Here is how to fix it
OK, so you've got a flash drive that you want to copy a huge file to, to move it to another computer. You've learned that in order to be able to copy files larger than 4GB to a drive, it must be formatted with the NTFS file system. So you open the My Computer folder, right-click on the flash drive icon, select Format, and... bummer, there is no NTFS option:
There is no NTFS format option. Why?...
This may happen if you have Windows XP and the flash drive is treated by Windows as a removable drive:
Windows XP may not offer the NTFS format option for the removable drives.
Encrypt and password-protect external drives with USBCrypt encryption software for Windows 10,8,7, and XP.
User rating: 4.7/5
Purchase
or
download a free trial.
Read more...
Wait a minute, we hear you saying, isn't any drive I attach via the USB port removable? Well, yes, physically any such drive is removable, but some of them are treated as the local drives, even though they can be removed physically. For the local drives Windows offers the NTFS format option right from the start.
Anyway, so you've got a removable removable drive and there is not NTFS option, what to do? Turns out the solution is to change the hardware policy for the drive as follows:
In the My Computer folder, right-click on the removable drive in question, select Properties from the shortcut menu, and select the Hardware tab. There, select the drive in the list and press the Properties button:
Getting to the hardware properties of the removable drive
On the next screen, select the Policies tab, and there, select the Optimize for performance option:
Changing the policy option for the removable drive
Now press OK a few times to close the windows, and try to format the drive again, the NTFS option should now appear in the list:
Windows now offers the NTFS format option
You can format the drive with the NTFS system and use it to transfer large files, just remember to always use the Safely remove hardware icon in the taskbar notification area every time before physically unplugging the drive from the computer:
Always remove the drive safely
Just click the icon and select the drive you want to remove from the list. Only when it reports that it's safe to remove the drive, unplug it. If you unplug the drive without using the Safely remove hardware icon, there is a great risk of corrupting the data on the removable disk, so better not skip this step.
Happy file managing!
If you want to link to this article, you can use this HTML code: <a href="http://www.winability.com/no-ntfs-format-option-for-removable-drive/">How to make Windows offer the NTFS format option for the removable drives</a>
Read more
- Solved: How to add Group Policy and Local Security Policy to Windows 10 Home
- File too large for USB drive? Here is how to fix it.
- Forget your WI-FI password? Find it in Windows 10 settings
- What is FAT32 maximum file size limit?
- How to create a secret folder with Folder Guard for Windows 10
- How to easily password-protect Windows 10 Linux folders with Folder Guard
- How to reset the root password after upgrading MariaDB
- How to upgrade MySQL or MariaDB properly
- Force DISKPART to delete EFI system partition on Windows 10
- How to make Windows 10 recognize a cloned hard drive again
- How to stop Windows 10 from using thumbnail preview icons for folders
- How to hide pictures from the Photos app in Windows 10
- How to save Windows Spotlight photos to your computer
- How to move the OneDrive folder to an encrypted drive
- Windows 10 fails to upgrade? Here is how to fix it.
- How to stop Microsoft Edge from hijacking PDF files
- Preventing installations of specific programs with Folder Guard
- Folder Guard licensing explained
- Speed up the updates of the network folders
- Make your Windows laptop work as a Wi-Fi access point
- How to stop automatic updates on Windows 10
- Windows cannot connect to the printer. Access is denied.
- Migrating encrypted data from TrueCrypt to USBCrypt
- Enhancing a photo CD collection with PhotoLauncher
- “The Microsoft account service is unavailable right now. Try again later.”
- Using DiffMerge as the external tool of AB Commander to compare plain text files
- How to erase the icon cache and/or thumbnail cache in Windows 10
- Transferring images between your PC and an Android device: Part 2
- Transferring images between your PC and an Android device: Part 1
- Case study: Using SoftDetective to suppress Corel Guide sign-in prompt
- Using junction points to change the iTunes backup folder location
- How to tell if my Windows is 32- or 64-bit?
- How do I stop Windows from rearranging my desktop icons?
- Organize your photo library with the Rename tool of AB Commander
- Windows does not offer the NTFS format option? Here is how to bring it back.
- Encrypt Firefox profile, bookmarks, and cookies with USBCrypt
- Restarting Windows 10 and Windows 8 in the safe mode
- Integrating AB Commander with Universal Viewer
- How to delete a protected EFI system partition with Windows 10, 8, or 7
- Using Folder Guard to protect from the social engineering attacks
- How to erase Windows login password if you forget it
- How to unhide a folder hidden with Folder Guard
- How to repair Windows desktop icons with AB Commander
- Slow network in Windows 7 Virtual PC? Speed it up!
- How to show drive letters first in AB Commander and Windows Explorer
- What is my IP address?
- Why can’t I copy large files over 4GB to my USB flash drive or SD card?
- Test the strength of your password with USBCrypt
- How to set up an external text editor for AB Commander
- How to restrict Internet Explorer from downloading programs from the Internet
- Personal vs business license for USBCrypt
- Use Folder Guard to restrict access to Control Panel
- Compare MySecretFolder and Folder Guard
- Hide folders and make files invisible with Folder Guard
- WINEXIT vs ActiveExit: automatically log off users from Windows 10
- Password protect folders, lock files and folders with passwords
- How to restrict access and lock external drives with Folder Guard
- How to password-protect Dropbox folder with USBCrypt
- How to set up Folder Guard to stop downloading from the Internet
- Is [Wipe the content] the same as [Secure Delete]?
- How to encrypt and protect the system C: drive with USBCrypt
- Make it easier to return your lost encrypted drive
- USBCrypt for users of Microsoft® Office
- How to start programs elevated from a batch file
- How to make elevated programs recognize network drives
- How to disable hibernation with AB Commander
- Using names and labels to organize USBCrypt drives
- How to password-protect a USB flash drive
- Always have a backup of your important files
Thank you so much for this information!
I’ve been trying to copy a 4.36 Gb file to my usb for an hour or so!
Same here. Thanks a lot!
Great thanks for the help
First of all sorry for my bad english.THANKS!i’ve bought a 16GB USB Stick and i wasn’t able to move files larger than 4 GB.Now i can!THANKS one more time
Hey Thanks alot.. this will solve my headache thanks again.. = )
Tried it, but wasn’t able to format in NTFS. Removed the drive, plugged it into another port and gave the flash drive a name. Then it gave the NTFS option. Thanks a lot!
Thanks a lot….this worked smoothly as suggested. Saved a lot of time :)
Great, many thanks for the tip. I was about to throw my PC from the window before I got to this page…
Edwin
Great advice! Thank you!
piece of cake.thank you.
This worked. Thanks a bunch
Thanks buddy…. ur like a savior..
Awesome advice. Thanks!!!
This was a life saver. Thanks very much!
You’re a star, I’ve been having a nightmare returning sticks back because this, so thanks very much, more than appreciated. Dave B
Thanks a lot. It helped.
I don’t have the Policies choice on the window you describe.
Thankyou very much for taking the time out to explain this, you’ve hopefully got me out of a huge hole.
Thank you so much! I was almost driving crazy why NTFS format option is not available, saved me a lot of time.
Regards
I tried this and still no NTFS formatting available.
Gr8….. Post