What is the maximum file size that can be stored on a USB stick?
USB sticks, also known as flash drives or thumb drives, have become increasingly popular for portable storage. These small devices are capable of storing large amounts of data, ranging from documents and photos to videos and music. However, there is a limit to the amount of data that can be stored on a USB stick. The maximum file size that can be stored on a USB stick depends on several factors, including the file system format and the overall capacity of the device.
Factors influencing maximum file size
The maximum file size that can be stored on a USB stick is influenced by the file system format used on the device. The most common file systems for USB sticks include FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS. Each file system has its own limits when it comes to file sizes and overall capacity.
FAT32
FAT32 is the most widely supported file system for USB sticks. It is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. The maximum file size that can be stored on a USB stick formatted with FAT32 is 4GB. This means that if you have a large file that exceeds 4GB, you will not be able to store it on a USB stick formatted with FAT32.
exFAT
exFAT is a file system that was introduced by Microsoft as an improved version of FAT32. It is designed to overcome the limitations of FAT32, including the maximum file size. USB sticks formatted with exFAT can store files larger than 4GB. The maximum file size for exFAT is a whopping 16 exabytes, which is equivalent to 16 million terabytes. This means that for practical purposes, there is essentially no limit to the file size that can be stored on a USB stick formatted with exFAT.
NTFS
NTFS is another file system that is commonly used for USB sticks, especially on Windows systems. It offers several advantages over FAT32 and exFAT, including improved performance and enhanced security features. The maximum file size that can be stored on a USB stick formatted with NTFS is 16TB. While this is significantly smaller than the maximum file size for exFAT, it is still more than enough for most users’ needs.
