FAT File System Formats (FAT12, FAT16, FAT32) | Comprehensive Guide for 2024

FAT32 is one of the primary file systems used in storage devices. But what exactly is it?

File systems store information and arrange various types of data. Their main function is to create an index on physical storage to hold this data. One such file system is Fat32, which has been in use since 1996.

Okay, so what exactly is a FAT file system, and what are the differences between Fat32 and other FAT file systems? To grasp this, we need to delve into how the file system operates. Let's dive right in.

What Is FAT File System?

The Fat file system, an abbreviation of File Allocation Table, is a file system developed by Microsoft and the Caldera development group for use on Windows computers. When Microsoft introduced Fat32 as part of Windows 95 OSR2, it quickly became one of the primary MBR/EBR file systems.

The file system employs a specific indexing mechanism that identifies streams of data and information stored on a physical device. When formatting, the user can select FAT as the primary file system. Consequently, it maintains a related list of passes for each individual data cluster.

Though primarily a computer/PC partition, it has been used as the default file system format on various mobile phone devices in recent years. Additionally, being an 8-bit file system, the cluster numbers increase with the disk drive capacity.

Therefore, the introduction of various file systems, such as:

• FAT12 - 12 bit
• FAT16 - 16 bit
• FAT32 - 32 bit
• FAT12 - 12 bit
• FAT16 - 16 bit
• FAT32 - 32 bit

It's also worth noting that the FAT file system has been in use since 1977, but FAT32 was introduced in 1996.

FAT (File Allocation Table) File System Structure

The structure of FAT (File Allocation Table) is not difficult to comprehend. Given that it is an older technology, it employs relatively straightforward sectors compared to contemporary leading file systems like NTFS. A FAT file system relies on several sectors, including:

• Boot Sector: This component contains the operating system's boot loader, making it responsible for starting up a computer device and utilizing the MRB or Master Boot Record partition table. It is also referred to as the reserved sector.
• FAT Region: This section identifies the copies of files stored in the File Allocation Table, enabling the system to assign specific clusters to each data stream.
• Data Region: This is where your actual data is stored, such as images, documents, audio files, or other media content. It typically occupies the most clusters and the majority of a FAT partition.
• Root Directory Region: Serving as a directory table, this sector holds information about files and their directories. It is primarily found in FAT16 and FAT12, while FAT32 stores root directories within the data region.

That's usually how the three main FAT file systems are structured, except for the minor difference of FAT32 from the others.

# Do I Need FAT File System?

FAT file systems may be outdated, but that doesn't imply they lack advantages. They offer numerous benefits, especially FAT32. For example, compared to its predecessors, FAT16 and FAT12, FAT32 has significantly more capacity. Some advantages include:

• FAT32 was the first FAT file system to surpass the 1000GB milestone, supporting up to 2TB, whereas FAT16 is limited to a maximum of 2GB.
• FAT32 does not waste disk space with system files, which is why USB drives and hard disks formatted with FAT32 often utilize their full storage capacity, e.g., 500GB out of 500GB.
• FAT32 is compatible with both Windows and Mac devices, facilitating seamless transitions between these platforms.

These are some primary reasons you might need a FAT file system. But, it's suggested that you don't go below FAT32.

What Is the Difference Between FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32?

There are a few key differences between the three primary FAT file systems. First, the differences lie in their names and the supported number of bits, such as:

Here are the translations:
• FAT32 is based on 32-bit.
• FAT16 is based on 16-bit.
• FAT12 is based on 12-bit.

Another significant difference between them is their clusters, for instance:

• FAT32: This file system uses 4 bytes per cluster or has between 65,526 and 268,435,456 clusters.
• FAT16: This one utilizes 2 bytes per cluster, ranging from 4,087 to 65,526 clusters.
• FAT12: This format has fewer than 4,087 clusters.

These are the primary differences between these three FAT file systems.

What is the Difference between NTFS and FAT Files?

NTFS (New Technology File System) and FAT (File Allocation Table) are two vastly different file systems. NTFS made its debut in 1993, nearly 16 years after the initial release of the FAT file system. However, to grasp their distinctions, consider these key points:

How to Create a FAT File System Partition?

There are plenty of ways you can create a FAT file system partition. Some of them include:

• Formatting from This PC or My Computer
• Formatting from Disk Management
• Picking Partition Type during Windows Installation
• Formatting in Finder on a Mac

Format USB or External Hard Drive using Partition Master Tool

We discussed a few practical methods for creating FAT32 partitions. However, the most efficient approach is by using a third-party software that enables access to your partition across various operating systems.

One such program is tools Partition Master. This excellent partition tool enables you to format a USB or external hard drive for your PC.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition on your external hard drive/USB/SD card which you want to format and choose the "Format" option.

Step 2. Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected partition, and then click "OK".

Step 3. In the Warning window, click Yes to continue.

Format External Hard Drive/USB/SD Card - 3

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the upper-left corner to review the changes, then click "Apply" to begin formatting your external hard drive, USB, or SD card.

Why choose this tool over others? Here are a few reasons:

• Combine two SSD drives into one
• Create, format, or delete partitions with ease
• Safely resize or remove partitions without data loss

In addition, it allows you to effectively change your partition's file system to FAT32.

Conclusion

We hope this article was helpful in addressing your questions about FAT and its associated systems. Despite being in use for over four decades, it remains one of the most widely employed file systems and continues to have valid reasons for its usage.