Note (September 2026): Earlier versions of this guide said the Xbox One cannot read NTFS USB drives and that FAT32 is older than NTFS. The Xbox One Media Player app also reads NTFS drives, and FAT32 (1996) arrived after NTFS (1993); both points are corrected below.
To convert NTFS to FAT32 on Windows, back up the drive, open Disk Management, right-click the volume, choose Format and select FAT32. Windows only offers FAT32 for volumes of 32 GB or less; for larger drives, use a third-party partition tool, or choose exFAT, which the PS4, PS5 and Xbox One also accept and which has no 4 GB file limit.
Key Takeaways
- Reformatting to FAT32 erases the drive; only a dedicated converter tool keeps the data, and a backup is still essential.
- FAT32 cannot store a single file larger than 4 GB minus 1 byte, whatever the drive size.
- The Windows Disk Management and File Explorer format tools offer FAT32 only for volumes up to 32 GB.
- The PS4 uses FAT or exFAT USB drives, the PS3 needs FAT32 (or FAT16), and the Xbox One Media Player also reads NTFS.
- exFAT is usually the better choice for large USB drives used with modern devices.
Abstract: How to convert NTFS to FAT32? NTFS is the standard file system for Windows system drives. However, some devices cannot use it: Sony states that PS4 USB storage must be formatted as FAT or exFAT, and the PS3 reads only FAT32 or FAT16, so an NTFS drive has to be reformatted or converted before those consoles will recognize it. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to finish the conversion.
Why Convert NTFS to FAT32?
NTFS and FAT32 are 2 different types of file system. The FAT family is older, but FAT32 itself arrived in 1996 with Windows 95 OSR2, while NTFS was introduced in 1993 with Windows NT 3.1. NTFS is the norm for Windows internal drives today, and FAT32 is still common on USB sticks and memory cards. A file system gives a way to organize drives. It specifies the way data is stored on the partition and what types of info can be attached on the files – filenames, permissions along with other attributes.
Although, as mentioned above, NTFS is more common than FAT32, sometimes, you have to convert NTFS to FAT32 for better compatibility with certain devices.
For example, a USB flash drive in NTFS can’t be recognized by consoles like the PS3 and PS4 (the Xbox One Media Player app, by contrast, also reads NTFS), and in this case, you have to create FAT32 partition for PS3, or a FAT32 or exFAT drive for the PS4 and Xbox One. But before we start, let’s have a further understanding of differences between NTFS and FAT32.
NTFS vs FAT32
I’ll explain the differences between NTFS and FAT 32 from 3 aspects, namely, compatibility, file size, and speed.
Compatibility
FAT32 is both read and write compatible with a majority of recent and recently obsolete OS, including DOS, every Windows version since Windows 95 OSR2 (including Windows 10 and Windows 11), Mac OS X, and many flavors of UNIX -descended OS, like Linux and FreeBSD.
On the other hand, NTFS is fully read and write compatible with every Windows version from Windows NT 3.1 onward, including Windows 10 and Windows 11, and Linux has carried a full read-write NTFS driver (NTFS3) since kernel 5.15. Mac OS X 10.3 and later can read NTFS volumes. Native NTFS write support has been included since Mac OS X 10.6, but it is not activated by default and is reported to be unstable. However, writing to a NTFS volume asks for a 3rd– party tool.
File size
FAT32 supports files up to 4 GB minus 1 byte and volumes up to 2 TB with 512-byte sectors (16 TB with 4,096-byte sectors). NTFS has a theoretical file-size limit of 16 EB; since Windows 10 version 1709, Windows implements files and volumes of up to 8 PB. This means it’s easier for users to store large files like games and movies in drives in NTFS.
Speed
Transfer speed and maximum throughput are usually set by the slowest link in the chain, such as the drive, the USB port or the cable, and NTFS-formatted hard drives have often tested faster than FAT32 drives in benchmark tests.
That result does not hold every time, because transfer speed also depends on other factors, including file fragmentation and the drive technology itself.
How to convert NTFS to FAT32 for better compatibility?
As shown above, NTFS has clear advantages over FAT32 in file size and often in speed. However, in some cases, people tend to convert NTFS to FAT32 for compatibility issue.
For example, to copy PS4 saved data or media to a PC with a USB flash drive, the drive must be formatted as FAT32 or exFAT, because the PS4 does not support NTFS. The Xbox One Media Player app is more flexible and reads FAT16, FAT32, exFAT and NTFS drives, according to How-To Geek.
