The Ultimate Guide to Reformatting USB Drives on Windows 10

Understanding USB Drive Reformatting

USB drive reformatting is the process of preparing a USB drive for data storage by creating a file system that organizes and manages files. This process erases all existing data on the drive and configures it for a specific operating system or device.

Reformatting a USB drive is crucial for repairing corrupted data, changing the file system, or improving the drive’s performance. Besides, it can free up space by clearing all files, making the drive ready for new use.

This post offers a step-by-step guide to reformatting a USB drive on Windows 10. By following these steps, you can efficiently reformat your USB drive and prepare it for its next use.

Post-Reformatting Tips

Reformatting a USB drive is a straightforward process, but potential issues can arise if not done carefully. Before proceeding, take a moment to review these essential tips:

Tip 1. Check File System

Choosing the right file system is important when reformatting a USB drive since it determines how data is stored, organized, and accessed on the drive. Here are three common file system options for Windows users:

✦ NTFS: Ideal for drives primarily used with Windows, especially for system files or backups.

✦ FAT32: This format works with most devices, like computers and gaming consoles, but it has a 4GB limit for individual files.

✦ exFAT: Similar to FAT32 but without the file size limit. It’s a good choice for USB drives and works with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Tip 2. Back Up Important Data

Reformatting will erase all data on the USB drive, making it hard to recover. Before proceeding, ensure you back up any important files to prevent permanent data loss. Follow these methods for effective backups:

✦ Copy essential files to a secure location, such as your computer, an external hard drive, or other devices.

✦ Use cloud storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox for an extra layer of security.

Tip 3. Forget to Back Up?

If you forgot to create backups before reformatting your USB drive in Windows 10, proceed to the next section for guidance on restoring lost data.

Recover Lost Data After Reformatting a USB Drive on Windows 10

Reformatting a USB drive without backups can lead to unexpected data loss, disrupting your workflow. Fortunately, professional recovery software can help you restore lost files after formatting.

AOMEI FastRecovery is a user-friendly and reliable data recovery tool designed to find and recover lost, deleted, and corrupted files from various devices. Whether the data loss is due to formatting, accidental deletion, system crashes, or virus attacks, you can recover your files in just a few clicks.

Highlights of AOMEI FastRecovery:

Broad Device Compatibility: This software is built to handle HDDs, SSDs, and USB drives with ease. It supports a wide range of USB brands and models, ensuring it works smoothly no matter the drive type.

Advanced Recovery Technology: AOMEI FastRecovery uses advanced technology to find and restore lost files from USB flash drives, even in tricky situations. It thoroughly scans the drive to locate recoverable data and carefully puts the pieces back together for successful recovery.

Data Safety Assurance: The software runs in read-only mode, keeping your recovered files safe and reducing the chance of more data loss or damage. It ensures your USB drive stays unchanged during the recovery process.

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Let’ use AOMEI FastRecovery to recover lost data after reformatting a USB drive:

Step 1: Download and install AOMEI FastRecovery, and then choose the exact partition or disk where your files are located.

Step 2: Scan the selected drive to find the deleted files. It offers two modes, Quick Scan and Deep Scan, supporting thoroughly scanning your storage devices for finding lost data.

Step 3: After the scan, review the displayed files. Select the ones you want to recover, then click Recover.

Step 4: Choose a secure path to save the recovered files, ensuring you avoid overwriting data on the USB drive. Wait for the process to complete.

How to Reformat a USB Drive on Windows 10?

Reformatting a USB drive is a simple yet effective way to troubleshoot errors or set up the drive for a new purpose. This section offers three practical methods to reformat a USB drive on Windows, ensuring your USB drive is ready for its next task.

Fix 1. Reformat USB Drive Using Disk Management

If you're having trouble with your USB drive or need to set it up for a new purpose, reformatting it using Disk Management is a straightforward solution. Disk Management is a built-in tool in Windows that helps you format USB drives and manage storage. Follow these steps to reformat a USB drive on Windows:

Step 1: Press Windows+R to open the Run window. Type diskmgmt.msc and click OK to open Disk Management.

Step 2: Right-click the USB drive you want to reformat and select Format.

Step 3: Set the drive's volume label, file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32), and allocation unit size. 

Step 4: Choose either Quick Format or Full Format as needed and click OK to start reformatting.

Types of USB Drive Formatting: 
• Quick Format: Clears the file system table and root folder quickly, freeing up space for new files. However, it isn’t the most secure method, as the deleted data can often be recovered using special tools.
• Full Format: Erases all data by writing zeros to every sector and scans for bad sectors, making data recovery difficult. It takes longer but is more thorough, especially for larger drives.

Fix 2. Reformat USB Drive with File Explorer

In addition to using Disk Management, you can reformat a USB drive with File Explorer. This is a free and efficient method for performing basic operations on USB, including the formatting of USB to NTFS/FAT32/exFAT and the deletion of files from USB. Here’s how to reformat a USB drive on Windows 10:

Step 1: Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

Step 2: Select This PC from the left panel.

Step 3: Right-click the USB drive you need to reformat and select Format... from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Click the File System to choose a desired file system.

Step 5: Select Quick Format.

Step 6: Click Start > OK to continue the reformatting process.

Fix 3. Reformat USB Drive Using Diskpart

Diskpart is a powerful command-line tool in Windows that allows you to manage your storage devices, including USB drives. It offers more control over the formatting process, especially when you need to fix issues that cannot be resolved through other methods like File Explorer or Disk Management. Follow these steps to reformat a USB drive on Windows:

Step 1: Press Windows + S and type Command Prompt.

Step 2: Select Run as Administrator to launch it.

Step 3: Type diskpart and press Enter to launch the Diskpart tool.

Step 4: Type the following commands and hit the Enter key after each. Here we take exFAT as an example.

• list disk
• select disk x (replace x with the disk number of your USB drive)
• list partition
• select partition y (replace y with the number of the partition on the USB drive)
• format fs=exfat (You can add quick for a faster format. )
• assign (assign a letter to the USB drive)

Step 5: Type exit and press Enter to close Diskpart. Your USB drive is now reformatted and ready for new use. You can access it through File Explorer.

Conclusion

Reformatting a USB drive is an effective way to fix errors, free up space, or set the drive up for a new purpose. This post provides a step-by-step guide to reformatting a USB drive on Windows 10. Before you begin, there are a few important tips to keep in mind.

In case you accidentally lose important data during the reformatting process, recovery tools like AOMEI FastRecovery can help you restore lost files quickly and easily, protecting you from unexpected data loss.