"The file is too large for the destination file system": the FAT32 4 GB limit and how to fix it
The USB stick has 50 GB free, and Windows still says the file is too large. It's not lying about the space: the drive's format has a per-file limit, and your file is over it.
Which fix should I use?
| Situation | Best fix | Keeps the files on the drive? |
|---|---|---|
| Drive is used with Windows, Mac and modern TVs | Reformat as exFAT. | No: copy them off first. |
| Windows only, and you can't empty the drive | Convert to NTFS with convert. | Yes (back up anyway). |
| Old car stereo, TV, camera or console that only reads FAT32 | Split the file, or shrink the video below 4 GB. | Yes. |
| It's a long video you only need to share | Compress it to a target size. | Yes. |
Reformat as exFAT
- Copy everything you need off the drive. Formatting erases it.
- Windows: File Explorer, right-click the drive, Format, choose exFAT, tick Quick Format, Start.
- Mac: Disk Utility, select the drive, Erase, Format ExFAT, Scheme Master Boot Record for the widest compatibility.
- Copy your files back, plus the big one.
Convert to NTFS without erasing (Windows)
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run convert E: /fs:ntfs, replacing E with the drive's letter. It keeps your files, but it's one-way, so back up anything important first. NTFS is fine for Windows and many TVs, but a Mac can only read it, not write to it, and some cameras and car stereos can't read it at all.
Why FAT32 has this limit
FAT32 dates from 1996 and stores each file's size in a 32-bit number. The biggest number that fits is 4,294,967,295, so a file can be at most one byte under 4 GiB. The drive's total size isn't the problem; FAT32 drives can be far bigger than that. Windows' own format box won't even offer FAT32 for drives over 32 GB, which is a hint of how old it is. exFAT was designed to replace it for USB sticks and memory cards, and its file limit is far beyond any real file.
How long a video fits under 4 GB?
| Recording setting | Roughly fits in one 4 GB file |
|---|---|
| 1080p 30 fps, HEVC (about 40 MB a minute) | about 1 hour 45 minutes |
| 1080p 30 fps, H.264 (about 60 MB a minute) | about 1 hour 10 minutes |
| 4K 30 fps, HEVC (about 170 MB a minute) | about 25 minutes |
| 4K 60 fps, HEVC (about 400 MB a minute) | about 10 minutes |
The video size calculator shows the time until one file hits 4 GB for any setting. Cameras that record to FAT32 cards usually split long recordings into 4 GB chunks on their own, which is why you sometimes find a video in several parts.
Keep FAT32 and split or shrink the file
- Split: 7-Zip can split into volumes (Add to archive, Split to volumes, for example 3900M), and on Mac or Linux
split -b 3900m bigfile.mkv part_thencat part_* > bigfile.mkvto join again. The parts can't be played until they're joined, so this is for moving files, not for playing on a TV. - Shrink: for a video that has to play from the stick, compress it below about 3.9 GB. See compressing a video to a target size, or use the shrink-to-fit box with 3900 MB as the limit.
The same error on a Mac
A Mac says "The item can't be copied because it's too large for the volume's format". It's the same FAT32 limit (macOS calls it MS-DOS (FAT)), and the same fixes apply.
Related
Split a big video to fit a FAT32 stick · Which format for a USB stick for a TV, car or console · SD card shows the wrong size · exFAT vs NTFS: drive read-only on a Mac · USB stick not showing up · Back up phone photos to an external drive · SD card not showing up · Video file size per minute
Questions
Why does it say the file is too large when there's plenty of space?
The drive is formatted as FAT32, which limits each single file to just under 4 GB no matter how much free space the drive has. Reformat it as exFAT or NTFS, or split or shrink the file.
How do I change FAT32 to exFAT without losing data?
You can't convert FAT32 to exFAT in place. Copy the files off, format the drive as exFAT, and copy them back. Windows can convert FAT32 to NTFS without erasing, using convert E: /fs:ntfs.
What is the maximum file size on FAT32?
4,294,967,295 bytes, one byte under 4 GiB, which Windows shows as 4 GB.
Should I use exFAT or NTFS for a USB stick?
exFAT if you use it with Macs, TVs, cameras or consoles as well as Windows. NTFS if it's only for Windows PCs and you want its extra safety features.
Will my TV or car read exFAT?
Most TVs, consoles and car systems made in the last several years do. Some older ones only read FAT32, in which case keep each file under 4 GB.
Published · updated .