There are several methods of transferring files to or from a removable disk.
- Copy and Paste
- Drag and Drop
- Send To
- Copy and Paste using keyboard shortcuts
Additional Reference: Transferring large files(4GB or larger)
METHOD 1 - Copy and Paste (top)
Windows 7 or Vista
Windows XP
Mac OS X
Windows 10
- Copy and Paste
- Drag and Drop
- Send To
- Copy and Paste using keyboard shortcuts
Additional Reference: Transferring large files(4GB or larger)
METHOD 1 - Copy and Paste (top)
Windows 7 or Vista
Windows XP
Mac OS X
Windows 10
A Western Digital external hard drive can be used on both Windows and macOS. And partition size limitations using the FAT32 file system (Windows and Mac). Windows 10 and earlier, Click Here for Instructions. All Intel-based macOS computers and drives larger than 2 Terabytes should use the GUID Partition Map. The first solution to transfer large files between Macs and PCs is to use a memory card or external drive formatted into exFAT, a file system created by Microsoft that is compatible on both Macs (Snow Leopard 10.6.5 and above) and PCs (Windows XP SP2 and above).
Using Windows 7 or Vista
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
NOTE: A message indicating that a new device has been detected at the lower right hand of your monitor. It MAY take a few seconds to be detected.
2. If the USB flash drive or external drive folder does NOT open automatically, follow these steps:
a. Click Start > Computer.
b. Double-click on the Removable Disk associated with the USB flash drive.
3. Navigate to the folders in your computer containing files you want to transfer.
4. Right-click on the file you want to copy, then select Copy.
4. Right-click on the file you want to copy, then select Copy.
5. Return to the Removable Disk window, right-click within the window, then select Paste.
Using Windows XP
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
NOTE: A message indicating that a new device has been detected at the lower right hand of your monitor. It MAY take a few seconds to be detected.
2. If the USB flash drive or external drive folder does NOT open automatically, follow these steps:
a. Click Start > My Computer.
b. Double-click on the Removable Disk associated with the USB flash drive.
3. Navigate to the folders in your computer containing files you want to transfer.
4. Right-click on the file you want to copy, then select Copy.
5. Return to the Removable Disk window, right-click within the window, then select Paste.
Using Windows XP
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
NOTE: A message indicating that a new device has been detected at the lower right hand of your monitor. It MAY take a few seconds to be detected.
2. If the USB flash drive or external drive folder does NOT open automatically, follow these steps:
a. Click Start > My Computer.
b. Double-click on the Removable Disk associated with the USB flash drive.
3. Navigate to the folders in your computer containing files you want to transfer.
4. Right-click on the file you want to copy, then select Copy.
5. Return to the Removable Disk window, right-click within the window, then select Paste.
Using Windows 10:
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port
Note: You will see 'USB Drive' in windows explorer
2. Navigate to the files on your computer that you want to transfer to the USB drive
3. Right click on file
4. Go to the mounted USB drive, right click and select 'paste'
3. Right click on file
4. Go to the mounted USB drive, right click and select 'paste'
Using Mac OS X
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
NOTE: A No Name or Untitled disk icon will appears on your desktop.
2. Double-click your Macintosh HD (Hard Drive) icon to open it.
3. In finder select the files you wish to transfer
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
NOTE: A No Name or Untitled disk icon will appears on your desktop.
2. Double-click your Macintosh HD (Hard Drive) icon to open it.
3. In finder select the files you wish to transfer
4. Press-and-hold the Command key and press C.
5. Double-click your Removable Disk icon to open it.
6. Press-and-hold the Command key and press V.
5. Double-click your Removable Disk icon to open it.
6. Press-and-hold the Command key and press V.
METHOD 2 - Drag and Drop (top)
Windows 7 or Vista
Windows XP
Mac OS X
Windows 10
Using Windows 7 or Vista
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
2. Allow the computer to recognize the drive, then click Start > Computer.
3. Double-click on the Removable Disk associated with the USB flash drive.
4. Navigate to the folders in your computer containing files you want to transfer.
5. Click and drag the files you want to the Removable Disk.
6. Release the mouse.
Using Windows XP
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
2. Allow the computer to recognize the drive, then click Start > My Computer.
3. Double-click on the Removable Disk associated with the USB flash drive.
4. Navigate to the folders in your computer containing files you want to transfer.
5. Click and drag the files you want moved over to the Removable Disk.
6. Release the mouse.
Windows 7 or Vista
Windows XP
Mac OS X
Windows 10
Using Windows 7 or Vista
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
2. Allow the computer to recognize the drive, then click Start > Computer.
3. Double-click on the Removable Disk associated with the USB flash drive.
4. Navigate to the folders in your computer containing files you want to transfer.
5. Click and drag the files you want to the Removable Disk.
6. Release the mouse.
Using Windows XP
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
2. Allow the computer to recognize the drive, then click Start > My Computer.
3. Double-click on the Removable Disk associated with the USB flash drive.
4. Navigate to the folders in your computer containing files you want to transfer.
5. Click and drag the files you want moved over to the Removable Disk.
6. Release the mouse.
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port
Note: You will see 'USB Drive' in windows explorer
2. Navigate to the files on your computer that you want to transfer to the USB drive
3. Select the file you want to transfer
4. Click and hold file to drag it to the USB drive.
Using Mac OS X
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
NOTE: A No Name or Untitled disk icon will appears on your desktop.
