This means that Macs, PCs, Linux machines, and even phones can read FAT files.īecause of FAT’s near universal compatibility, it is the ideal format for file sharing between devices. FAT was introduced way back in 1977 and is compatible with virtually all operating systems.
Why does the “FAT32 not an option” issue occur and how to solve this issue? What Is FAT32?įAT stands for File Allocation Table, and it is a file system commonly used in USB flash drives. Some people may have old devices (such as PSP, XBOX360, some TVs and some XP machines without exFAT patch) that only support FAT32 file system.ĭo you want to format a drive to FAT32? In some cases, the Windows may not offer FAT32 format option and you can’t format to FAT32. It is widely supported by many portable and embedded devices. Released in 1977 by Microsoft, FAT32 is the most common version of the FAT file system and has great compatibility.