Format USB as FAT32 on Mac | Generated by AI
Question: How to format a USB drive (U-disk) as FAT32 on macOS when only APFS and exFAT are shown in Disk Utility?
Answer:
macOS Disk Utility no longer shows FAT32 (MS-DOS FAT) as a direct option in the modern macOS versions (especially Ventura and later), but you can still easily format a USB drive as FAT32 using one of these reliable methods:
Method 1 – Recommended (Easiest & Safest) – Use Disk Utility with MS-DOS (FAT)
- Plug in your USB drive
- Open Disk Utility (Applications → Utilities → Disk Utility)
- In the left sidebar, select your USB drive (click the top-level device, not the indented volume)
- Click Erase at the top
- Set the following options:
- Name: whatever you want
- Format: Choose MS-DOS (FAT)
→ This is the real name for FAT32 on macOS - Scheme: Master Boot Record (MBR) ← very important for maximum compatibility!
- Click Erase
→ Done! Your USB is now formatted FAT32 with excellent cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux, TVs, cameras, car stereos, etc.).
Method 2 – Terminal (when MS-DOS (FAT) is still not showing or you want more control)
# 1. Find your USB drive identifier
diskutil list
# Look for your USB drive (example: /dev/disk3 or /dev/disk4)
# Be VERY careful — wrong disk = data loss on your main drive!
# 2. Unmount the disk (replace disk3 with your actual identifier)
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk3
# 3. Format as FAT32 (4096 byte cluster size is default and fine)
sudo diskutil eraseDisk FAT32 MYUSB MBRFormat /dev/disk3
Replace:
MYUSB→ your desired volume name (no spaces, max 11 characters)/dev/disk3→ your actual USB disk identifier
Quick Comparison Table – What to choose in 2025/2026
| Format | Max File Size | Max Volume Size | macOS Write | Windows Write | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAT32 | 4 GB | 2 TB (practical) | Yes | Yes | USB sticks for TVs/cameras/cars |
| exFAT | Very large | Very large | Yes | Yes | Large files (>4GB) cross-platform |
| APFS | Very large | Very large | Yes | No* | Mac-only modern drives |
*Windows can read APFS with third-party software (Paragon, etc.)
Bottom line (2026 recommendation):
- Need max compatibility with old devices → FAT32 (use Method 1)
- Need files > 4 GB → exFAT (native & easiest)
- Only use on Mac → APFS
Most people still choose exFAT today unless they specifically need compatibility with very old devices that refuse exFAT.
Good luck!