USB Storage Simulator

Why Your 32 GB Pen Drive Shows Less Storage

It’s a common situation—you buy a brand new 32 GB pen drive, plug it into your computer, and boom... it shows only around 29.5 GB. You start wondering, “Where did the rest of the storage go?”

Well, don’t worry. This isn’t a mistake or a manufacturing fault. It all comes down to how data storage is measured and how computers interpret it. Let’s break it down in the simplest way possible.

What manufacturers use: Decimal (Base 10)

Companies that make pen drives and hard drives use the decimal system to define storage. In this system:

• 1 KB = 1,000 Bytes
• 1 MB = 1,000 KB
• 1 GB = 1,000 MB

So a 32 GB pen drive actually means it has 32,000,000,000 bytes of space.

What computers use: Binary (Base 2)

Computers don’t think in decimal. They use the binary system, where:

• 1 KB = 1,024 Bytes
• 1 MB = 1,024 KB
• 1 GB = 1,024 MB

So 1 GB in binary = 1,073,741,824 bytes. Now, if we divide the 32,000,000,000 bytes by the binary GB value: 32,000,000,000 ÷ 1,073,741,824 = approx. 29.8 GB

That’s the first reason your pen drive shows less space—the system reads it in binary, not decimal.

File System Formatting Takes Up Space Too

The second reason for reduced storage is the file system used to format the pen drive. Common file systems include FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS. This is like a management system that helps your device understand how to store and read your files.

Each file system uses a small amount of space to store system files, metadata, file allocation tables, and other information needed to manage your data. This further reduces the usable storage space.

1. FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32)

Oldest and most compatible file system.

• Pros: Works with almost all operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, game consoles, etc.). Good for smaller drives (under 32 GB).
• Cons: Max file size is 4 GB. Max partition size is 32 GB in Windows. Less secure and less efficient with large files.
• Best for: USB drives used on many types of devices, especially older systems.

2. exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)

Designed to replace FAT32 for flash storage.

• Pros: Supports files larger than 4 GB. Compatible with Windows and macOS. More efficient than FAT32.
• Cons: Not supported on very old devices. Lacks advanced features like file permissions.
• Best for: Modern USB drives and SD cards that need to transfer large files (like movies or software installers).

3. NTFS (New Technology File System)

Windows' default file system for internal drives.

• Pros: No realistic file size limit. Supports file permissions, encryption, and compression. Better performance on large storage devices.
• Cons: Read-only on macOS by default. Not supported by some smart TVs, gaming consoles, or cameras.
• Best for: Internal hard drives or external drives used mostly with Windows systems.

Combined Effect

When you put both reasons together (Base 10 vs Base 2 conversion and file system overhead), you end up with less usable space than advertised.

Advertised Size	Usable Size (Approx.)
8 GB	Around 7.4 GB
16 GB	Around 14.8 GB
32 GB	Around 29.5 GB
64 GB	Around 59.6 GB
128 GB	Around 119 GB

Wrapping It Up

You’re not losing data, and your pen drive isn’t faulty. It’s just that:

• Manufacturers measure storage in decimal, where 1 GB = 1,000 MB
• Computers measure storage in binary, where 1 GB = 1,024 MB
• File systems also use some space to help manage your files

When all of this is combined, you get slightly less space than expected—but everything is working exactly as it should.

Feature Comparison

Feature	FAT32	exFAT	NTFS
Max File Size	4 GB	16 EB (Exabytes)	16 TB (on Windows)
Max Partition Size	32 GB (Windows limit)	128 PB (Petabytes)	256 TB (Theoretical limit)
OS Compatibility	Universal (Old & New)	Modern OS (Windows/macOS/Linux)	Windows (Full), macOS (Read)
Best Use Case	Small USBs, older systems	Modern USBs, large file transfer	Windows-only external/internal drives
Supports Permissions	No	No	Yes
Supports Encryption	No	No	Yes
Speed & Efficiency	Slower, outdated	Faster than FAT32	Fastest, especially on Windows
File Recovery & Journaling	No	No	Yes