How to Format a Hard Drive

Formatting a hard drive can be useful in various situations, such as removing old data, preparing a drive for new use, or fixing file system errors. This guide walks you through the steps to format a hard drive in both Windows and macOS.

Preparing for Disk Formatting

Before you start, make sure to back up any important data, as formatting will erase everything on the drive. Double-check that you are selecting the correct drive to avoid accidentally deleting essential information.

How to Check Connected Drives in Windows

• Open File Explorer and select This PC.
• You will see a list of all connected storage devices, such as hard drives, SSDs, and USB flash drives.

Formatting a Drive in Windows

1. Open Disk Management. Press Win + X and select Disk Management from the menu.
2. Find the drive you want to format, right-click on it, and choose Format.
3. Specify the volume label, file system (such as NTFS or exFAT), and the allocation unit size.
4. Click OK to start the formatting process. Once complete, the drive will be wiped clean and ready for use.

Formatting a Drive in macOS

1. Open Disk Utility, found under Applications → Utilities.
2. In the left sidebar, select the drive you wish to format.
3. Click the Erase button at the top of the window.
4. Select the file system, such as APFS or Mac OS Extended, and give the drive a name.
5. Click Erase to confirm. The process will take a few minutes, after which the drive will be ready for use.