3 Reliable Methods to Wipe SSD on Windows 11

Updated by

Tracy King 

Updated on April 19, 2024

Key Takeaways of Wiping SSD in Windows 11: - SSD wiping ensures complete removal of data, providing enhanced security. - Windows 11 offers built-in tools like Disk Format and Disk Management for erasing SSDs. - The Secure Erase feature, if available, is the fastest and most secure method for SSD wiping. - Third-party software can be used for more advanced wiping options, but caution is advised. - Wiping an SSD may impact its lifespan, as it involves writing new data to all cells. - Always back up important data before wiping to prevent loss. - A fresh install of the operating system after wiping can improve system performance.

Here are the translations for the provided language segments: 1. Wiping SSD will ensure you make full use of the existing space on the SSD disk. - Formatting the SSD will guarantee that you utilize the entire available space on the SSD drive. 2. To wipe SSD will cause serious data loss issues, so make sure that you have created a backup of SSD essentials in advance. - Wiping the SSD will result in significant data loss; therefore, it's crucial to back up essential SSD data beforehand.

On this page, we will guide you through the comprehensive steps to securely erase an SSD on Windows 11, ensuring that you can repurpose it for new uses.

Follow the instructions, and you'll learn how to erase your SSD in American English:

# 4. Things to Do Before Wiping Your Hard Drive Before erasing your hard drive, there are several key steps to take to ensure a smooth transition and safeguard your data. Here's a checklist of tasks to complete: 1. **Backup Important Data**: Make sure to create a backup of all vital files, documents, photos, and any other data you can't afford to lose. You can use external hard drives, USB drives, or cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud. 2. **Transfer Files**: If you're upgrading to a new computer, move any files you want to keep to the new device. This can be done using built-in migration tools, network sharing, or by copying files manually. 3. **Unlink Accounts and Apps**: - Windows: Go to "Settings" > "Accounts" > "Sign-in options" to remove linked accounts. Uninstall programs from the "Control Panel" or "Apps & Features" in "Settings." - macOS: Go to "System Preferences" > "Users & Groups" to remove accounts. Uninstall apps by dragging them to the Trash and emptying it. - Linux: Manage user accounts through the "User Accounts" settings. Remove apps using the package manager (e.g., Synaptic for Debian-based systems, Yum for CentOS, or Pacman for Arch). 4. **Update Software**: Ensure all software is current, as this can help prevent potential security issues during the wiping process. Run updates for your OS, apps, and drivers. 5. **Delete Personal Info**: Remove personal data like browser history, cookies, and cache from web browsers. Empty your recycle bin or trash folder. Get rid of any sensitive files containing personal info. 6. **Deauthorize Digital Content**: Deauthorize any digital media accounts (like iTunes, Steam, or Amazon Music) linked to the computer. 7. **Temporarily Disable or Uninstall Antivirus**: Disable or uninstall your antivirus software to avoid issues during wiping. For some systems, a factory reset might be needed to fully remove the antivirus. 8. **Eject External Devices**: Safely disconnect any connected USB devices, external hard drives, or memory cards to prevent data loss or damage. 9. **Remove User Passwords (if applicable)**: Temporarily disable user passwords to simplify the wiping process. 10. **Record Serial Numbers**: jot down the serial number and other crucial details of your hard drive, which might come in handy later or for warranty claims. After completing these tasks, you can proceed with wiping your hard drive using a reliable data destruction tool, such as Disk Utility (macOS), DiskPart (Windows), or GParted (Linux). Remember, wiping a hard drive permanently deletes everything, so double-check your backups before continuing.

Here's a checklist you need to go through before wiping SSD for Windows 11 installation: 1. Backup important data: Ensure that you have backed up all your essential files, documents, photos, and other personal data to an external hard drive or cloud storage. 2. Create a system restore point: Make a system restore point in case you need to revert to a previous state after the installation. 3. Disable Secure Boot: In the BIOS settings, disable Secure Boot to allow the installation of Windows 11 from a non-UEFI bootable media. 4. Enable TPM 2.0: Check if your system has a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and enable it in the BIOS if necessary. This is a requirement for Windows 11. 5. Check system requirements: Verify that your computer meets the minimum hardware specifications for Windows 11, including CPU, RAM, storage, and graphics. 6. Download installation media: Download the official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft's website or use the Media Creation Tool. 7. Update drivers: Collect any necessary driver installation files for your hardware, such as network adapters, graphics cards, and storage controllers, to reinstall after the OS upgrade. 8. Uninstall unnecessary software: Remove any applications that you don't want to keep after the fresh install. 9. Remove user accounts: Temporarily disable or remove any secondary user accounts on the system. 10. Deauthorize digital content: Deauthorize music, movies, and other digital content associated with your account. 11. Disconnect peripherals: Unplug all external devices, such as printers, scanners, and USB drives, except for the keyboard, mouse, and monitor. 12. Check for Windows updates: Make sure your current Windows version is up to date to ensure a smooth transition. 13. Confirm disk partitioning: Decide whether you want to delete existing partitions or create new ones for the Windows 11 installation. 14. Boot from installation media: Insert the USB drive or DVD with the Windows 11 ISO and restart your computer to boot from it. Once you've completed these steps, you can proceed with wiping the SSD and installing Windows 11.

