The FAT32 partition has a 4GB limit per volume, but it's possible to increase the size of a FAT32 partition without losing data. You can do this by converting the partition to NTFS, which has no size limit, and then extending it. This process is non-destructive, meaning your files and data will remain intact. However, be aware that converting to NTFS will change the file system, so you may need to reinstall your operating system or reconfigure any software that relies on the FAT32 file system.
In Disk Management, the "Extend Volume" option is greyed out for FAT32 partitions because FAT32 has a maximum partition size of 32 GB and a 4 GB file size limit, making it impossible to resize once a partition is formed. Command Prompt also cannot support resizing FAT32 partitions.
You can either convert FAT32 to NTFS and resize the NTFS partition, or use a third-party partition manager like Qiling Disk Master, which can extend or shrink the FAT32 partition without losing data.
To increase the size of a FAT32 partition without losing data, download Qiling Disk Master and follow the specific tutorial provided for the software. This will guide you through the process of resizing the partition while preserving all your data.
Note: If you already have enough unallocated space next to the system partition, you can skip to step 2. This means you have a contiguous block of free space that can be used to create a new partition, which can then be used for the installation of a new operating system.
Step 1. Shrink another partition to create unallocated space.
Step 2. To extend the target partition, right-click on the FAT32 partition, select "Resize/Move", and then drag the partition's end into the unallocated space.
Step 3. Keep all changes by clicking "Proceed" button.