文件和数据在硬盘驱动器上的存储、索引以及检索回给用户的方式远比您想象的要复杂得多。文件系统控制如何执行上述任务（存储、索引和检索）。您可能知道的一些文件系统包括FAT、exFAT、NTFS等。
这些系统中的每一个都有其自身的优点和缺点。尤其是FAT32系统具有普遍支持，并且适用于几乎所有可用于个人计算机的操作系统。
因此，将硬盘格式化为FAT32可以使其可访问，因此可以跨平台和在各种设备中使用。今天，我们将介绍几种有关如何将硬盘驱动器格式化为 FAT32 系统的方法。(how to format your hard drive to the FAT32 system.)
什么是文件分配表 (FAT) 系统和 FAT32？(What is a File Allocation Table (FAT) system and FAT32?)
文件分配表(File Allocation Table)( FAT )(FAT)系统本身被广泛用于USB驱动器、闪存卡、软盘、超级软盘、存储卡和外部硬盘驱动器，这些驱动器由数码相机、摄像机、PDA(PDAs)、媒体播放器或移动电话支持。光盘(Compact Disc)(CD) 和数字多功能光盘(Digital Versatile Disc)( DVD )除外。在过去的三十年里， FAT系统一直是一种杰出的文件系统类型，并负责在该时间范围内如何以及在何处存储、评估和管理数据。
你特别问什么是FAT32？(What is FAT32 in particular you ask?)
FAT32由(FAT32)Microsoft和Caldera于 1996 年推出，是文件分配表(File Allocation Table)系统的 32 位版本。它克服了FAT16的卷大小限制，并在重用大部分现有代码的同时支持更多可能的集群。簇的值由 32 位数字表示，其中 28 位保存簇号。FAT32广泛用于处理小于 4GB 的文件。它是一种有用的固态存储(solid-state memory)卡格式，也是一种在操作系统之间共享数据的便捷方式，特别关注具有 512 字节扇区的驱动器。
将外置硬盘(External Hard Drive)格式化(Format)为FAT32的4种方法(Ways)
您可以通过多种方法将硬盘驱动器格式化为FAT32。该列表包括在命令提示符或 powershell 中运行一些命令，使用FAT32 格式(FAT32 Format)和EaseUS等第三方应用程序。
方法 1：使用命令提示符将硬盘驱动器格式化为 FAT32(Method 1: Format hard drive to FAT32 using Command Prompt)
1. 插入并确保硬盘/USB 驱动器正确连接到您的系统。
2、打开文件资源管理器（Windows key + E），记下需要格式化的硬盘对应的盘符。
注意：(Note:)在上面的截图中，连接的“USB Drive”的驱动器号是“F”，驱动器“ Recovery ”是“D”。
3.单击(Click)搜索栏或按键盘上的“ Windows + S ”并键入“命令提示符(Command Prompt)”。
4、右击“命令提示符(Command Prompt)”选项，打开下拉菜单，选择“以管理员身份运行(Run as administrator)”。
注意：(Note:)将出现一个用户帐户控制(User Account Control)弹出窗口，询问允许命令提示符(allow Command Prompt)对系统进行更改的权限，单击是(Yes )授予权限。
5.以管理员身份启动命令提示符后，在命令行中键入(Command Prompt)diskpart并按 Enter 键运行。diskpart功能可让您格式化驱动器。
6.接下来，输入命令“ list disk ”并回车。这将列出系统上所有可用的硬盘驱动器，包括它们的大小以及其他附加信息。
7. 在末尾键入“ select disk X ”，将“X”替换为驱动器号，然后按键盘上的 Enter 键选择磁盘。
将显示一条确认消息，内容为“磁盘 X(Disk X)现在是所选磁盘”。
8. 在命令提示符中键入以下行并在每行后按Enter将驱动器格式化为FAT32。
create partition primary
select partition 1
active
format fs=fat32
assign
exit
使用命令提示符将驱动器格式化为 FAT32(Using the command prompt to format a drive to FAT32)是最直接的方法之一，但是，许多用户在执行该过程时报告了多个错误。如果您在执行该过程时也遇到错误或任何困难，那么最好尝试下面列出的替代方法。
方法 2：使用 PowerShell 将硬盘驱动器格式化为 FAT32(Method 2: Format Hard Drive to FAT32 Using PowerShell)
PowerShell与(PowerShell)命令提示符(Command Prompt)非常相似，因为两者都使用相同的语法工具。此方法可让您格式化存储容量超过 32GB 的驱动器。
这是一种相对简单的方法，但完成格式化过程需要更长的时间（格式化一个 64GB 驱动器花了我一个半小时），您甚至可能直到最后才知道格式化是否有效。
1. 与前一种方法一样，确保硬盘驱动器已正确连接到您的系统，并记下分配给驱动器的字母（驱动器名称旁边的字母）。
2. 返回桌面屏幕并按键盘上的“ Windows + X ”访问高级用户(Power User)菜单。这将在屏幕左侧打开一个包含各种项目的面板。（您也可以通过右键单击开始按钮来打开菜单。）
在菜单中找到“ Windows PowerShell (Admin) ”并选择它以授予PowerShell 管理权限(administrative privileges to PowerShell)。
3. 授予必要权限后，屏幕上将启动一个深蓝色提示，名为“ Administrator Windows PowerShell ”。
4. 在PowerShell窗口中，键入或复制并粘贴以下命令，然后按 Enter：
format /FS:FAT32 X:
注意：(Note:) 请记住(Remember)将字母“X”替换为与您需要格式化的驱动器对应的驱动器号（在这种情况下为“format /FS: FAT32 F :”）。
5. PowerShell(PowerShell)窗口中将显示一条确认消息，要求您“准备就绪时按 Enter... ”。(press Enter when ready…)
6. 格式化过程将在您按下Enter键后立即开始，因此请务必确定，因为这是您取消的最后机会。
7.仔细检查驱动器号(Double-check the drive letter)并按Enter 将硬盘驱动器格式化为 FAT32。(Enter to format the hard drive to FAT32.)
