Level 1

17 points

Too large for the volume's format?

Just bought a new Western Digital Elements harddrive and started draggin some video files to it when i got this messege:

"The item “My Item” can’t be copied because it is too large for the volume's format

Is there any way i can drag files to it that are bigger than 4GB ?

Posted on Sep 3, 2012 10:01 AM

Top-ranking reply

CORRECT ANSWERS

Level 1

5 points

Posted on Dec 11, 2013 9:15 PM

The drive is most likely formatted as FAT32 system. This is a typical partitioning format that is supported by practically all computers (windows, linux and mac os). FAT32 limits file sizes to 4GB and device sizes to 8TB. For you to be able to store a file greater than 4GB in size, you'd need to reformat the drive to either ExFAT (file size is limited to 16EB, or 16 BILLION TB) or a MacOS partition format (called HFS plus, file size limited to 8EB, or 8 BILLION TB). I'd recommend the MacOS partition format for it's reliability, but only if you're working in a strictly Mac OS environment. HFS plus is NOT supported by Windows. If you need to transfer files between computers of various OSs, I'd recommend ExFAT.

Note: Changing partition formats WILL DELETE ALL DATA ON THE DRIVE, so make sure you back up all the data on the drive before you start.

Back up all your files on the USB drive onto a secure location on your Mac.
Open Disk Utility by searching it in spot light or opening it from /Applications/Utilities
Select your desired drive on the left side.
Go to the "Erase" tab.
Choose your desired partition format from the drop down menu, and name your drive as you please.
Click "erase"
Restore the files back to the drive.

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41 replies

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Mar 2, 2013 3:57 PM in response to dispomaniac

No, if your TV needs FAT then you don't have a choice to make.

FarisNO

Level 1

0 points

Aug 9, 2013 4:57 PM in response to dispomaniac

thanks a lot brother.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Dec 12, 2013 9:23 AM in response to CORRECT ANSWERS

The OP, (the person you replied to) stated in his second post, more than a year ago that the format was Fat32, please read posts prior to posting.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Mar 31, 2014 2:09 AM in response to Behind the Lens

Behind the Lens wrote:

I'm having the same problem

What is the drives format, how large is the file.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Mar 31, 2014 2:25 AM in response to Behind the Lens

4GB is the Fat32 limit, it has always been 4GB.

You will have to reformat the drive.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Apr 11, 2014 1:06 PM in response to Miss Cake

All that matters is the external drive's format, and that is something you did not mention.

How is the drive formatted?

4eyedg

Level 1

8 points

Feb 18, 2015 7:32 PM in response to Klaus1

Klaus1 is right. if you want windows to access the drive and you want to transfer larger files try formatting the disk with the "ExFAT", otherwise use the Mac standard "Mac OS Extended".

Aug 21, 2015 8:50 AM in response to Frederikhs

watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzMztVEbVf4

Dec 18, 2015 2:05 PM in response to Csound1

I think this is gonna work. so far i can copy the large file now to the SD card while its formatted to Exfat

Naqie706

Level 1

4 points

Sep 15, 2017 7:07 AM in response to Lagenomai

You sir, are the best!

Nov 27, 2017 4:51 PM in response to Csound1

Thank YOU! I was having this problem & the Ex-Fat formatting resolved my issue

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Too large for the volume's format?