EFI System Partition Formatted as NTFS: Windows Detection Error

During the installation of Windows, some users have faced the error message Windows detected that the EFI system partition was formatted as NTFS. This problem halts the installation process, making it impossible for users to complete the setup of Windows. If you find yourself encountering this error while trying to install the operating system, the following solutions can help you resolve the issue promptly.

The complete error message reads:

Windows detected that the EFI system partition was formatted as NTFS. Please format the EFI system partition as FAT32, and restart the installation.

Error: EFI System Partition Formatted as NTFS

The warning “Windows detected that the EFI system partition was formatted as NTFS” generally occurs when attempting to install Windows on a GPT disk where the EFI system partition is formatted using NTFS.

This EFI system partition is vital as it holds essential operating system files but does not have an assigned drive letter. You can view this partition in the Disk Management tool. If this partition exists as NTFS, you may face challenges when attempting to install Windows. Below are effective remedies to address this error:

1. Change the format of the EFI system partition to FAT32
2. Remove all essential partitions

Here’s a detailed look at both solutions:

1] Change the EFI System Partition to FAT32

Your first course of action should be to format the EFI system partition as FAT32. Begin by taking note of the size of this partition. During the Windows installation, all partitions, including EFI and Recovery, will be shown, allowing you to identify the size of the EFI system partition.

At the Windows installation screen, press Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt. Type Notepad and hit Enter. This action will launch Notepad. Navigate to File > Open to access File Explorer from the installation interface.

Select This PC and identify the EFI system partition that matches the size noted earlier. Right-click on it, select Format, and choose FAT32 from the File System dropdown menu before proceeding with the formatting. Exercise caution while selecting the partition to avoid losing important data.

Once done, close Notepad, File Explorer, and Command Prompt. Then, click Refresh on the installation screen to continue with the Windows setup.

2] Remove All Essential Partitions

If your drive contains multiple partitions, including the System and Recovery partitions, consider deleting all of them. On the installation interface, highlight the System and any other key partitions (those without a drive letter and typically sized in megabytes). After this, delete the targeted partition to create unallocated space for your Windows installation. Choose the unallocated space to proceed with the installation, which should now go smoothly without any errors.

That’s all there is to it!

Can the EFI System Partition Be NTFS?

An EFI system partition is automatically generated by Windows during installation, and its file system must be FAT32. If an EFI system partition previously exists on your setup in the NTFS format, errors will arise when you attempt to install Windows.

How to Eliminate the NTFS Format?

To change a partition or hard drive from NTFS to another file system, you must format that specific partition or drive. When proceeding with the formatting process, select the NTFS file system from the relevant dropdown and initiate the format.

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