您可以通过查看命令的最后一行来了解格式化过程的状态，因为它从零开始并逐渐增加。一旦达到一百，格式化过程就完成了，你就可以开始了。该过程的持续时间可能会因您的系统和外部硬盘驱动器中的空间而异，因此耐心是关键。
另请阅读：(Also Read:) 如何在 Windows 10 中将 GPT 磁盘转换为 MBR 磁盘(How to Convert GPT Disk to MBR Disk in Windows 10)
方法三：使用第三方GUI软件，如“FAT32格式”(Method 3: Using a third-party GUI software like “FAT32 Format”)
这是格式化为FAT32的最简单、最快捷的方法，但它需要使用第三方应用程序。“ FAT32 格式(FAT32 Format)”是一个基本的便携式GUI工具，不需要安装在您的系统上。它最适合不想运行十几个命令的人，而且速度非常快。（格式化一个 64GB 驱动器只花了我一分钟）
1.再次(Again)连接需要格式化的硬盘并记下对应的盘符。
2. 在您的计算机上下载第三方软件。您可以通过以下链接FAT32 Format来做到这一点。单击(Click)网页上的屏幕截图/图片开始下载应用程序文件。
3. 下载过程完成后，它将出现在浏览器窗口的底部；点击下载的文件运行。将弹出一个管理员提示，询问您是否允许该应用程序对您的设备进行更改。选择“是(Yes)”选项继续前进。
4. 随后“ FAT32 格式(FAT32 Format)”应用程序窗口将在您的屏幕上打开。
5. 在您按下“开始(Start)”之前，单击“驱动器”(“Drive” )标签正下方的向下箭头，然后选择与需要格式化的驱动器相对应的正确驱动器号。
6. 确保勾选格式(Format)选项下方的“快速格式化”框。(Quick Format)
7. 让分配(Allocation)单元大小保持默认，然后单击“开始(Start)”按钮。
8. 按下“开始”后，会出现另一个弹出窗口，警告您即将发生数据丢失，这是您取消此过程的最后也是最后的机会。确定后，按“确定(OK)”继续。
9. 确认发送后，格式化过程开始，亮绿色条在几分钟内从左向右移动。很明显，当条为 100 时，即在最右边的位置，格式化过程将完成。
10. 最后，按“关闭”(“Close”)退出应用程序，一切顺利。
另请阅读：(Also Read:)适用于 Windows 10 的(Free Disk Partition Software For Windows 10)6 个免费磁盘分区软件
方法 4：使用 EaseUS 将外部硬盘驱动器格式化为 FAT32(Method 4: Format External Hard Drive to FAT32 using EaseUS)
EaseUS是一个应用程序，它不仅可以让您将硬盘驱动器格式化为所需的格式，还可以删除、克隆和创建分区。作为第三方软件，您需要从他们的网站下载并将其安装在您的个人计算机上。
1. 通过打开此链接开始软件下载过程免费分区管理器软件可在您首选的 Web 浏览器中调整分区大小(Free partition manager software to resize partitions)，单击 “免费下载”(“Free Download”)按钮并完成以下屏幕说明。
2.下载并安装后，将打开一个新的磁盘指南，退出以打开主菜单。
3. 在主菜单中，选择要格式化的磁盘(disk)并右键单击它。
比如这里的“ Disk 1 > F:”就是需要格式化的硬盘。
4.右键单击(Right-click)会打开一个弹出菜单，其中包含可以执行的各种操作。从列表中，选择“格式(Format)”选项。
5. 选择格式选项将启动一个“格式化分区(Format Partition)”窗口，其中包含选择文件系统(File System)和集群(Cluster)大小的选项。
6. 点击“文件系统(File System)”标签旁边的箭头以打开可用文件系统的菜单。从可用选项列表中选择(Select)“ FAT32 ”。
7. 保持“Cluster Size”不变，然后按“ OK ”。
8. 将出现一个弹出窗口，警告您您的数据将被永久删除。按(Press)“确定(OK)”继续，您将返回主菜单。
9. 在主菜单中，查看左上角的“ Execute 1 Operation ”选项并单击它。
10. 它会打开一个选项卡，列出所有待处理的操作。在按“应用”之前(Apply)阅读(Read)并仔细检查( double-check)。
11. 耐心等待蓝条达到 100%。应该不会花很长时间。（我花了 2 分钟格式化 64GB 磁盘）
12. EaseUS完成硬盘驱动器格式化后，按“完成”(“Finish”)并关闭应用程序。
受到推崇的： (Recommended: )
我们希望上述方法可以帮助您将外部硬盘驱动器格式化为FAT32系统。虽然FAT32系统具有普遍支持，但许多用户认为它过时且过时。因此，文件系统现在已被更新和更通用的系统（如NTFS ）所取代。
4 Ways to Format an External Hard Drive to FAT32
The way filеs and data are stored, indexed on a hard drive, and retrieved back to the uѕer is far more complex than you might think. A file system controls how the above taskѕ (storing, indexing, and retrieving) are performed. A few file systems you might be aware of іnclude FAT, exFAT, NTFS, etc.
Each of these systems has its own advantages and disadvantages. The FAT32 system in particular has universal support and works on almost all operating systems available for personal computers.
Therefore, formatting a hard drive to FAT32 can make it accessible and thus can be used across platforms and in various devices. Today, we will go over a couple of methods on how to format your hard drive to the FAT32 system.
What is a File Allocation Table (FAT) system and FAT32?
