With Windows 11, Microsoft increases the FAT32 file system's capacity from 32GB to 2TB.
A number of noteworthy features in Microsoft's most recent build for the Canary Channel have drawn the interest of both tech enthusiasts and Windows 11 aficionados. The build is packed with fascinating and useful features.
First, for users on the Windows 11 Canary Channel, Microsoft is releasing a new Sandbox Client preview that provides a sandboxed environment for testing and development without endangering the main system.
Additionally, there is the option for automatic HDR setting switching, which drastically cuts down on the time needed to manually enable them.
The news that Microsoft intends to drastically increase the FAT32 file system capacity from 32GB to an astounding 2TB in Windows 11 is, perhaps, even more intriguing.
This change was noticed by tech enthusiast @xenopanther, and it is a huge deal because, let us face it, being able to handle larger partitions without having to jump through hoops is a welcome advance in an era where digital content is king.
One may ask, "Why is this important to me?" Let us say you want to format a sizable USB stick or external hard disk to hold all of your enormous collection of backup files, movies, or pictures.
Unless you choose alternative file systems like NTFS or exFAT, which are useful but do not work as well with older devices, you have been limited to 32GB up until now. Microsoft is basically removing this restriction with this upgrade, allowing larger FAT32 partitions in Windows 11 to provide more universal reading across a wider range of devices.
The worst part is that, as of this build, you can only access the modification through the command line. You did really hear correctly. To take advantage of this new limit, those of us who are not tech-savvy would have to get your hands dirty in some coding. But Microsoft suggests that in the future, they might add similar functionality to the GUI-based Format dialogue box, which would make it much simpler to use for all users.
The same release also includes support for ReFS (Resilient File System) version 3.15, which is a major update. For those who do not know, ReFS is made to resist corruption, handle massive volumes of data efficiently, and optimize data availability. The file system has been gradually assimilating into Windows, and this update represents an advancement in its evolution.
These upgrades are a part of Microsoft's ongoing work to improve Windows 11, strengthening and improving its usability. A far wider audience could benefit from the increase in the FAT32 limit by simplifying data management and storage options, even while the introduction of a new Sandbox Client preview is exciting for developers and tech aficionados. Images courtesy of PhantomofEarth and XenoPanther