Sometimes a USB Pendrive or SD Card suddenly shows the wrong size — for example:
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32GB drive showing only 2GB
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64GB drive showing 4GB
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128GB or 256GB showing 8GB
This is a very common issue and happens due to:
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Wrong formatting
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Corrupted partitions
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Bootable USB creation (Rufus, CMD, etc.)
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Hidden or multiple partitions
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Virus or file system errors
The good news?
You can restore your pendrive to full original capacity within a few minutes using simple tools already in Windows.
Let’s fix it!
✅ Method 1: Fix Using Diskpart (100% Working & Recommended)
This is the most powerful method and works even when Windows File Explorer cannot format the drive.
⚠️ Warning:
This will permanently erase all data from the pendrive.
📝 Step-by-step Guide:
1️⃣ Open Command Prompt as Administrator
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Press Windows + R
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Type:
cmd -
Right-click Command Prompt → Run as Administrator
2️⃣ Type the Following Commands One-by-One:
Step 1: Open Diskpart
diskpart
Step 2: Show All Disks
list disk
You will see all storage devices connected to your PC.
Step 3: Select Your Pendrive
Example: If your pendrive is Disk 1, then type:
select disk 1
⚠️ Be careful: Selecting the wrong disk can wipe your hard drive.
Step 4: Clean the Pendrive Completely
clean
This deletes all hidden, broken, or bootable partitions.
Step 5: Create a New Primary Partition
create partition primary
Step 6: Format the USB Drive
Fast format:
format fs=fat32 quick
OR for big drives (64GB+):
format fs=ntfs quick
Step 7: Assign a Drive Letter
assign
Step 8: Exit Diskpart
exit
Your pendrive is now fully restored to its original capacity! 🎉
✅ Method 2: Fix Using Windows Disk Management
If you want a GUI method:
1️⃣ Open Disk Management
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Press Windows + X
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Click Disk Management
2️⃣ Find Your Pendrive
It will show as:
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Removable
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Wrong size or unallocated space
3️⃣ Delete All Partitions
Right-click → Delete Volume
(Do this for every partition)
4️⃣ Create New Volume
Right-click unallocated space → New Simple Volume
5️⃣ Format Drive
Choose:
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File System: FAT32 (recommended) or NTFS
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Allocation: Default
Click Finish
Done! 🎉
🛑 Method 3: Use Third-Party Tools (If Above Doesn’t Work)
Useful for severely corrupted USB drives:
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HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool
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MiniTool Partition Wizard
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AOMEI Partition Assistant
These tools can force-format and rebuild hidden sectors.
🤔 Why Pendrive Shows Wrong Size? (Quick Reasons)
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Bootable USB created | Tools like Rufus create multiple partitions |
| Wrong file system | RAW or exFAT corruption |
| Partition table errors | Damaged GPT/MBR |
| Fake USB drive | Market me low-quality chip drives |
| Viruses | Hide or shrink partitions |
📘 Frequently Asked Questions (Frequently Asked Questions)
1️⃣ Why is my pendrive showing reduced size?
Because of corrupted or hidden partitions created by tools or viruses.
2️⃣ Will Diskpart restore full storage?
Yes, Diskpart’s clean command resets the drive completely.
3️⃣ Can this method repair a fake pendrive?
No. Fake pendrives show wrong size even after formatting.
4️⃣ Is this safe for my computer?
Yes, just make sure you select the correct disk in Diskpart.
5️⃣ My pendrive is not formatting at all — what to do?
Try Diskpart clean → create primary partition → full format.
If still not working, the drive is physically damaged.
6️⃣ Which file system is best?
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FAT32 → Best for small drives & compatibility
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NTFS → Best for large drives (64GB+)
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exFAT → Best for cross-platform (Windows + Mac)