The File Allocation Table (FAT) system itself is widely used for USB drives, flash memory cards, floppy disks, super floppies, memory cards and external hard drives that are supported by digital cameras, camcorders, PDAs, media players, or mobile phones with an exception of Compact Disc (CD) and Digital Versatile Disc (DVD). The FAT system has been an eminent type of file system for the past three decades and has been responsible for how and where data is stored, assessed, and managed over that time frame.
What is FAT32 in particular you ask?
Introduced in 1996 by Microsoft and Caldera, FAT32 is the 32-bit version of the File Allocation Table system. It overcame the volume size limit of FAT16 and supports more number of possible clusters while reusing most of the existing code. The values of the clusters are represented by 32-bit numbers, out of which 28 bits hold the cluster number. FAT32 is widely used for dealing with files less than 4GB. It is a useful format for solid-state memory cards and a convenient way to share data between operating systems and specifically focuses on drives with 512-byte sectors.
4 Ways to Format an External Hard Drive to FAT32
There are a couple of methods via which you can format a hard drive to FAT32. The list includes running a few commands in the command prompt or powershell, using third-party applications like FAT32 Format and EaseUS.
Method 1: Format hard drive to FAT32 using Command Prompt
1. Plugin and make sure the hard disk/USB drive is connected properly to your system.
2. Open file explorer (Windows key + E) and note the corresponding drive letter of the hard drive that needs to be formatted.
Note: In the above screenshot, the drive letter for the connected “USB Drive” is “F” and the drive “Recovery” is “D”.
3. Click on the search bar or press “Windows + S” on your keyboard and type “Command Prompt”.
4. Right-click on the “Command Prompt” option to open the drop-down menu and select “Run as administrator”.
Note: A User Account Control pop-up asking permission to allow Command Prompt to make changes to the system will appear, click on Yes to grant permission.
5. Once Command Prompt has launched as an administrator, type diskpart in the command line and press enter to run. The diskpart function lets you format your drives.
6. Next, type the command “list disk” and press enter. This will list out all the available hard drives on the system including their sizes with other additional information.
7. Type “select disk X” at the end replacing “X” with the drive number and press the enter key on your keyboard to select the disk.
A confirmation message reading ‘Disk X is now the selected disk’ will be displayed.
8. Type the following line in the command prompt and press Enter after each line to format your drive to FAT32.
create partition primary
select partition 1
active
format fs=fat32
assign
exit
Using the command prompt to format a drive to FAT32 is one of the most straightforward methods, however, many users have reported multiple errors in following the procedure. If you too experience errors or any hardships while following the procedure then better try the alternate methods listed below.
Method 2: Format Hard Drive to FAT32 Using PowerShell
PowerShell is pretty similar to Command Prompt as both use the same syntax tools. This method lets you format a drive of storage capacity more than 32GB.
