Nearly here! Microsoft ups the partition size limit of FAT32 from 32 GB to 2 TB in the latest beta of Windows 11
Microsoft is increasing the partition size limit for FAT32 in the latest Windows 11 beta, allowing users to create much larger partitions than previously possible. The update, available in Windows 11 Insider Preview build 26220.8165, raises the maximum FAT32 partition size from the current 32 GB limit to 2 TB.
This change notably represents the restoration of functionality that was previously available more than two years ago. The feature had been removed, disappointing users who needed to work with larger FAT32 partitions, particularly for compatibility with certain devices and systems that rely on the FAT32 file system.
FAT32, despite its age, remains in use across various hardware platforms and devices that don’t support more modern file systems. While many modern systems have moved to NTFS or exFAT, FAT32 compatibility remains important for specific use cases, including older gaming consoles, USB drives formatted with broad compatibility, and various embedded systems.
The change is currently limited to Insider Preview members in the Beta Channel, meaning general users will need to wait for the update to roll out through standard Windows 11 update channels. Microsoft has not announced a specific timeline for when this feature will reach the stable release.