Microsoft is finally removing the FAT32 partition size limit in Windows 11

Microsoft is readying to region the 32GB size bounds for FAT32 partitions successful Windows 11. While FAT supports volumes up to 2TB, Windows has had a 32GB arbitrary limit successful spot for astir 30 years.

“When formatting disks from the bid enactment utilizing the format command, we’ve accrued the FAT32 size bounds from 32GB to 2TB,” revealed the Windows squad in a blog post connected Thursday detailing the latest Windows 11 canary trial build.

The bounds is lone being removed from the format bid enactment close now, truthful the existing format dialog container volition proceed to person the FAT32 size bounds unless Microsoft yet decides to update this Windows diagnostic it has forgotten astir for decades.

The 32GB bounds was primitively enactment successful spot during the improvement of Windows 95, much than 30 years ago. Former Windows developer Dave Plummer divulged earlier this twelvemonth that helium was liable for the format dialog container that hasn’t been touched successful decades, and helium besides picked the 32GB bounds for FAT32.

“I besides had to determine however overmuch ‘cluster slack’ would beryllium excessively much, and that coiled up constraining the format size of a FAT measurement to 32GB,” admitted Plummer successful a post connected X. “That bounds was besides an arbitrary prime that morning, and 1 that has stuck with america arsenic a imperishable broadside effect.”

Windows has agelong supported speechmaking FAT32 partitions that are up to 2TB successful size, but you haven’t been capable to make 1 successful the OS without a third-party instrumentality until now. Hopefully Microsoft decides to update the format GUI successful upcoming Windows 11 builds, to marque it adjacent easier for everyone to make afloat FAT32 partitions.