I'm not very experienced with computers, so I'd appreciate a simple explanation. I bought a 128 GB Lexar flash drive and want to copy six files onto it, with each file ranging from about 4 GB to 10 GB. Windows says the files are too large, and I learned that the drive may be formatted as FAT32, which has a roughly 4 GB limit for individual files. I'm using Windows 11. Do I need a different flash drive, or can I change the drive's format without editing or splitting the files?
3 Answers
You don’t need to shorten or edit the files. Changing the file system is enough. exFAT supports individual files far larger than 10 GB and is typically the most practical format for a modern flash drive. MBR versus GPT is a separate partition-layout choice and usually isn’t relevant for simply storing files on a USB drive.
You probably don’t need a different drive. FAT32 has a maximum individual file size of about 4 GB. Reformat the flash drive as exFAT or NTFS, both of which support much larger files. exFAT is usually the better choice for a USB drive because it works with more devices and operating systems.
On Windows 11, right-click the USB drive in File Explorer, choose Format, select exFAT under File system, and start the format. Be careful: formatting erases everything currently on the drive, so copy or back up anything important first. A quick format is normally sufficient for this purpose.
The main difference is compatibility. NTFS is closely associated with Windows, while exFAT is generally more convenient if you might use the drive with other computers, cameras, game consoles, or similar devices.