Formatting an SD card to FAT32 on Windows 10 is possible, but there are a few things to keep in mind. The default Windows format option only allows FAT32 for smaller capacity cards, but there are ways around this limitation. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to successfully format larger SD cards to FAT32 on Windows 10.
What is FAT32?
FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32) is an older file system that was introduced in Windows 95 to replace the previous FAT16 file system. It has the following key characteristics:
- Supports drive sizes up to 2TB (Terabytes)
- Max file size of 4GB (Gigabytes)
- Faster performance than previous FAT versions
- Compatible with most operating systems like Windows, Mac OS, Linux, game consoles, etc.
FAT32 is considered an outdated file system by today’s standards but is still commonly used for removable media like SD cards and USB flash drives. It has advantages of wide compatibility and support for larger capacity cards compared to FAT16. The main drawbacks are the 4GB max file size and lack of modern features like journaling and permissions.
Why Format SD Card to FAT32?
Here are some of the main reasons you may want to format an SD card to FAT32 rather than NTFS or exFAT on Windows 10:
- Compatibility with other devices – FAT32 works with Linux, Mac, cameras, and gaming devices.
- Support for cards larger than 32GB – NTFS and exFAT have no issues but FAT32 needs formatting.
- Avoid 4GB file size limit of FAT16 – Useful if you need to store larger files.
- Older systems only read FAT32 – Applies to some older digital cameras and games consoles.
In most cases, FAT32 is the best option for SD cards unless you specifically need a modern file system like NTFS or exFAT for very large cards. The wide compatibility of FAT32 makes it an ideal choice in many situations.
Windows 10 FAT32 Format Limitations
The main issue with formatting to FAT32 on Windows 10 is that the default options are limited:
- Only allows FAT32 for cards 32GB or smaller.
- Does not allow you to choose FAT32 for larger capacity SD cards.
- Limits you to exFAT or NTFS for 64GB+ SD cards.
This restriction is annoying if you want to use the full capacity of larger SD cards for compatibility reasons. Thankfully, there are workarounds to force format any size SD card to FAT32 on Windows 10 as we’ll cover next.
How to Format Large SD Cards to FAT32
To format SD cards larger than 32GB to FAT32 on Windows 10, you need to use a third party tool to override the default limitations. Here are your main options:
Using Command Prompt
The command prompt has a format command with special parameters that allow FAT32 formatting for large capacity drives. Here are the steps:
- Insert your SD card into your computer.
- Search for “cmd” in the Windows search box and open Command Prompt.
- Type diskpart and press enter.
- Type list disk and press enter to get storage drive list.
- Select your SD card by typing select disk x replacing x with your disk number from the list.
- Type clean to wipe and erase data on the SD card.
- Type create partition primary to create a primary partition.
- Type format quick fs=fat32 to format the partition to FAT32.
- Exit diskpart utility once done.
This process allows FAT32 formatting on drives of any size but is manual. Next, we’ll cover GUI tools that automate the formatting for you.
Using FAT32 Format Tool
FAT32 Format is a simple Windows tool specialized for formatting drives to FAT32. To use it:
- Download and install the FAT32 Format tool.
- Insert your SD card and launch the tool.
- Select your SD card’s drive letter.
- Choose FAT32 as the file system.
- Click Start to begin formatting.
- Wait for the process to finish.
This automates the steps required to format in FAT32. The downside is it’s a standalone utility and not built into Windows.
Using Third Party Tools
There are various third party disk management tools that provide FAT32 formatting options for large drives within Windows. Examples include:
- MiniTool Partition Wizard – Provides a full GUI to manage partitions and supports FAT32.
- AOMEI Partition Assistant – Allow FAT32 formatting in its partition manager.
- EaseUS Partition Master – Contains FAT32 support in its partitioning features.
The advantage of commercial tools like these is they provide extra features beyond just FAT32 formatting in a polished interface. The downside is they are paid tools instead of free options.
