According to Microsoft, the executing standard of default cluster size for exFAT is: 7MB – 256MB: 4KB 256MB – 32GB: 32KB 32GB – 256TB: 128KB >256TB: Not supported It will choose a proper cluster size for your USB stick based on the partition size. If you have no idea about your file size and unit, Default is a good choice. Nowadays, large disk capacity makes the difference in cluster size small, so the cluster size shouldn’t be a determining factor in device performance. For example, system files need a small allocation unit size to improve performance.

Please note that some large files use small units, and they are just large. On the contrary, if you have a lot of large files to store, keep the cluster size higher will reduce the number of units and speed up reading and writing. To be specific, if you have lots of small files, it is suggested to keep the cluster size small to avoid space waste. The matter that affects how you choose cluster size is based on your own needs. However, Command Prompt will format a partition without specifying cluster size. When you format a partition in Windows Disk Management or File Explorer, you’ll find there is a drop-down list next to the Cluster size/Allocation unit size option. Format USB exFAT allocation unit size in WindowsĪllocation unit size, also known as cluster size, is the smallest amount of disk space that can be used to hold a file. For instance, PS4 supports exFAT yet PS3 does not. Compared with FAT32, exFAT has less compatibility. There is no doubt that exFAT has its disadvantages as well, which is something you should know before you format USB to exFAT. In other words, you can store the single file larger than 4GB on a partition larger than 2TB with the exFAT file system. In addition, exFAT works well with large-sized partitions up to 8 TB in size. The most outstanding feature of this file system is that it makes up for the limit of FAT32, a maximum file of 4GB in size. It is not a bad choice to format FAT32 with a FAT32 USB formatter.ĮxFAT is a relatively new file system that was first introduced to us in 2006. It is a robust and flexible file system as well.

FAT32 uses space more efficiently through a small cluster size. It has higher compatibility among different operating systems and old devices, such as Linux, PS3, PS4, and XBOX, and so on.

To make your decision more reliable, you’d better have a brief understanding of those file systems.įile Allocation Table 32 (FAT32) is an older file system comparing to Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT). When format a USB flash drive, you may wonder which file system is the most suitable one, exFAT or FAT32? exFAT and FAT32 are the most commonly used file systems on removable storage like SDXC, SDHC, micro SD card, USB flash drive, USB hard drive, Pen drive, Thumb drive, etc.

How to format usb drive on windows 10