File Too Large – The file is too large for the destination file system

This post will help you if you cannot copy large files over 4GB to USB flash drive or SD card, and you receive a message – File Too Large, The file is too large for the destination file system message when copying a large file.

Recently, while copying a 4.8GB zipped file from my Windows 10 PC to a new 8GB USB drive I received a File Too Large error message. If you receive such a message, even when you know that there is enogh space available for the file, here is what you need to do to successfully copy the file.

The chances are high that the USB drive has been FAT32 formatted. Now this file system has a built-in limitation on the size of the individual file that it may contain. It is 4GB. So although collectively it may have files of even 1 TB, individually it cannot be more than 4GB. So you will have to change the file system to NTFS.

File Too Large for destination file system

Connect the USB and open File Explorer. Now, right-click on the USB Drive letter and select Format. When the dialog box opens up from the drop down menu for the File system, select NTFS instead of FAT32.

Select Quick Format and hit the Start button.

Alternatively, you could open an elevated Command Prompt and execute the following command:

convert X: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity

Where X is the Drive letter. For instance in my case it is G so the command would be:

convert G: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity

Once the process is completed try copying now.

I am sure that you will be able to copy the file.

Related reads:

1. Safely Remove Hardware not working
2. Remount ejected USB Drive in Windows without physically reconnecting it.