2. Double-click your Macintosh HD (Hard Drive) icon to open it.
3. Select the file you want to transfer
4. Click and hold file to drag it to the USB drive.
Using Mac OS X
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
NOTE: A No Name or Untitled disk icon will appears on your desktop.
2. Double-click your Macintosh HD (Hard Drive) icon to open it.
3. Select files you want to drag over
4. Drag files from your Macintosh HD to the Removable Disk.
METHOD 3 - Send To (Windows) (top)
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
2. Navigate to the folders in your computer containing files you want to transfer.
3. Right-click on the file you want to transfer to your removable disk.
4. Click Send To and select the Removable Disk associated with the USB flash drive.
METHOD 4 - Copy and Paste using keyboard shortcuts (Windows) (top)
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
2. Click on your desired file to select it.
NOTE: You can select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl while left click on the desired files. Or you can select all files by holding down Ctrl and press A.
3. On your keyboard, hold down the Ctrl key and press C.
4. Navigate to the desired folder destination.
5. Hold down the Ctrl key and press V.
4. Drag files from your Macintosh HD to the Removable Disk.
METHOD 3 - Send To (Windows) (top)
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
2. Navigate to the folders in your computer containing files you want to transfer.
3. Right-click on the file you want to transfer to your removable disk.
4. Click Send To and select the Removable Disk associated with the USB flash drive.
METHOD 4 - Copy and Paste using keyboard shortcuts (Windows) (top)
1. Plug the USB flash drive directly into an available USB port.
2. Click on your desired file to select it.
NOTE: You can select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl while left click on the desired files. Or you can select all files by holding down Ctrl and press A.
3. On your keyboard, hold down the Ctrl key and press C.
4. Navigate to the desired folder destination.
5. Hold down the Ctrl key and press V.
Reason for the 'file is too large for the destination file system' error
'Yesterday, when I tried to copy some large files including Windows 10 ISO files, the backup images of my operating system, movies, personal video files, and other data to my 32 GB external hard drive, I received the error message saying 'The file is too large for the destination file system.' I don't know why it happened as there was enough free space on the disk. Can anyone help?'
When facing the 'The file is too large for the destination file system' issue in Windows 10/8/7 or any other previous version, you might not figure out that why you would not be able to copy the file to your external hard drive, USB drive or some other storage devices when there is sufficient free space.
The problem occurs because one of the files you want to transfer is larger than 4 GB and your external hard drive or USB flash drive is using the FAT32 file system, of which the maximum file size is 4GB. There is a built-in limitation in the FAT32 file system: Although the total size of the files you can store on a FAT32 drive could be up to 2TB, you cannot save an individual file that exceeds 4GB on it.
Workable solutions
After figuring out the reason for 'The file is too large for the destination file system' issue, you can fix it in Windows 10/8/7 or any other previous Windows version with ease by converting the file system to NTFS. Here we will introduce you with two easy solutions. We will show you how to use these two solutions to fix 'The file is too large for the destination file system' error with simple steps.
Solution 1: Formatting FAT32 to NTFS for free with Windows built-in feature
Formatting is the easiest way for you to convert FAT32 to NTFS. But it will erase all the existing data on the drive. So, it is recommended only when there are no files on your external hard drive or USB flash drive. If there are files existing on your storage device, you can back them up by manually copying or using free backup software in advance. Here's how to do it for free with Windows built-in format feature.
Step 1: Right-click on the USB drive or external hard drive.
Step 2: Click 'Format'.
Step 3: Change the type to NTFS.
Done!! Now you have fixed the issue 'The file is too large for the destination file system' and can successfully copy a file larger than 4GB to the external USB drive or hard drive.
Solution 2: Converting FAT32 to NTFS without data loss using third-party software
And if there are important data on your external hard drive or USB drive, you might need a better solution. Converting FAT32 to NTFS without data loss using the partition tool - EaseUS Partition Master, popular third-party partition software is an optimal choice. It allows you to fix 'The file is too large for the destination file system' issue without formatting. The program can work in Windows 10/8/7 or any other previous versions. Here is the guide.
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Step 1: Install and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your computer.
Step 2: Select a FAT32 partition, right-click on it and select 'Convert to NTFS'. If you need to convert a storage device such as SD card or USB flash drive to NTFS, insert it into your PC first and repeat the previous operation.
Step 3: Click 'OK' on the pop-up dialog box to continue.
Step 4: Go to the upper left corner, click the 'Execute 1 Operation' button and you will see the operation details. Click 'Apply' and 'Finish' when the process completes.
After finishing all the steps, you can convert your USB flash drive, SD card, or external hard drive from FAT32 to NTFS and copy files larger than 4GB successfully.
The Bottom Line
Once you understand 'the file is too large for the destination file system' is caused by the FAT32 file system, the solution is specific: change the file system. If you use the Windows built-in features or utilities to convert the file system, you need to back up the files on the storage device first since the operations will erase the files on your device. Thus, if you want to convert FAT32 to another file system directly without data loss, using EaseUS Partition Master is more advisable for you.