Here are the translations for the provided text: 1. ✔️ Data Backup: Create a backup before wiping SSD to prevent losing essential data on your SSD. 2. ✔️ App Migration: Not mandatory, but recommended. Close running programs and move installed apps to another hard drive. Also see: Move Installed Programs to Another Drive in Windows 11. 3. ✔️ Power Supply: Ensure your laptop or PC is charged to avoid unexpected shutdowns due to insufficient power during the SSD wiping process.

Here are some practical SSD wiping methods that you can take a quick look at and select the most suitable one. Then, follow the steps to perform SSD erasing operations immediately:

1 - How to Wipe SSD on Windows 11 Using SSD Wipe Software

1. ⏱️ Duration: 10-30 minutes, depending on the data capacity on the SSD.
2. ? Tools: SSD, Windows PC, SSD wipe software - tools like Partition Master
3. ??‍? Target: Wipe the entire SSD drive or erase partial partition data on the SSD.

The question at hand is how to securely erase an SSD in Windows 11. You require a dependable tool that can completely wipe your SSD or hard drive, making your data irrecoverable. Numerous tools are available, but not all of them are trustworthy.

tools Partition Master is a reliable SSD wipe tool, and we recommend you download it for a try. It ensures your data is safely and permanently erased with its Wipe Data and Wipe Disk features.

Here's how to use the tool Partition Master and unlock its ability to wipe your SSD on Windows 11:

Tip: If you want to erase SSD data while keeping the partitions, follow the first guide. If you need to wipe the entire SSD drive, follow the second guide.

We've set two options for you to wipe data. Choose the one you need.

Option 1. **Wipe Partition**

Translate the following text into English: - Right-click the partition from which you want to erase data, and select "Wipe". - In the new window, set the duration for which you want to wipe your partition, then click "OK". - Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the bottom right corner, review the changes, and then click "Apply".

Option 2. Wipe Disk

• Select the HDD/SSD, then right-click and choose "Wipe Disk."
• Set the number of times to overwrite the data (you can set it up to 10). Click "OK."
• Click "Execute 1 Task(s)" and then click "Apply."

BONUS: Apart from wiping SSD, the tool Partition Master also has several useful features that you can use to optimize your SSD performance efficiently, such as partitioning SSD, migrating OS to SSD, 4K alignment of SSD, etc.

If you find this method effective and helpful for wiping SSD on Windows 11, please feel free to share this guide with others to assist your friends in resetting their SSDs like a pro:

If you need further guidance on wiping and cleaning your hard drive, refer to this tutorial page for assistance:

How to Completely Wipe Hard Drive

How to erase a hard drive completely so that the data cannot be retrieved? This article will demonstrate how to thoroughly wipe your hard drive or computer on Windows 10/11 for ensuring data privacy.

2 - Reset Your PC to Wipe SSD in Windows 11 If you want to completely wipe your SSD and reinstall Windows 11, you can use the "Reset this PC" feature. Here's how: 1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. 2. Click on "System" and then select "Recovery" from the left panel. 3. Under "Reset this PC," click on the "Get started" button. 4. Choose whether you want to keep your personal files or remove everything. For a complete wipe, select "Remove everything." 5. In the next screen, choose the "Just remove my files" option for a quicker reset or "Fully clean the drive" for a more thorough erase (this may take longer). 6. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the reset process. The computer will restart several times during this process. 7. Once the reset is complete, Windows 11 will be installed freshly on your SSD, erasing all previous data. Please note that this process will delete all data, so ensure you have backed up any important files before proceeding.

Here are the sentences translated into American English:
1. ⏱️ Duration: 20-35 minutes, depending on the amount of data on the SSD.
2. ? Tools: SSD, Windows PC, the "Reset this PC" feature in Windows Settings.
3. ??‍? Objective: Wipe all SSD volumes except for the system volume.

