In a recent update to Windows 11, Microsoft has significantly expanded the capabilities of the FAT32 file system. The latest preview version, now available to Windows Insiders on the Canary channel, raises the maximum allowable size for FAT32 partitions to 2TB.
FAT32, which has been around since 1996, was previously limited to a 32GB size limit for partitions formatted within Windows, despite its theoretical maximum of 16TB. This restriction has long been a point of contention, as it was possible to read larger FAT32 partitions formatted elsewhere, but Windows itself couldn’t format drives beyond the 32GB limit.
The new update allows FAT32 drives to be formatted up to 2TB using the command line interface, although the limit in the standard formatting dialog remains at 32GB. It’s important to remember that while the partition size can now be increased, the maximum file size on FAT32 partitions is still restricted to 4GB.
The 32GB limit was likely a result of Microsoft promoting their NTFS file system, introduced in 1993, which became the default in Windows from XP onwards. However, this update provides a much-needed option for users requiring larger FAT32 partitions without relying on third-party tools.