Convert FAT32 to exFAT | Simple Plans for Windows & macOS

Do you need to convert FAT32 to exFAT to enhance the disk performance? We'll introduce four different solutions to change file systems on Windows and macOS computers. After formatting, you can download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover data from formatted storage devices.

If you want to convert FAT32 to exFAT on a Windows or macOS computer, you should know what are the differences between FAT32 and exFAT, especially the advantages of exFAT. You can get information quickly from the following table:

	FAT32	exFAT
🗂️File size	Maximum file size limit of 4 GB	Over 4 GB and up to 16 exabytes (EB) in size
💻Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, and some gaming consoles	Not as universally compatible as FAT32
📃File System Structure	A file allocation table to keep track of files and their locations	Improved design and better performance, especially when dealing with large files and storage devices
🔎File and Directory Timestamps	Limited timestamp support	Supports more accurate timestamps for files and directories
✅Licensing	Allows free licensing for FAT32	Requires a paid license for usage in certain scenarios

However, you should know that FAT32 is widely used, but exFAT can help you deal with large files on larger storage devices. Can't wait to learn how to convert your storage device from FAT32 to exFAT? Keep reading to find out how to convert FAT32 to exFAT without losing data.

How to Convert FAT32 to exFAT Without Losing Data 🏅

If you don't want to lose data after converting FAT32 to exFAT, it is necessary to download a safe data recovery program for help. It is also wise to back up important files before converting.

Regarding data recovery software, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard should be the perfect choice to recover data from a formatted storage device. This data recovery program can help you recover data from multiple storage devices, and it is easy to install and operate the EaseUS recovery tool. The following download link will lead you to get a free trial version. If you think the software is helpful, it is better to unlock more by upgrading to the pro version.

Is EaseUS safe? You can trust EaseUS, and here is the tutorial on recovering data from a formatted USB drive:

Step 1. Connect the USB drive to your computer. Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. Select the formatted SD card, USB flash drive, or Pen drive from which you what to restore lost files and then click "Scan".

Step 2. After the scan completed, all scan results will be displayed on the screen. Use the "Filter" or "File Type" feature to find your target files.

Step 3. Choose the files you want to recover from your formatted external drive and click "Recover". A new window will appear, you need to choose a new location to store the files. Then, click "OK" to confirm.

If you've had a great experience with our format data recovery software and found it helpful in retrieving files, we would be incredibly grateful if you could share your recommendation on social media.

Method 1. Convert FAT32 to exFAT with Windows File Explorer

Pros: Safe and quick

Difficulty：⭐

Some users will choose a professional converter to complete the conversion. Windows has its own built-in utility, and it is more reliable to use Windows File Explorer to convert the file system. We'll show you how to convert the file system from FAT32 to exFAT on Windows 11:

Step 1. Open Windows 11 File Explorer with the Windows + E shortcut or bring it up from the taskbar.

Step 2. Right-click the hard disk/USB drive you want to convert to exFAT.

Step 3. Change the File System into exFAT, and click "Start".

If your Windows File Explorer is not responding, you can fix it by restarting it. You can check the detailed tutorials in the following article:

Method 2. Convert FAT32 to exFAT with Windows Command Prompt

Pros: Simp for those who are familiar with CMD

Difficulty：⭐⭐⭐

You can change file format with Command Prompt, and this method is simple for people who are familiar with command lines. If you don't want to use CMD to convert the file system, skip to the next method.

Step 1. Bring up Command Prompt windows with the Windows search bar. If Windows 10 search bar is not working, try other methods.

Step 2. Type in command lines in CMD, and you can copy the following command lines directly. Remember to change the drive letter and partition letter.

After learning the two methods, you may get an exFAT disk now. Feel free to share these methods on social media and help more users!

Method 3. Format FAT32 to exFAT with Windows Disk Management

Pros: Can also check the partitions of the disk and change drive letter

Difficulty：⭐⭐

You can also change the file system from FAT32 to exFAT in Windows Disk Management. This method is also very simple. Follow these steps to convert the file system to exFAT:

Step 1. Right-click the Windows icon and choose "Disk Management".

Step 2. Right-click the disk you want to format into exFAT and click "Format".

Step 3. Change the file system from FAT32 to exFAT and click "OK" to start the format process. After the formatting, you can see the file system change to exFAT in Disk Management.

You can use these methods to change the file system from RAW to NTFS:

Method 4. How to Convert Disk to exFAT on Mac with Disk Utility

Pros: Safe enough, and it is an official method

Difficulty：⭐

After learning three methods for Windows, you may also want to know how to convert the disk to exFAT on Mac. Mac Disk Utility is a functional disk management feature on macOS. Follow these steps to convert the file system to exFAT with Disk Utility:

Step 1. Spotlight can open Disk Utility or boot your Mac into Disk Utility.

Step 2. Select the hard drive you want to format and choose the "Erase" tab.

Step 3. Give a name for this disk and change the file system to exFAT. Then, you can click the "Erase" button to perform the formatting.

Summary

When you need to format a USB drive or SD card to exFAT, you can use Windows File Explorer and Disk Management to format the disk safely and quickly. Using Command Prompt is also very convenient for advanced users. Disk Utility will be your best choice for a macOS computer. If you don't want to lose data on macOS or Windows, download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard or back up data before the conversion.

Convert Storage Device from FAT32 to exFAT FAQs

This article offered four methods to help you convert a storage device's file system from FAT32 to exFAT. Here are some frequently asked questions about our topic:

1. Can I convert FAT32 to exFAT without formatting?

Actually, the formatting must be done when you need to convert the file system. If you don't want to lose essential data on the target disk, back up files to another device or use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard after formatting.

2. How to convert from FAT32 to exFAT on Windows 11?

You have four methods to convert from FAT32 to exFAT on Windows 11:

1. 1. Format in Windows File Explorer
2. 2. Use Windows Disk Management
3. 3. Use Diskpart command in CMD
4. 4. Use professional disk management software

3. Can I change the file system of a USB drive on macOS?

In addition to using professional software to change the file system of a USB drive, you can also use macOS built-in tool, Disk Utility. You just need to choose the target disk, click the Erase tab, change the file system, and click the Erase button.

4. Is exFAT run faster than FAT32?

Yes, exFAT is generally considered to be faster than FAT32. exFAT was specifically designed for USB flash drives and other external storage devices, offering better performance and support for larger file sizes than FAT32.