How to Fix USB won’t format to FAT32 on Windows 11

Formatting a USB drive to FAT32 is a simple and necessary task for many users. However, some users have encountered an issue where they are unable to format their USB drives to FAT32 on their Windows 11/10 computers. This can be frustrating, especially when you need to transfer large files or use the USB drive on devices that only support FAT32 format. The error messages that appear can vary, such as 'volume is too big for FAT32' or 'Virtual Disk Service error.' In this article, we will discuss some methods to fix this issue and successfully format your USB drive to FAT32 on Windows 11.

How to Fix USB won’t format to FAT32 on Windows 11
Method 1: Use File Explorer

The most common method to format a USB drive to FAT32 is by using File Explorer. Follow the steps below to do so:

1. Insert the USB drive into your computer and open File Explorer.

2. Locate the USB drive and right-click on it.

3. Select 'Format' from the drop-down menu.

4. In the 'File system' drop-down menu, select 'FAT32.'

5. Click on 'Start' to begin the formatting process.

This method is straightforward and usually works for most users. However, if you encounter any error messages, try the next method.

Method 2: Use Windows Disk Management

Now in How to Fix USB won’t format to FAT32 on Windows 11, If the first method doesn't work, you can try using Windows Disk Management to format your USB drive to FAT32. Here's how:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select 'Disk Management.'

2. Locate the USB drive in the list of drives.

3. Right-click on the USB drive and select 'Format.'

4. In the 'File system' drop-down menu, select 'FAT32.'

5. Click on 'OK' to start the formatting process.

If you still face issues with formatting, move on to the next method.

Method 3: Remove Write Protection

Sometimes, the USB drive may have write protection enabled, which can prevent it from being formatted. To remove write protection, follow these steps:

1. Insert the USB drive into your computer and open File Explorer.

2. Right-click on the USB drive and select 'Properties.'

3. Go to the 'Security' tab and click on 'Advanced.'

4. Uncheck the box next to 'Read-only' and click on 'OK.'

5. Try formatting the USB drive again using either File Explorer or Windows Disk Management.

If the write protection option is greyed out or you are still unable to format the USB drive, try the next method.

Method 4: Use Command Prompt

You can also use Command Prompt to format your USB drive to FAT32. However, this method requires you to remove the write protection from the USB drive first. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select 'Command Prompt (Admin).'

2. Type in the command 'diskpart' and press Enter.

3. Type in 'list disk' and press Enter.

4. Locate the USB drive in the list of disks and note down its disk number.

5. Type in the command 'select disk X' (replace X with the disk number of your USB drive) and press Enter.

6. Type in the command 'attributes disk clear readonly' and press Enter.

7. Type in the command 'clean' and press Enter.

8. Finally, type in the command 'format fs=fat32' and press Enter.

This should successfully format your USB drive to FAT32. If you encounter any issues, try the next method.

Method 5: Use PowerShell

If you are unable to use Command Prompt, you can try using PowerShell to format your USB drive to FAT32. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select 'Windows PowerShell (Admin).'

2. Type in the command 'Format-Volume -DriveLetter D -FileSystem FAT32' (replace D with the drive letter of your USB drive) and press Enter.

3. If PowerShell is not available on your computer, you can use the command 'format /fs:fat32 D:' in Command Prompt.

Method 6: Use a Third-Party USB Formatting Tool

If all the above methods fail, you can use a third-party USB formatting tool to format your USB drive to FAT32. There are many free tools available online, such as HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool and EaseUS Partition Master. Download and install one of these tools, and follow the instructions to format your USB drive to FAT32.

In conclusion about How to Fix USB won’t format to FAT32 on Windows 11, if you are unable to format your USB drive to FAT32 on your Windows 11/10 computer, there are various methods you can try. Start with the most straightforward methods, such as using File Explorer or Windows Disk Management, and move on to the more advanced methods if needed. However, if you are still unable to format your USB drive, it could be a sign of a hardware issue, and you may need to replace the USB drive.