Fix Convert Is Not Available for exFAT Drives

Can't convert exFAT to NTFS or FAT32...convert is not available

"While removing exFAT and installing NTFS on an external USB disk, I got an error message saying convert is not available for exFAT drives on my Windows 7. How can I convert exFAT to NTFS without trouble?"

Having trouble converting disk partition between two file systems due to the error "disk is not available for exFAT drives", "disk is not available for NTFS drives" or "disk is not available for Raw drives", etc. in Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP or Vista? Let's figure out why it fails and how to resolve the issue effectively.

Why is convert not available for exFAT drives

It depends on what exFAT to NTFS/FAT32 converter software you're using. Some third-party software does not support exFAT drives. Thus, when you connect the exFAT drive correctly to a Windows computer, it can neither show up nor the options of "format partition" or "convert to NTFS" grayed out, not allowing you to change the file system.

What's more, Windows disk management tool recognizes exFAT drives and formatting the exFAT drive to NTFS or FAT32 file system is available. However, many people report that once the formatting process gets 100% done, Windows gives an error message saying the format did not complete successfully, or Windows was unable to complete the format.

And it's hard to tell what causes the incomplete format error there; it can be a corruption detected or something else.

How to convert exFAT to NTFS/FAT32 easily

Both of the fixing methods are not for converting the exFAT drive to NTFS or FAT32 without losing data, so make sure the data on the exFAT drive has been moved a safe place.

Using command prompt usually helps fix not being able to convert the exFAT drive to NTFS or FAT32 effectively in Windows Disk Management. Do as follows:

Step 1: If it's a removable disk like a USB drive, plug it in the USB slot on your PC.

Step 2: Open "Command Prompt".

Step 3: Copy any one of the following commands to format the exFAT drive to FAT, FAT32 or NTFS.

format Z: /fs:FAT
format Z: /fs:FAT32
format Z: /fs:NTFS

Step 4: Press Y=Yes or N=No to proceed or stop the formatting.

Or perhaps you prefer an easier way to format your device:

Download and install EaseUS Partition Master on your computer. It's a powerful yet free partition manager that supports to format exFAT to your desired file system.

 

Step 1: Run EaseUS Partition Master, right-click the hard drive partition you intend to format and choose "Format".

Step 2: In the new window, set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3), and Cluster size for the partition to be formatted, then click "OK".

Step 3: Then you will see a warning window, click "OK" in it to continue.

Step 4: Click the "Execute Operation" button in the top-left corner to review the changes, then click "Apply" to start formatting the partition on your hard drive.