Note: To use a USB drive as PS4 extended storage for games, Sony requires USB 3.0 or later, a capacity of 250 GB to 8 TB, and FAT or exFAT formatting.
Convert an NTFS drive of 32 GB or less to FAT32
When it comes to formatting drives, usually, the first thing coming to your mind should be Windows inbuilt utility Disk Management, which is able to convert a NTFS partition less than 32GB into FAT32 by reformatting. Next, let me explain how to use Disk Management to convert NTFS to FAT32 easily.
Note: Your data on the partition that is to be converted will be lost in this method. So, please take a backup first.
- Right-click on “This PC” on your desktop and select “Manage”.
- In the popup window, on the left side, select “Disk Management” under the tab “Storage”.
- Now, all disk and partition info will be displayed on the right side. Right-click on the drive you want to convert and select “Format”.
- Choose “FAT32” in the dropdown menu of “File system”.
- Tick “Perform a quick format” and hit “OK” to start the conversion.
It won’t be long before the conversion gets completed, so, be a little patient.
Convert an NTFS drive over 32 GB to FAT32 without data loss
Disk Management can reformat an NTFS drive to FAT32 in a few clicks, but only for volumes of 32 GB or less: on a larger drive, FAT32 does not appear in the File system list. In that case, one option is a third-party free partition manager, AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard.
According to PC-WELT’s listing of version 10.11.0 (updated June 2026), the free Standard edition includes an NTFS-to-FAT32 converter that keeps existing data, so a partition over 32 GB can be converted without reformatting. Back up first anyway, and move any file larger than 4 GB off the drive, because FAT32 cannot hold it. Meanwhile, this software also supports formatting RAW file system and write-protected drives and it provides more types of file system than Disk Management for users to choose from.
Note: Other features like partition wiping, hard drive wiping, and GPT MBR data disk conversion are included.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. Then, all disks and partitions will appear on the main window.
Step 2. Select “All Tools” on the left side and then, hit “NTFS to FAT32 Converter”.
Step 3. Select the option of “NTFS to FAT32” and hit “Next”.
Step 4. Select the drive you want to convert and hit “Next”.
Step 5. Hit “Proceed” > “Yes” to start the conversion.
Step 6. When it’s done, click on “Finish”.
Conclusion
NTFS and FAT32 are 2 different types of file systems. Sometimes, for certain purposes, people need to convert NTFS to FAT32. So, this tutorial explained the way to convert NTFS to FAT32 with both Disk Management and third-party partition software – AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard.
The former is a traditional way able to convert a drive less than 32GB into FAT32 while the latter can help convert a drive beyond 32GB into FAT32.
FAT32 vs NTFS vs exFAT at a Glance
FAT32, NTFS and exFAT are the three file systems Windows can create on a USB drive. The table compares the limits that matter most when choosing one (figures from the Wikipedia articles on each file system, checked October 2026).
| Feature | FAT32 | NTFS | exFAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 1996 (Windows 95 OSR2) | 1993 (Windows NT 3.1) | 2006 (Windows CE 6.0) |
| Maximum file size | 4 GB minus 1 byte | 8 PB as implemented in Windows 10 1709 and later (16 EB theoretical) | 16 EB |
| Maximum volume size | 2 TB (512-byte sectors) or 16 TB (4K sectors) | 8 PB in Windows 10 1709 and later | 128 PB |
| Windows format-tool limit | 32 GB in Disk Management | No 32 GB limit | No 32 GB limit |
| macOS | Read and write | Read; native write disabled by default | Read and write (Mac OS X 10.6.5 and later) |
| Linux | Read and write | Read and write (NTFS3, kernel 5.15+) | Read and write (kernel 5.4+) |
Which Devices Need FAT32?