Formatting FAT32 on Windows 10 Step-by-Step
Now that you understand the options available, let’s walk through the general step-by-step process to format an SD card over 32GB to FAT32 on Windows 10:
- Insert SD Card – Physically insert the SD card into your computer’s card reader slot.
- Open Disk Management – Search for Create and Format in Windows and open Disk Management.
- Check Card Properties – Note the card’s properties like drive letter, capacity and file system.
- Select Card – Right click your SD card partition and choose Format.
- Pick FAT32 – If it doesn’t allow FAT32, close and use a 3rd party tool instead.
- Start Formatting – Review settings, choose Quick Format and click OK.
- Wait for Completion – Formatting will take some time, allow it to finish.
- Check Format Success – Make sure the card is now FAT32 by checking properties.
Follow these steps when formatting, picking the right tool based on your SD card size. This will ensure the card gets formatted to FAT32 properly so you can use the full capacity.
Table Comparing FAT32 Formatting Tools
| Tool | Free | Built-in | Extra Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Format | Yes | Yes | No |
| Command Prompt | Yes | Yes | No |
| FAT32 Format | Yes | No | No |
| Partition Wizards | No | No | Many |
This table summarizes the key properties of the different FAT32 formatting tools covered. The built-in Windows and Command Prompt options are free and integrated but basic. Third party partition tools offer more features but require purchase.
Tips for Formatting SD Cards to FAT32
Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when formatting SD cards to FAT32 in Windows 10:
- Back up data first – Formatting erases all data, so copy existing contents off the card.
- Use Quick Format – The full format scan takes much longer and is rarely needed.
- Check card capacity – Make sure FAT32 works with your specific SD card’s size.
- Close other programs – Shut other software using the card to avoid corruption.
- Use Windows options first – Try built-in tools before third party utilities.
Following these tips will help avoid issues and make sure the formatting completes successfully without problems.
FAQs about FAT32 and SD Cards
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about using FAT32 formatting for SD cards on Windows:
Is FAT32 good for SD cards?
Yes, FAT32 is generally the best choice for SD cards. It supports larger capacities than FAT16 and has wider compatibility than NTFS or exFAT.
What size SD card needs FAT32 formatting?
Any SD card larger than 32GB will likely need to be manually formatted to FAT32 since Windows sets a 32GB limit by default.
Can a 128GB SD card be FAT32?
Yes, 128GB cards can be formatted to FAT32 despite the size being over the Windows limit. Third party tools allow it.
Is exFAT better than FAT32 for SD cards?
Not necessarily. exFAT supports larger cards but has less compatibility with older devices. FAT32 is preferable for widest compatibility.
Does FAT32 have a size limit?
The technical FAT32 limit is 2TB but in practice cards larger than 128GB may have issues and need exFAT instead.
Is NTFS good for SD cards?
NTFS has file size and security benefits but lacks compatibility outside Windows. It’s not generally recommended for SD cards.
Does FAT32 affect speed or performance?
FAT32 has slower performance than NTFS or exFAT in benchmarks but real-world speed is unlikely to be noticeably different.
Can I convert exFAT to FAT32 without losing data?
No, to convert between file systems the drive must be formatted which erases data. You’ll need to back up first.
Should I use FAT or FAT32 for SD card?
Always use FAT32 rather than regular FAT. FAT is very old and limited to 2GB maximum card size.
Conclusion
Formatting an SD card larger than 32GB to FAT32 is possible on Windows 10 despite the default limitations. Using the command line, third party tools, or dedicated FAT32 format utilities allows overriding the built-in restrictions. This allows using the full capacity while retaining the wide compatibility of FAT32.
When formatting SD cards, FAT32 is the best choice for wide compatibility across devices. The only downside is the 4GB file size limit. But for most users swapping SD cards between devices, the advantages far outweigh this constraint.
By following this guide you now understand how to properly format any size SD card to maximum compatible FAT32 file system on Windows 10. This will optimize your SD card usage while avoiding pitfalls and problems.