---
name: "fatsort"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "fatsort"
version: "2:1.7.1.683-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fatsort"
---

# fatsort(1)

FAT file system sorting utility

## NAME

fatsort - FAT file system sorting utility

## SYNOPSIS

**fatsort** \[*OPTIONS*\] *DEVICE*

## DESCRIPTION

FATSort sorts the directory structure of FAT file systems, including FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, and exFAT.

Sort options:

- **-a**

  Use ASCII order for sorting.

- **-c**

  Ignore case of file names (default for most locales).

- **-I** PFX

  Ignore the prefix PFX when comparing file names.

- **-n**

  Use natural order sorting.

**-o** FLAG Set the sort order of files, where FLAG is one of:

-

  d : directories first (default)

-

  f : files first

-

  a : do not distinguish between files and directories

- **-r**

  Sort in reverse order.

- **-R**

  Sort in random order.

-

  This option overrides all other sort options.

- **-t**

  Sort by last modification date and time.

The following options can be specified multiple times to control which directories are sorted:

- **-d** DIR

  Sort the specified directory DIR only.

- **-D** DIR

  Sort DIR and all its subdirectories.

- **-x** DIR

  Exclude DIR from sorting.

- **-X** DIR

  Exclude DIR and all its subdirectories from sorting.

The following options can be specified multiple times to select directories using POSIX.2 extended regular expressions:

- **-e** RE

  Only sort directories matching regular expression RE.

- **-E** RE

  Don't sort directories matching regular expression RE.

Note: Options **-e** and **-E** cannot be used together with **-d**, **-D**, **-x** and **-X**.

- **-L** LOC

  Use the specified locale LOC instead of the system locale. FATSort follows locale-specific rules when sorting file names and directories.

More options:

- **-l**

  List the current file order only.

- **-i**

  Display file system information only.

- **-f**

  Force sorting even if the file system is mounted.

**-h**, **--help**

-

  Display this help message.

**-v**, **--version**

-

  Show version information.

- **-q**

  Suppress all non-error output.

DEVICE must be a FAT12, FAT16, FAT32 or exFAT file system.

WARNING: THE FILE SYSTEM MUST BE CONSISTENT (I.E., FREE OF ERRORS) BEFORE RUNNING FATSORT. THERE IS A RISK OF FILE SYSTEM CORRUPTION. ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR DATA.

## ENVIRONMENT

The environment variable LC\_ALL determines the system locale used by FATSort.

## EXAMPLES

- fatsort /dev/sda

  Sort /dev/sda.

- fatsort -n /dev/sdb1

  Sort /dev/sdb1 using natural order.

## AUTHOR

Written by Boris Leidner.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<fatsort@formenos.de\>.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2004-2026 Boris Leidner. License GPLv2: GNU GPL version 2 (see LICENSE.txt)\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.