Some experienced Windows users suggest utilizing the "Reset this PC" feature in Windows 11 to erase SSD drives, as it's available at no cost for every Windows user. This method effectively wipes SSD partitions, especially when it functions as the system disk, and allows you to preserve the operating system intact.

Here are the steps to reset your PC, originally provided by Microsoft: 1. Click on the "Start" button (the Windows logo) in the bottom left corner of your screen. 2. In the Start menu, type "Settings" and click on the corresponding app icon that appears. 3. In the Settings window, navigate to the "System" section, which can be identified by a gear icon. 4. Within the System settings, click on "Recovery" or "Reset this PC" in the left sidebar. 5. On the Reset this PC page, you'll see two options: - Keep my files: This option will reset Windows and remove apps, settings, and updates while keeping your personal files intact. - Remove everything: This option performs a clean installation of Windows, erasing all your files, apps, settings, and personalization. 6. Choose the option that suits your needs and follow the on-screen instructions. 7. The PC reset process will begin, which may take some time depending on the amount of data and the speed of your system. 8. Once the reset is complete, your PC will restart, and you'll be prompted to set up Windows as if it's a new device. Please note that these steps might vary slightly depending on your version of Windows.

Step 1: Go to the Start menu and click on Settings. Once the "Settings" tab opens, locate the "Update and Security" option or type "reset" in the search bar, and you will see the "Reset your PC" option.

Step 2: Click on the "Reset your PC" option, and Windows will present you with three choices: Reset this PC; Go back to an earlier version of Windows 10; and Advanced Startup.

We recommend selecting the "Reset your PC" option, as it's the best for starting fresh.

"Advanced Startup" lets you boot from a recovery USB drive or disc.

Step 3: You'll see "Get Started" under the "Reset your PC" option. Click on it.

Step 4: After clicking on "Get Started," you'll see two options: "Keep my files" and "Remove everything."

Choose the option that you desire. If you're planning on giving your hard drive to someone else, select "remove everything." This process may take some time, but it will ensure that all data is erased.

If you're keeping your laptop and want to keep your data, choose "Keep files".

Step 5: Regardless of your choice, you'll be taken to a tab that asks you to install Windows either through the cloud or locally.

Step 6: Click Next when Windows warns you that you won't be able to return to a previous version of the OS.

Step 7: Click "Reset" when they ask you if you're ready, and you're done.

If you encounter the issue where "Reset This PC" is not working, you can return to Method 1 to securely erase your SSD drive. Alternatively, you can follow this tutorial guide for assistance:

Reset This PC Not Working on Windows 11

This page offers proven solutions to fix the "reset This PC feature not working" issue on Windows 11. Follow these steps to resolve the error on your PC now.

3 - Using BIOS to Secure Erase SSD

1. ⏱️ Duration: 25-40 minutes, depending on the data capacity on the SSD.
2. ? Tools: SSD, Windows PC, BIOS Settings.
3. ??‍? Objective: Erase SSD without booting the operating system.

When Windows 11 fails to start up or your SSD won't boot, you can boot your PC into BIOS settings and manually wipe your SSD from there.

Let's explore how you can securely erase data from the BIOS.

1. The first step is to turn off your computer and restart it. It's essential to ensure that you have a backup of your data before proceeding with erasure. 2. Access your computer's BIOS screen by pressing the key (or keys) displayed during the initial startup process. Typically, this is "Del" or "F8." 3. Navigate to the Security tab, choose "Hard Drive Utilities," or click on "Hard Drive Tools." 4. Select "Secure Erase" and choose the SSD you need to erase. 5. Click "Continue" to confirm the erasure process.

Why Do You Need to Wipe SSD? Reasons and Benefits

Installing a new version of Windows is the most frequent reason for erasing data from a hard drive. However, there can be numerous other motives behind this action. Here's a list of reasons and associated benefits that might clarify why one would do so: 1. **System Upgrade**: When upgrading to a newer edition of Windows, it's often necessary to perform a clean installation to ensure optimal performance and compatibility. 2. **Performance Boost**: Removing old data and starting fresh can significantly improve system speed and responsiveness, especially if the previous installation was cluttered with unnecessary files and programs. 3. **Error Resolution**: If the existing Windows installation is experiencing persistent issues or errors, a clean install can help resolve these problems by eliminating corrupted files and settings. 4. **Security Concerns**: Removing data helps protect personal information, especially in cases where the computer has been compromised by malware or viruses. 5. **Customization**: A clean install allows users to tailor their operating system according to their preferences, without being influenced by pre-installed software or settings. 6. **Software Compatibility**: Some applications may not work properly with older versions of Windows or may require specific updates. A new installation ensures a compatible environment. 7. **Fresh Start**: For users who have accumulated a lot of junk files, temporary files, or bloatware over time, a fresh start can help declutter their digital life. 8. **Better Resource Management**: A clean install can optimize resource usage, as it doesn't have to manage leftover files and settings from previous installations. 9. **Reduced Boot Time**: By removing unnecessary startup items, a clean Windows installation typically results in faster boot times. 10. **Simplifying Troubleshooting**: Starting with a clean slate makes it easier to diagnose and fix problems, as there are fewer variables to consider. These reasons demonstrate that erasing data from a hard drive before installing a new version of Windows can lead to a more efficient, secure, and personalized computing experience.