Device makers publish the file systems their hardware accepts, and they differ more than many guides suggest. Check the device manual before reformatting, because the right answer is often exFAT rather than FAT32.
| Device | USB requirements | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 3 | FAT32 or FAT16 only (no NTFS); 4 GB per file on FAT32 | PlayStation support (Japan) |
| PlayStation 4 | FAT or exFAT; extended storage needs USB 3.0 or later, 250 GB to 8 TB | PlayStation support |
| PlayStation 5 | exFAT when reformatted as a standard USB drive; extended storage needs SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps or later, 250 GB to 8 TB | PlayStation support |
| Xbox One (Media Player) | FAT16, FAT32, exFAT or NTFS | How-To Geek |
| Xbox Series X|S (game storage) | 128 GB or larger, USB 3.0 or later | Seagate support |
| SDXC and SDUC cards over 32 GB | exFAT is the SD Association default | Wikipedia (exFAT) |
How to Format a Drive as FAT32 With the Command Line
The Windows format command can also create a FAT32 volume. Microsoft documents the /FS switch as accepting FAT, FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, ReFS or UDF, and the /Q switch as a quick format. Formatting deletes everything on the volume, so back up first.
- Back up the files on the drive.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator (Microsoft notes that formatting a hard drive requires membership of the Administrators group).
- Type format E: /FS:FAT32 /Q, replacing E: with the correct drive letter, and press Enter.
- Confirm the warning with Y, then enter a volume label of up to 11 characters or press Enter to skip.
On most Windows versions the command refuses FAT32 on volumes over 32 GB. In August 2024, Microsoft released a Windows 11 preview build (Insider build 27686, Canary channel) that raised the command-line FAT32 limit to 2 TB; the Disk Management window kept the 32 GB limit in that build. Whether a given PC has the change depends on its Windows build.
When exFAT Is the Better Choice
exFAT is often a better target than FAT32 for a large USB drive. exFAT removes the 4 GB file limit, so game backups and long video files fit in one piece, and the PS4, PS5 and Xbox One Media Player all accept it. Choose FAT32 only when the device explicitly requires it, such as a PS3 or another older device whose manual lists FAT32 alone.
Windows offers exFAT in the same Disk Management Format dialog used in the steps above, without the 32 GB restriction that applies to FAT32.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Formatting the wrong drive. Check the drive letter and capacity in Disk Management before clicking OK; formatting erases the volume.
- Skipping the backup. Even a converter that preserves data can fail if power is lost mid-operation.
- Keeping files over 4 GB. A FAT32 volume cannot hold them, so they will not copy and a conversion may stop. Split them, move them, or use exFAT.
- Expecting Windows to convert back without erasing. Windows’ own tools turn NTFS into FAT32 only by reformatting; keeping the data needs a third-party converter.
- Using a USB 2.0 drive for console game storage. PS4 and Xbox Series X|S extended storage both require USB 3.0 or later.
If a format goes wrong, see the guides on recovering a formatted hard drive in Windows 10 and recovering deleted files from a flash drive. For another free partition manager, read this beginner’s guide to MiniTool Partition Wizard, and before sharing a USB stick between devices, review the security risks of flash drives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert NTFS to FAT32 without losing data?
Converting NTFS to FAT32 without losing data requires a third-party converter, such as the NTFS-to-FAT32 tool in AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard; Windows’ own tools reformat the drive and erase it. Back up first, and remove any file larger than 4 GB, which FAT32 cannot store.
Why does Windows not show FAT32 for my 64 GB USB drive?
The built-in Windows format tool offers FAT32 only for volumes of 32 GB or less. Windows can still read and write larger FAT32 volumes that were created elsewhere. For a 64 GB drive, use a third-party partition tool or choose exFAT instead.
What is the maximum file size on FAT32?
The maximum file size on FAT32 is 4 GB minus 1 byte (4,294,967,295 bytes). This limit applies regardless of the size of the drive, which is why large videos and game files need exFAT or NTFS.
Does the PS4 support NTFS?
The PS4 does not support NTFS for USB storage. Sony requires USB drives used with the PS4 to be formatted as FAT or exFAT, and drives used as extended storage must also be USB 3.0 or later with a capacity between 250 GB and 8 TB.
Is exFAT better than FAT32?
exFAT is better than FAT32 for most large USB drives because it supports files far larger than 4 GB and works on Windows, macOS (Mac OS X 10.6.5 and later), Linux (kernel 5.4 and later), the PS4 and the PS5. FAT32 is still needed for older devices such as the PS3, which reads only FAT32 or FAT16.
Does formatting a drive to FAT32 delete everything?
Formatting a drive to FAT32 deletes everything on it, because the format command creates a new root directory and file system. A quick format skips the bad-sector scan but still removes the old files, so copy them elsewhere first.
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