Microsoft is officially ending a three-decade-long software restriction by allowing users to format FAT32 partitions larger than 32GB. The update, currently appearing in Windows 11 Canary preview builds, enables the creation of partitions up to 2TB using the legacy format.
According to reports from ComputerHoy, the change marks a significant shift for users managing large-capacity storage media. For years, Windows users were forced to use third-party software or switch to exFAT and NTFS to manage larger drives.
A legacy software quirk
The 32GB cap was never a technical limitation of the FAT32 format itself. Instead, it originated as an arbitrary decision made during the development of Windows 95.
Dave Plummer, the engineer responsible for the original formatting dialog box, previously revealed that he chose the 32GB number at random to simplify the development process. He intended the limit to be a temporary measure, but the restriction remained embedded in Windows code for 30 years.
This limitation frequently caused issues for users connecting high-capacity SD cards or external hard drives to older hardware. Many devices, including car stereos, retro gaming consoles, and 3D printers, only support the FAT32 format.
Currently, the ability to format larger drives is implemented through the Command Prompt. Microsoft is expected to integrate this feature into the standard Windows 11 visual interface in a future release.
While the partition size can now reach 2TB, the file size limit remains unchanged. Individual files cannot exceed 4GB when using the FAT32 format.
