After a while of using any computer, everyone starts to experience low storage on their PC. Connecting a USB stick or an external hard drive to store your files, photographs, documents, and movies is one solution.
Unfortunately, when saving huge files, you may receive the message “file is too large for the destination file system,” which means you won’t be able to transfer or copy it. This isn’t because you don’t have enough space; instead, the file system’s format is not capable of handling it. The FAT32 file system is a kind of file system which is responsible for this error.
What is the FAT32 File System?
You must have seen format the drive option whenever you connect a USB stick, external hard drive, or even an SD card. Windows will ask you to format the drive to store data.
There will be several file systems that you can choose from, with the most common being FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS. These file systems are simply just a way of organizing the drive, and they all have their pros and cons.
The FAT32 file system was first released in 1996 as a successor for the MS-DOS-only FAT16 system. It is commonly known as the file allocation table-32. Because of its long history of use (it wasn’t superseded by exFAT until 2006), now it is considered the “de-facto” standard for flash drives.
The reason why FAT32 is universally used as it offers optimal compatibility with current PCs, gaming consoles, and other USB-connected devices, including solid-state memory cards and digital cameras. As a result, when you buy a USB stick, it arrives formatted as FAT32.
Why Does FAT32 Cause the “File is Too Large for the Destination File System” Error?
The FAT32 file system can only support files up to 4GB in size; you will get the file is too large for the destination file system error when trying to move a file larger than that.
TIP!
Even though you can store up to 2TB of data on a FAT32 disc, the file system would not accept files larger than 4GB.
How to Fix File is Too Large for the Destination File System?
Once you figure out what is causing The file is too big for the destination file system error, you can quickly solve it by switching the file system from FAT32. TechNinjaPro has gathered a few fixes to teach you how to repair the problem.
The quickest ways to overcome this problem are converting the disk to a newer file system, compressor splitting the files, or using a different storage layout.
NTFS is now the most extensively used file system on PCs. The largest file size that NTFS allows for a single file is up to 16TB. On big capacity external hard drives, NTFS is suggested for use.
Here is the comparison between the FAT32 file system and the NTFS file system:
Feature | FAT32 | NTFS |
---|---|---|
Partition Size Limits | 2TB | 2TB |
File Size Limits | 4GB | 16TB |
File Name Limits | 8.3 Characters | 255 Characters |
Encryption of files and folders | No | Yes |
Fault Tolerance | No | Auto Repair |
Security | Only available on the Network | Network and Local |
Compression | No | Yes |
Compatibility | Windows 95, 98, 2000, and XP, as well as their derivatives | NT/2000/XP/Vista/7 and subsequent versions of Windows |
1. Use Compression Software to Split a Large File
If you have got an incredibly massive file, like video, and you would like to put it on an external USB drive or hard drive (that has a small amount in space), You can make use of compression software to break it up to allow you to move it.
Although this is the most convenient method because it doesn’t require re-formatting everything, and you don’t have to be concerned about backing up your files, it can be a time-consuming procedure. Follow the steps carefully to start the procedure:
- Download compression programs. Most popular include WinRar and 7Zip.
- Then, click File Explorer and find the folder that holds the file you would like to compress, split and then move.
- Right-click the folder, locate WinRar or 7Zip on the menu, and click on them.
- To receive an archive name and parameters box, select the top option to add to archive.
- To get a drop-down menu of choices, look for the Split to Volumes Bytes box and click it. You may either use an existing profile or type in the maximum size of the file you want to compress – the output file.
- When you’ve found the proper split volume, click Okay and wait for WinRar or 7Zip to compress the source file. It will be divided into multiple tiny compressed files, each with the file size you specified in the previous step. The greater the file size setting you chose in the previous step, the fewer compressed files you’ll get.
After the procedure, transfer the files, then unzip the files in the proper order. This will only work if the overall file size is less than the storage device’s capacity and each zip file you transfer is under the maximum size. In the case of the FAT32 disc, it is 4GB.
2. Format FAT32 to NTFS with a Built-In Feature
The most straightforward approach to convert FAT32 to NTFS is to format it. However, keep in mind that it will delete all of the data on the disc. As a result, it should only be used when your external hard disc or USB flash drive is empty.
You may back them up manually if you already have data on your storage device. Here is how to use the built-in format capability in Windows.
- First, Connect your USB flash drive to your computer.
- Using Windows File Explorer, navigate to your USB stick on the left-hand side.
- Locate the Format Option by right-clicking on the USB stick.
- A Format pop-up window will appear.
- Select NTFS from the File System drop-down selection.
- To begin, press the Start button.
Now, You will be able to copy the files you saved to your PC without receiving that file is too big to be compatible with the filesystem of your destination warning.
Convert a FAT32 File to an NTFS File Using Command Prompt:
Command Prompt is also an excellent built-in tool by windows that can convert FAT32 files to NTFS files. Like in the last procedure, ensure that you secure your data first, then proceed with the steps:
- Search cmd in the Start menu, and Run it as Administrator.
- You will need to execute the following command line in the CMD window to convert the drive.
[drive] /fs: NTFS |
- For example, if your drive is (E:), the command will convert E /fs: NTFS.
- Then press the Enter key.
The procedure won’t take much time, once it is done, you will have no trouble putting 4GB+ files on it, and you will no longer receive the error.
Convert a FAT32 File to an NTFS File Using Disk Management:
Using the built-in Disk Management Software is another simple approach to convert your FAT32 Flash drive or Hard Drive to NTFS file. ensure that you secure your data first, then proceed with the steps:
- In File Explorer, go to the left-hand menu and choose This PC.
- Choose Manage from the context menu when you right-click it.
- Right-click the USB or Hard Drive under Storage in computer management.
- Select a format choice.
- Change the file system to NTFS under the file system.
- Check the perform a fast format option from the menu.
- Hit OK to let the changes take effect
After the completion of the process, you will no longer receive the file is too large for the destination file system error and will be able to copy huge files without difficulty.
Conclusion
This article is a complete package, that will answer the reasons and also the best solution that can fix the problem.