How to Format USB to FAT32 on Mac Easily and Quickly
Is your USB drive not working properly or showing errors? Or maybe you just want to format bootable USB to Mac FAT32 because you’re setting it up. Whatever, your reason is, learning how to format USB to FAT32 on Mac in the proper way will help you perform the process without errors.
There are 2 ways we’ve shared in this article that teach you how to format USB to FAT32 on MacBook Air and other Mac models. Besides, we’ve also thrown in a bonus tip to regain your files if you accidentally formatted your USB drive and lack its backup. Let’s get going!
Part 1: How to Format USB to FAT32 on Mac?
Pick a method to format drive to FAT32 on Mac based on how much control you want over the process:
Method 1: Use Disk Utility (If Option Appears)
Disk Utility, a built-in tool, provides a straightforward, user-friendly interface to format drive FAT32 on Mac. It offers basic options to choose a format, like APFS, macOS Extended, or MS-DOS (FAT), and lets you name drive as well. Disk Utility is ideal for users who prefer a visual, guided process and don’t need complex customization. Here’s how to format USB to FAT32 on Mac with this tool:
Step 1: Plug in your USB to your computer. Then, open “Finder.”
Step 2: Head to “Go.” Then, choose “Utilities.” Next, pick “Disk Utility.”
Step 3: Select your USB drive. Afterward, tap “Erase.”
Step 4: Then, choose “MS-DOS (FAT32)” from “Format” dropdown. Hit “Erase.” Safely eject USB drive from your computer.
Bonus Tip: Easily Recover Data From Formatted USB Drive on Mac
When you convert USB to FAT32 Mac, it can wipe away all data present on it. We understand that nothing is more frustrating than accidentally formatting your drive.
If you haven’t got a backup of your USB, this means your data is lost forever, or is it? The good part is it’s not. You can still recover files after formatting your USB drive as long as it’s instant and you haven’t overwritten any files. But you’ll need a Mac data recovery tool like Tenorshare 4DDiG for this job. It can regain files from various storage devices regardless of what data loss scenario is. Here’s more to know about this tool:
- Can retrieve files lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, system crashes, virus attacks, lost partitions, etc.
- Can recover 1000+ file types and provides a higher recovery rate.
- Can reclaim files from various internal/external drives, including USBs, SD cards, and more.
- It supports various file systems like APFS, HFS+, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, etc.
- It’s compatible with both older and current macOS systems.
- It allows you to preview lost files for free before recovery.
Given below is a simplified guide on how to recover formatted usb on mac with this tool:
Step 1: Download, install, and execute this data recovery tool on your Mac computer. Then, choose your formatted USB drive to scan for lost files.
Step 2: You can pause or stop in mid-scan to check for data the tool has recovered from your formatted USB. Look beneath “File View” and “Tree View.”
Step 3: If you’ve found all your desired files, hit “Recover” to export them to your computer.
Method 2: Use the Terminal
You can also format bootable USB to Mac FAT32 using Terminal. This method provides advanced options, like setting block and sector sizes, for users who are comfortable with command-line commands and want more control over formatting process. Here’s how to format USB to FAT32 on MacBook Air and other Mac models:
Step 1: Head to “Applications.” Then, choose “Utilities.” Next, execute “Terminal.”
Step 2: Type following command. Hit “Enter” after each one:
- diskutil list. (This will display connected drives).
- diskutil eraseVolume FAT32 EXDRIVE MBRFormat /dev/disk2. (Here replace disk3s2 with your USB’s identifier and FAT32 with your format choice (like ExFAT or APFS). Also, substitute EXDRIVE with a name for USB drive.
- diskutil eject /dev/disk3s2. (After formatting completes input this command. This will eject USB drive safely).
Part 2: Why I Can’t Format a USB to FAT32 on Mac?
You can’t convert USB to FAT32 on Mac because of certain restrictions. It only supports up to 32GB partition size, hence it’s not good for larger drives. At same time due to its limitation of maximum file size, it doesn’t support a single file larger than 4GB.
These constraints exist because FAT32 was created for simpler storage needs, with a fixed cluster size that works best with smaller partitions. MacOS favors APFS or ExFAT for external drives because they support larger files and more efficient performance
Part 3: Is It Possible to Format a 64GB or Larger USB Drive?
Yes, it is viable to format drive to FAT32 Mac which is of 64GB size or larger. But, unfortunately not on macOS. The Disk Utility doesn’t always show FAT32 as an option for USB drives larger than 32GB. Therefore, to convert USB to FAT32 on Mac which is 64GB or larger, you can use Terminal commands or a third-party formatter instead.
Besides, 64GB or larger USB drives come pre-formatted with NTFS or exFAT system. If your USB features an NTFS file system on macOS you won’t be able to format your device except with a third-party tool. One option is GUIFormat, but it’s only available on Windows. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Attach your pen drive to a Windows PC. Open your browser, go to Ridgecrop’s website, and download the GUIFormat tool.
Step 2: Run the program, then select the USB drive letter. If you’re unsure, check under “This PC.”
Step 3: Set an allocation unit size (e.g., 512 bytes), select FAT32, and start formatting.
How to Format USB to FAT32 on Mac FAQs
Q1: Does Mac Support FAT32 USB?
Yes. Macs support FAT32 USB drives. Bu,t since FAT32 has a limit on file sizes to 4GB, this isn’t particularly efficient for larger drives.
Q2: How Do I Know if USB Is FAT32 on Mac?
If you want to know if your USB has a FAT32 file system on Mac, open Disk Utility, pick your USB drive, and check its format in info panel.
Q3: What Is the Difference Between macOS exFat and FAT32?
exFAT supports larger files and is optimized for flash drives, making it ideal for drives over 32GB. FAT32, on other hand, while widely compatible with many devices, has a 4GB file size limit and is less efficient for larger drives.
Conclusion
Learning how to format USB to FAT32 on Mac is viable using Disk Utility or Terminal commands. But just keep FAT32’s limitations in mind, especially for larger drives. With that being said, if you run into issues or accidentally format your USB without a backup, a tool like 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery can aid you. It can regain files lost due to various data loss scenarios including formatting with a high recovery rate.
