[Fixed] exFAT Format Option Missing in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Question: Is exFAT no longer an option when formatting in Windows 11?

"I can't format E drive to exFAT in Windows 11 File Explorer and Disk Management because the exFAT option is missing. I've just upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Does this mean that exFAT is no longer supported in Windows 11?”

If you don't see the exFAT format option, the issue lies with the drive itself and not the Windows 11 operating system. In short, it's not that Windows 11 doesn't support the exFAT format; it's a limitation of the exFAT file system itself.

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What is exFAT?

First off, when NTFS is not an option, but you require a larger file size limit than what the standard FAT32 file system (that's 4 GB) allows, you can use exFAT. You see, exFAT is a compromise between NTFS and FAT32.

Second, exFAT has good cross-platform compatibility: both Windows and macOS can read from and write to exFAT partitions.

Third, for SDXC cards with 32 GB or more, exFAT is the default file system adopted by the SD Association.

From the above three points, it's clear that exFAT is a file system widely used for external devices. That's why you cannot format an internal drive to exFAT using the regular method in Windows 11 or Windows 10. If you have a USB flash drive or memory card at hand, try connecting it to your computer and formatting it. You won't be surprised to see the exFAT option among the choices.

How to format a drive as exFAT in Windows 11 or Windows 10

The Windows Command Prompt offers an accessible solution for advanced users to format any drive to exFAT. The command applicable in this scenario is:

• Format the internal hard drive to exFAT
• Receive "Windows was unable to complete the format" error when formatting an external hard drive/USB flash drive/SD card to exFAT in File Explorer

Formatting a disk is the process of erasing all data from a storage device. Before you format a drive, make sure you do not have any important data that needs to be saved, or that you have copied any data you care about!

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Guide 1: Convert exFAT Drive to FAT32 or NTFS Format

Each file system has its pros and cons, and the best choice for formatting a drive depends on what you'll be using it for. If you want to format an exFAT external hard drive or USB flash drive to FAT32 or NTFS, we have an extra simple method for you.

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a third-party partition manager that offers several formatting options for disks, including formatting any exFAT drive to FAT32, NTFS, EXT2/3/4 – the most commonly used file systems on storage drives.

Quickly, easily, and conveniently format an exFAT drive using the Partition Master tool in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7. For instance, the following guide applies to converting exFAT to FAT32:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition which you want to format and choose "Format".

Step 2: Enter a volume label, select the FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 file system, and choose a cluster size if needed, then click on “OK”.

Step 3: You will see a warning; click "Yes" to continue.

Click on the “Do 1 Task” button on the top left to preview the changes, and then click on “Apply” to start formatting the partition to FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4.

The standout feature, though, is the ability to convert from FAT32 to NTFS without deleting or losing any data. Neither Windows File Explorer, Disk Management, nor the Command Prompt can perform such a zero-data-loss conversion on a storage medium.

Guide 2: How to Format a Drive as exFAT in Windows 11 using cmd

Step 1: In Windows 11, search for Command Prompt. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt, type the command format e: /fs:exfat and press Enter. (Replace 'e' with the letter of your drive.)

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Step 3: Type "Y" to continue with the formatting process.

Final ruling.

The exFAT format option missing on Windows is a common issue that most users encounter. The primary reason behind this is that exFAT is a new file system format designed specifically for external storage devices.

When you're planning to format an internal hard drive to exFAT, Windows won't give you that option. The best way around this is to use a reliable disk formatting tool, such as Partition Master, which lets you set any desired file system for your storage device with just a few clicks.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Missing exFAT Option in Windows 11/10/8/7 (UTF-8)

If anyone of you has more questions about this or anything related to exFAT, feel free to ask and you'll find the answers right here.

Certainly! exFAT is an excellent format with great compatibility, working well on both Windows and Mac computers. It offers faster file transfer speeds compared to the older NTFS and FAT32 file system formats. It also has decent support in Linux systems.

2. Which is Better, exFAT or NTFS?

When comparing exFAT vs. NTFS, you might wonder which is better. The answer isn't clear-cut, as it largely depends on where and how you plan to use exFAT and NTFS. Here's our advice and the answers:

• exFAT has better compatibility across operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, compared to NTFS.
• When used on external storage devices, exFAT offers faster read and write speeds than NTFS.
• On internal disk partitions within Windows, NTFS provides faster data transfer speeds, outperforming exFAT.

What are the disadvantages of exFAT?

• exFAT has less compatibility than FAT32.
• exFAT is not a native file system for Windows computers.
• It's only suitable for external storage devices, and neither Windows nor Mac OS support formatting internal disk partitions with exFAT.