1. **Upgrade Laptop:** You've purchased a new laptop, and your younger brother wants your old one. Alternatively, you bought a new PC but wish to use your old hard drive. 2. **PC Gets Slow:** Your PC has become slow, and you want to free up storage on your hard drive. 3. **Clean Up Personal Information:** You have personal data or images that are no longer relevant, and you want to erase them. 4. **Clean Up PC for Sale:** You intend to clean your PC before selling it. 5. **Refresh Disk Performance:** Wiping an SSD can simultaneously remove all junk files or unnecessary content to enhance its performance.

No matter your goal, wiping an SSD is a efficient way to thoroughly remove all data from the drive and boost its performance. For the most efficient SSD erasure solution, I recommend giving Partition Master a try. It's not only great for clearing SSD data but also supports wiping the entire disk with just a few clicks.

In Summary

On this page, we've offered 3 tried-and-true tools with step-by-step tutorials to help you reset and wipe your SSD on Windows 11. We highly recommend giving Partition Master a try, as it boasts impressive features to optimize your PC's performance.

We hope you find this blog informative and useful. Additionally, feel free to share this blog with your online friends to assist them in effectively cleaning their SSDs or hard drives like a pro:

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting SSD for Windows 11

Here, you'll find some popular topics that might interest you as well. Follow along to discover the answers here:

**1. Can I only wipe free space on an SSD?**

Yes, of course. You can erase the free space on an SSD using professional disk wiping software. You can utilize a trustworthy disk wipe utility like BitWiper, with its "Wipe Free Space" feature, to easily erase the free space on your SSD drive.

**2. How do I wipe a write-protected SSD?** To wipe a write-protected SSD, you'll need to follow these steps: 1. **Disable Write Protection:** - Check if there's a physical write protection switch on your SSD or its enclosure. If present, turn it off. - Ensure that the SSD is not connected to a system with a software-based write protection enabled. 2. **Use Command Prompt (Windows):** - Connect the SSD to your computer and open an Administrator Command Prompt. - Type `diskpart` and press Enter. - Type `list disk` and press Enter to view all connected disks. - Identify your SSD by its number (e.g., Disk 1) and type `select disk X`, replacing `X` with the appropriate number. - Type `clean` and press Enter to erase all data. This command will format the SSD, removing any partitions. 3. **Use Terminal (macOS):** - Connect the SSD to your Mac and open Terminal. - List the disks with the command `diskutil list`. - Identify your SSD by its identifier (e.g., /dev/disk2). - Unmount the SSD with `diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX`, replacing `X` with the SSD identifier. - Erase the SSD with `diskutil zeroDisk /dev/diskX`, again replacing `X`. 4. **Use Terminal (Linux):** - Connect the SSD to your Linux system and find its device file (e.g., `/dev/sdb`). - Unmount the SSD with the command `umount /dev/sdb1`. Replace `sdb1` with the appropriate partition. - Overwrite the SSD with zeros using `dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=1M`, replacing `sdb` with the SSD device. 5. **Third-party Tools:** - If the above methods fail, you can use third-party tools like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) or a utility from the SSD manufacturer to securely wipe the drive. Remember that wiping an SSD will permanently delete all data. Make sure you have backed up any important files before proceeding.

When your SSD is write-protected, you have two options:

Here are the translations for the given text: 1. One option is to directly wipe the SSD when you don't have any valuable content saved on the disk. 2. The other option is to remove write protection from the SSD and first back up essential SSD data to another location. Then, you can proceed to wipe the drive.

With its Wipe Disk and Remove Write Protection features, the tool Partition Master enables you to accomplish the task regardless of which method you opt for SSD wiping.

3. Does a factory reset clear the SSD?

It depends. When your SSD functions as an OS disk, performing a Factory Reset on a Windows computer might impact the data on your SSD. The extent of this impact relies on the reset option you select — whether you choose to keep your files or remove everything.

If the SSD is a second data drive, using the Windows factory reset feature on your computer will not affect the second drive or its data disk at all.