FAT32: What is it?

FAT32 is a file system developed by Microsoft. It is used, for example, on older Windows systems, USB sticks and alternative operating systems.

The properties of FAT32

FAT32 stands for “File Allocation Table 32-bit” and is a file system that was introduced by Microsoft in the 1990s.

• The system was developed to overcome the capacity limits of its predecessor FAT16 and enabled larger storage sizes and better compatibility with various operating systems.

• At its core, FAT32 is a system for organizing and managing data on storage media such as hard drives, USB sticks or SD cards. When you save a file on a FAT32-formatted medium, the file system helps to manage the location and structure of this file so that it can be easily retrieved.

• The special thing about FAT32 is its broad compatibility. It is supported by almost all common operating systems such as Windows, Linux and macOS and is also popular with older devices and hardware. The file system makes it easy to transfer files and data between different platforms.

The advantages and disadvantages of FAT32

FAT32 is still a proven and versatile file system that can be used on many devices and platforms thanks to its broad compatibility. However, the limitations in terms of file sizes and security cannot be overlooked.

• Broad compatibility: FAT32 can be used almost universally. Whether on Windows, Mac, Linux or even game consoles and smart TVs – FAT32 is supported by almost every device.

• Low system requirements: Since FAT32 has been in use since the 1990s, it is particularly efficient and resource-friendly. Even older computers and devices can read and write data carriers formatted on FAT32 without any problems.

• Simple structure: FAT32 has a simple structure, which facilitates troubleshooting and data recovery in the event of problems.

• File size limitation: One of the biggest disadvantages of FAT32 is the file size limitation to a maximum of 4 GB. This makes it impractical for storing large files, such as high-resolution videos or large data packages.

• Partitioning limit: FAT32 only supports partitions up to 8 TB in size. This may seem sufficient, but modern hard disks can already have much larger capacities today.

• Security aspects: FAT32 does not offer any integrated security features such as file encryption or rights management, which makes it less secure compared to more modern file systems such as NTFS or exFAT.