Solving the 'File too large' Error When Copying to a 32GB USB Drive

If you're encountering the 'File too large' error while trying to copy an 8GB file to a 32GB USB drive, there are several steps you can take to resolve this issue. Most often, the problem stems from the file system format of the USB drive. Specifically, FAT32, which is a commonly used file system, has a maximum file size limit of 4GB. This means that any file larger than 4GB cannot be stored on the drive, leading to errors when attempting to copy an 8GB file.

Check the File System

One of the first steps to take is to check the file system of your USB drive. You can do this easily on Windows by following these steps:

Open File Explorer. Find your USB drive in the sidebar or in the list of drives. Click on the drive to select it. Right-click on the drive and select 'Properties'. In the properties window, click on the 'Tools' tab and then 'Check now' under the 'Error checking' section.

If your USB drive does indeed use FAT32, you can reformat it to a file system that supports larger files. Common choices include exFAT and NTFS. However, be cautious as reformatting will erase all data on the drive. Therefore, it's crucial to back up any important files before proceeding.

Reformatting the USB Drive

Reformatting on Windows

Right-click on the USB drive in File Explorer. Select 'Format...'. In the format window, choose the file system you want (exFAT or NTFS). Select 'Perform a quick format' unless you need to ensure all data is erased. Click 'Start' to begin the reformatting process.

Reformatting on macOS

Open 'Disk Utility' from your Applications folder. Select your USB drive from the list on the left. Click on the 'Erase' tab and select the file system you want (exFAT or HFS ). Select 'Yes' when asked if you want to format the drive. Click 'Erase' to start the reformatting process.

Once the drive is reformatted with a compatible file system, try copying your 8GB file again.

Alternate Solutions

If you've determined that the problem isn't with the file system but rather that the USB drive itself is faulty, there are a few additional steps you can take. First, verify the authenticity of the USB drive. If you purchased it from a reputable retailer and encountered issues, you might want to return it and get a replacement. Sometimes, drives labeled as 32GB may not actually be 32GB in capacity due to the file system configuration or hardware issues.

Additionally, some USB drives, particularly from brands like SanDisk, may have an additional partition that limits the file sizes you can copy. Using disk management tools, you can check if your drive has such a partition. If it does, you can delete the unnecessary partitions and create a new, larger partition yourself. Here’s how:

Open 'Disk Management' on Windows. Select the first partition on your USB drive and right-click to delete it. Create a new partition that covers the entire space of the drive. Repeat the process for the second partition if it exists.

If you still encounter issues after these steps, the USB drive itself may have hardware problems, and it's advisable to get a new one.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve the 'File too large' error and successfully copy your 8GB file to your 32GB USB drive. If you continue to experience issues, it's likely due to a faulty USB drive that needs to be replaced.