USB drive not showing full capacity can be a common frustration when you plug a storage device into your Windows computer and notice missing space.
This issue may arise due to several reasons, such as formatting changes or physical damage to the drive. It is important to understand the underlying causes to effectively address and resolve the problem.
This guide will explore different methods to troubleshoot and restore your USB drive to its full potential using tools like Command Prompt and Disk Management, ensuring you maximize the available storage space on your device.
Causes of USB Drive Not Showing Full Capacity
When your USB drive, SD card, or pen drive isn’t displaying its full capacity in Windows, there are several potential causes to consider:
Issues with Multiple Partitions
Usually, USB devices only have one partition that Windows can identify. If a USB drive has multiple partitions, Windows will only display the first one in File Explorer.
This results in only the first partition’s capacity being accessible and visible, ignoring any additional partitions.
Bootable USB Drives and Lost Capacity
When a USB drive is formatted to be a bootable disk for storing a portable operating system, it can alter the partition structure. This change often leads to a reduction in the visible storage space available on the drive.
Unallocated Disk Space
If there is unallocated space on the drive that is, space not assigned to any partition it remains unusable. You can address this by extending an existing partition to include the unallocated space, thereby increasing the usable capacity.
Card Reader Compatibility Problems
Compatibility issues between the card reader and the memory card can also cause capacity discrepancies. For instance, if a card reader supports only up to 32GB but you use a 64GB card, Windows might only recognize and show the first 32GB.
Physical Damage to the Drive
Physical damage to a storage device can alter its reported capacity. If the drive is damaged, it may display an incorrect capacity in Disk Management or even show 0 bytes in its properties.
Unfortunately, physical damages typically cannot be rectified with standard troubleshooting and may require professional repair or replacement.
How to Fix USB Drive Not Showing Full Capacity?
Following are different ways to fix USB drive Not Showing Full Capacity:
Method 1: Restore USB Drive Capacity with Command Prompt
If your USB drive isn’t showing its full capacity, you can fix it using the Command Prompt in Windows. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
Step 1. Open Command Prompt: Search for “CMD” in the search bar on your Taskbar, or go to “Start” and find the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option. This method works for Windows versions 7, 8, and 10.
Step 2. Access Disk Management: To access disk management, type “diskpart” into the Command Prompt window and hit Enter. Then type “list disk” and press Enter again. This command will display all the disks connected to your computer, including your USB drive.
Step 3. Select Your USB Drive: Locate and record the number of your USB drive in the list. To pick your USB drive, type “select disk #” and hit Enter. Replace “#” with the drive’s actual number.
Step 4. Make the disk clean: To remove all data from the disk, type “clean” and hit Enter. This step prepares the drive for a fresh setup.
Step 5. Create a New Partition: After cleaning the disk, type “create partition primary” and hit Enter. This command creates a new primary partition on your USB drive.
Step 6. Format the Partition: Finally, type “format fs=fat32 quick” and press Enter to format the new partition with the FAT32 file system quickly.
Method 2: Format USB Drive with Disk Management
Disk Management is a tool built into Windows that can help you format your USB drive back to its original state, restoring it to full capacity. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Access Disk Management: Type “Disk Management” or “diskmgmt.msc” into the search box at the bottom of your Windows home screen, then click the top result.
Step 2. Prepare for Formatting: In the Disk Management window, find the USB drive you want to format. From the context menu, choose “Format” after performing a right-click on it.
Step 3. Set Format Options: In the pop-up window, set the file system to either FAT32 or exFAT. To enable the format to correct any damaged sectors, be careful to uncheck the “Quick Format” option.
Step 4: Click “OK” to start the formatting process.
Allow the formatting to complete, which might take some time depending on the USB drive’s size. Once done, your USB drive will be in its original state, and its full capacity restored. Remember, formatting will erase all data on the drive, so ensure you have backups if needed.
Conclusion
USB drives not showing full capacity can result from several issues, including bootable drive settings, multiple partitions, unallocated space, compatibility problems, or physical damage.
Utilizing Windows tools like Command Prompt and Disk Management can effectively restore your USB drive to its original state and full capacity.
It’s crucial to follow these methods carefully to avoid data loss, and always ensure you have backups of important files before proceeding with formatting procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Flash Drive not Reading at Full Capacity?
One common reason a USB drive might not display its full capacity is due to differences in how they are made.
How Can I Restore my USB Drive to Show its Full Capacity?
You can restore full capacity by using Windows Disk Management to format the drive or using Command Prompt to clean and create a new primary partition and then format it.
What Does it Mean to Format a USB Drive?
Formatting a USB drive involves erasing all data on the drive and setting up a file system (like FAT32 or exFAT) so that it can store data again, which also helps recover its full capacity.
Can Physical Damage Affect my USB Drive’s Capacity?
Yes, physical damage can change how much capacity the drive reports and may also result in the drive showing 0 bytes. Physical damage frequently has to be replaced or repaired by professionals.
Is it Possible to Recover Data from a USB Drive after Formatting?
Data recovery is possible after formatting, but it’s more successful if no new data has been written to the drive post-formatting. Using data recovery software or speaking with a professional service is advised.
