Are you facing issues lately when transferring files to the USB drive? Wondering how to fix it? Then this article is for you. This article will discuss ways to fix the error 'file is too large for the destination file system.'
The problem "file too large for the destination file system" could occasionally show up if your USB device is formatted with a FAT32 partition. The 'file is too large for USB' error could be challenging for Windows users to resolve. There are many alternatives, but it's crucial to use them properly. If you attempt to move or copy files of more than 4 GB, this problem will arise. We created content that could relieve you solve this issue, and offer you remedies. We'll give you a thorough explanation of the case.
If you encounter the "The file is too large for the destination file system" issue with Windows 10/8/7, you might question why you can't copy a file to your USB flash drive despite adequate free space.
This error occurs due to the following reasons:
Now let us understand some of the file systems on the USB drive and the max file size limit it can store.
File Systems | Maximum File Size | Windows OS | macOS | Linux OS |
exFAT | 128 PB | It is compatible | It is compatible | It is compatible |
FAT32 | 4 GB | It is compatible | It is compatible | It is compatible |
NTFS | 8 PB | It is compatible | Read-only | It is not compatible unless you install a driver |
HFS+ | 8 EB | It is compatible | It is compatible with macOS version 10.6.5 | It is compatible |
ext4 | 16 TB | It is not compatible | It is compatible | It is not compatible |
Here are a few ways to fix an error 'Windows says the file is too large for USB.'
This is the most inventive and practical solution to the "file too large for the destination file system on pendrive" issue. The size of the large files will be decreased through compression and splitting. A USB drive can have a compressed file uploaded to it without having to be formatted or have its file system altered.
Another method to avoid the issue if the file is too large for the target file system is to format the drive with FAT32 to NTFS in Windows Explorer.
Reformatting using the same method in Disk Management is an excellent alternative if you keep receiving the error "This file is too large for the destination file system."
If none of the aforementioned approaches work, it's conceivable that the USB device itself has file size restrictions. Try utilising a different USB drive in this situation that supports higher file sizes. greater file sizes are typically supported by USB devices with greater capacities as well.
Instead of Disk Management, you can perform the same procedure described using Command Prompt.
Formatting might result in data loss. Before formatting the drive, you must back up or recover your data using the USB recovery tool.
Remo Recover is a powerful tool built with a deep scan algorithm that can recover data even from complex data loss scenarios. This tool is well known globally, with more than 10 million downloads.
Source: Trustpilot
Conclusion:
Although most flash drives look and work similarly, each USB has an internal file system that could affect how you can store data. These file systems give a set of "rules" that all the data recorded on your device must abide by. These rules could include restrictions on file types, size, and security. Although there are alternative file systems, FAT32 is the one that is most typically utilized on tiny detachable storage devices like USBs. FAT32 is great for portable storage devices like flash drives and similar gadgets, but it still has certain restrictions, including a 4GB file size limit.
See if the error is gone now after formatting the drive. If the problem persists, see if there is enough space on your drive.
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Individual files larger than 4 GB cannot be stored by the FAT32 file system. However, they can be by the NTFS file system. The NTFS file system is more efficient at managing disk space and has higher disk utilization than FAT32. NTFS read and write speeds are also quicker than FAT32's.
The maximum file size for any USB depends on the file system it is formatted with. Every file system allows USB with unique file sizes and security.
You can split the large file using the WinRAR/7-Zip compressions tool to transfer the large files safely.