It is a comparatively simpler method but takes longer to complete the format process (it took me an hour and a half to format a 64GB drive) and you might not even understand if formatting worked or not until the very end.
1. Just as in the previous method, make sure the hard drive is connected properly into your system and note the alphabet assigned to the drive (The alphabet next to the drive name).
2. Go back to your desktop screen and press “Windows + X” on your keyboard to access the Power User menu. This will open up a panel of various items on the left side of the screen. (You can also open the menu by right-clicking on the start button.)
Find “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” in the menu and select it to give administrative privileges to PowerShell.
3. Once you grant the necessary permissions, a dark blue prompt will be launched on the screen called “Administrator Windows PowerShell”.
4. In the PowerShell window, type or copy and paste the following command and press enter:
format /FS:FAT32 X:
Note: Remember to replace the letter “X” with the drive letter corresponding to your drive that needs to be formatted (“format /FS:FAT32 F:” in this case).
5. A confirmation message asking you to “press Enter when ready…” will be displayed in the PowerShell window.
6. The formatting process will begin as soon as you hit the Enter key, so be sure about it as this is your last chance to cancel.
7. Double-check the drive letter and press Enter to format the hard drive to FAT32.
You can know the status of the formatting process by looking at the last line of the command as it starts from zero and gradually increases. Once it reaches one hundred the formatting process is complete and you are good to go. The duration of the process might vary depending on your system and the space in the external hard drive, so patience is the key.
Also Read: How to Convert GPT Disk to MBR Disk in Windows 10
Method 3: Using a third-party GUI software like “FAT32 Format”
This is the easiest and the quickest method to format to FAT32 but it requires using a third-party application. “FAT32 Format” is a basic portable GUI tool that does not need to be installed on your system. It is best for someone who doesn’t want to run a dozen commands and it is super quick. (Took me barely a minute to format a 64GB drive)
1. Again, connect the hard drive that requires formatting and note the corresponding drive letter.
2. Download the third-party software on your computer. You can do that by following this link FAT32 Format. Click on the screenshot/picture on the web page to start downloading the application file.
3. Once the downloading process is complete, it will appear at the bottom of your browser window; click on the downloaded file to run. An administrator prompt will pop up asking for your permission to allow the app to make changes to your device. Select the “Yes” option to move forward.
4. Following that the “FAT32 Format” application window will open up on your screen.
5. Before you press “Start”, click on the down arrow right below the “Drive” label and choose the correct drive letter corresponding to the one that needs to be formatted.
6. Make sure the “Quick Format” box below Format options is ticked.
7. Let the Allocation unit size remain as default and click on the “Start” button.
8. Once “Start” is pressed, another pop-up window arrives to warn you about the loss of data that is about to ensue and this is the last and final chance for you to cancel this process. Once you are sure, press “OK” to continue.
9. Once the confirmation is sent, the formatting process begins and the bright green bar travels from left to right within a couple of minutes. The formatting process, as obvious, will be complete when the bar is at 100, i.e, at the rightmost position.
10. Finally, press “Close” to exit the application and you are good to go.
Also Read: 6 Free Disk Partition Software For Windows 10
Method 4: Format External Hard Drive to FAT32 using EaseUS
EaseUS is an application that lets you not only format hard drives to the required formats but also delete, clone, and create partitions. Being a third-party software you will need to download it from their website and install it on your personal computer.
1. Start the software downloading process by opening this link Free partition manager software to resize partitions in your preferred web browser, clicking on the “Free Download” button and completing the on-screen instructions that follow.
2. Once downloaded and installed, a new disk guide will open up, exit that to open the main menu.
3. In the main menu, select the disk that you want formatted and right-click on it.
For example, here “Disk 1 > F:” is the hard drive that needs to be formatted.
4. Right-click opens up a pop-up menu of various actions that could be performed. From the list, select the “Format” option.
5. Selecting the format option will launch a “Format Partition” window with options to select File System and Cluster size.
6. Tap on the arrow next to the “File System” label to open a menu of available file systems. Select “FAT32” from the list of available options.
7. Leave the “Cluster Size” as it is and press “OK”.
8. A pop-up will appear to warn you about your data being permanently erased. Press “OK” to continue and you will be back in the main menu.
9. In the main menu, look at the top left corner for an option that reads “Execute 1 Operation” and click on it.
10. It opens a tab listing all the pending operations. Read and double-check before you press “Apply”.
11. Patiently wait till the blue bar hits 100%. It shouldn’t take a long time. (Took me 2 minutes to format a 64GB disk)
12. Once EaseUS is done formatting your hard drive, press “Finish” and close the application.
Recommended:
We hope the above methods helped you format your external hard drive to the FAT32 system. While the FAT32 system has universal support, it is considered archaic and out of date by many users. The file system has thus now been replaced by newer and more versatile systems like NTFS.
