The capacity limit for FAT32 formatting in Windows has been increased from 32GB to 2TB
![](https://i.gzn.jp/img/2024/08/19/windows-format-fat32/00.jpg)
The Windows format function limits the volume size that can be created with FAT32 to a maximum of 32GB. A new change has been added to the test build of Windows that increases the volume size that can be created with FAT32 to 2TB.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27686 (Canary Channel) | Windows Insider Blog
https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/08/15/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-27868-canary-channel/
On August 15, 2024, the update 'Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27686' for the Canary channel, which allows you to try out Windows features under development, was distributed. In the release notes, there is an item that says 'When formatting a disk with the format command , the maximum capacity will increase from 32GB to 2TB,' and it is clear that some of the restrictions on FAT32 formatting in Windows will be relaxed.
![](https://i.gzn.jp/img/2024/08/19/windows-format-fat32/01.png)
However, this update only relaxes the restrictions on 'formatting using the format command,' and does not include the widely used GUI formatting function. Also, some of the features tested in the Canary channel will not be implemented in the official version of Windows, so it is not clear at this time whether the restrictions will be relaxed in the official version of Windows.
![](https://i.gzn.jp/img/2024/08/19/windows-format-fat32/02.png)
The 'maximum capacity of FAT32 is 32GB' limit is unique to Windows, and has remained for about 30 years, set by David Plummer, the developer of the format screen. The story behind the development of the format screen by Plummer can be found in the following article.
The Windows 'Format' screen uses a provisional UI from 1994 and there are variations in notation - GIGAZINE
![](https://i.gzn.jp/img/2024/03/26/windows-format-dialog/00.png)
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in Software, Posted by log1o_hf