioned and time-consuming, it can at least ensure that the data will not be lost. Just make sure you have enough backup space, otherwise it will be a bit troublesome.

[#10]

Seriously, backup your data. Just plug in an external hard drive or something and copy over your files.Go through and delete or move files larger than 4GB if you can't split them with a tool. If you feel tech-savvy enough, you could use the command prompt, but tools like EaeeUS or MlniTool are user-friendly. Just launch the software and select the NTFS partition you want to convert . In the chosen software, find the option to convert NTFS to FAT32. Follow the prompts; it usually takes just a few minutes.

After the conversion, check that all your files are still there and accessible.

[#11]

@Callumow 

I have encountered a similar problem before. I just bought a Mac and found that it does not support writing to NTFS hard drives. At that time, I also considered converting NTFS to FAT32, but it was too troublesome and I was afraid of losing data. In the end, I chose to install Parallels on the Mac to run Windows and operate the NTFS hard drive directly in the virtual machine.

After installing Windows, I plugged in the hard drive and could read and write files just like on a Windows computer, without converting the format at all. Using a virtual machine solves this problem, and there is no need to restart the system to switch, which is worry-free and convenient. So, if you don’t want to bother converting NTFS to FAT32, this method is definitely worth a try.

[#12]

@Callumow 

In fact, there is another simple method, which is to directly connect the NTFS hard drive to the Windows computer, and then transfer the files to the Mac through the LAN or cloud disk. Although it is not converting NTFS to FAT32, you don’t have to worry about format conversion, and the files can be transferred to the Mac smoothly. The whole process is just an extra step of network transmission, but you don’t have to worry about losing data, which is quite convenient.

[#13]

@Callumow 

If you have extra space on your hard drive, you can also use Windows' built-in Disk Management tool to partition it and format the new partition as FAT32. Then you can slowly move files from NTFS to this new partition. Although this is not a direct conversion of NTFS to FAT32, you will not lose data if you do it step by step. Once you have moved all the data, the remaining NTFS partition can also be reformatted to FAT32, and the entire hard drive will become FAT32. This method is slow, but safe.

This method is actually quite simple. Although it takes a little time, you don't have to worry about data loss. Here are the general steps:

1. Check hard drive space: Make sure your hard drive has enough free space to create a new partition.
2. Partition a hard drive: In Windows, press Win+X and select "Disk Management". Find your NTFS hard drive, right-click, and select "Shrink Volume" to reduce the free space as needed and create a new partition.
3. Format the new partition as FAT32: In Disk Management, right-click the new partition, select "Format", and select FAT32 as the file system.
4. Move files: Slowly move the important files on your hard drive from the NTFS partition to the newly created FAT32 partition. This ensures that you transfer files step by step without losing data.
5. Convert the remaining NTFS partition: Once all files have been moved to the FAT32 partition, you can format the remaining NTFS partition to FAT32. This will successfully convert the entire hard drive from NTFS to FAT32.

Although this method is not a fast way to convert NTFS to FAT32, it ensures safety and does not cause data loss.