How to Format DVD RW/CD and Erase CD in Windows 10/11

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Linda 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

"I have an HP laptop with a CD drive. Now, I need to format a CD to burn it. This task was pretty straightforward in the version of Windows that I used previously. But how do I format a DVD RW in Windows 10? I couldn't find any instructions online when I searched for it."

Watch the quick video tutorial on how to format a disc (CD/DVD) and erase a CD. For a more detailed guide, visit:

Why Format or Erase CDs/DVDs
Guide 1: How to Format CDs/DVDs in Windows 10/11
Guide 2: How to Erase CDs/DVDs in Windows 10/11
Bonus Tip 1: How to Format or Erase Non-CD/DVD Disks
Bonus Tip 2: How to Remove DVD Drive in Windows 11

Why should I format or erase a CD/DVD?

With the passage of time, CDs and DVDs have seemed to become obsolete, supplanted by more portable storage devices like SD cards, USB flash drives, and mobile external hard drives.

Still, some people prefer to use “old-fashioned” optical storage media for their files and multimedia. Why format a CD or DVD, though? There are a few reasons why:

• Format an operating system and burn it to a CD or DVD.
• Erase data from a CD or DVD so you can reuse the disc.
• Clean up old CDs or DVDs for storage.
• Blank a DVD with shows, episodes, or series for an elderly person to watch.
• Use a cleaned CD or DVD for a DIY project.

There are many reasons you might need to format or erase a CD/DVD; share this article to inform others of these reasons.

Formatting a DVD or CD is a relatively simple process. We'll walk you through it. (Make sure your disc is a rewriteable CD or DVD, so that you can format and rewrite the data.)

How to Format a CD or DVD in Windows 10/11

How do I format a CD or DVD? You can format a CD or DVD through This PC.

Format a DVD or CD:

Step 1: Insert the CD-RW or DVD-RW into your computer. (If your computer doesn't have a CD drive, purchase an external one.)

Step 2: Click on “This PC” on your computer.

Step 3: Right-click on the CD/DVD drive icon and select Format.

Step 4: Click the File System drop-down menu, then select one of the following:

• UDF 1.50 - For XP and earlier. • UDF 2.00 - For XP and earlier. • UDF 2.01 (default) - Works with most current operating systems. • UDF 2.50 - Works with most current operating systems. Blu-ray compatible. • UDF 2.60 (recommended) - Works with most current operating systems. Blu-ray compatible.

Step 5: Click on "Start," and you'll see a warning that all data on the drive will be erased.

Step 6: Click “OK” to continue. The CD/DVD will begin formatting.

Video Tutorial: How to Format a CD/DVD

This video will show you how to format a CD or DVD.

This is an embedded YouTube video player that allows fullscreen playback, copy-pasting, encrypted media, gyroscope, and picture-in-picture functionality. The video has a width of 700 pixels and a height of 410 pixels.

After formatting the CD/DVD, you can click the link to learn about the top 5 best ISO burners for Windows 10/11 in 2023.

How to Erase a CD or DVD in Windows 10/11

As mentioned, if you need to format a used CD-RW/DVD-RW, you'll have to erase the data on the disc first. You can do this using the formatting tool in the Windows 10 operating system.

In case some users don't know how to erase a DVD, we list the detailed steps here:

Step 1: Insert the rewritable CD into your computer.

Step 2: Open File Explorer and click This PC.

3. In Explorer, click the icon for your DVD drive.

Step 4: Click Erase this disc from the toolbar, and then follow the wizard's steps to successfully erase, blank, or wipe the CD or DVD.

If you don't see the “Erase” option when using these methods, you may be using a CD or DVD (which can only be written to once), rather than a CD-RW or DVD-RW (which can be rewritten).

Additional Tip 1: How to Safely Format or Erase a Disk in Windows 10/11

In addition to CDs and DVDs, internal or external hard drives, USB flash drives, and SD cards have become popular storage devices for everyday users worldwide to burn operating systems, save and transfer files, and back up data.

There are certain occasions when you need to format or delete a hard drive. Here we recommend you try using AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, with which you can format the disk easily.

1. Format the hard drive:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition of the external hard drive/USB/SD card you want to format and choose "Format".

Step 2: Specify a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size for the selected disk partition, and click OK.

Step 3: Click Yes on the warning message to proceed.

Step 4. Hit the 'Run 1 Task' button on the top left to preview the changes and then click 'Apply' to start formatting the external hard drive/USB/SD card.

In comparison with other disk formatting tools, Partition Master can save you a lot of time and steps when formatting different types of storage devices on your computer:

#2. Clean or wipe the disk:

To wipe and clean the entire disk, you can resort to the BitWiper tool. This disk allows you to easily clean the entire disk with just a few clicks.

Step 1. Launch the BitWiper tool. Click on the “Wipe Disk” tab.

Step 2: Select the HDD or SSD that you want to wipe.

Important: Make sure you've selected the correct hard drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD). Once the erasure begins, your data will be irretrievable.

Step 3: Choose an erasing method and then click “Next”.

Choose a suitable wiping method. Use a secure erase tool if available!

Step 4: Review the warning, then click “Clear” to confirm.

5. Wait for the process to finish, then click “Finish.”

In addition, it provides other useful features that help you manage your disks and partitions with flexibility.

Additional Tip 2: How to Remove the DVD Drive in Windows 11

The Device Manager in Windows lets you update and reinstall drivers, and of course, you can also remove drivers in Windows 11/10.

Step 1: Press "Windows + R" to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type devmgmt.msc to open Device Manager.

Step 3: Expand the CD drive, right-click on the target drive, and select “Eject.”

Step 4: Confirm the alert.

FAQ - How to format a CD?

For more help with formatting a CD in Windows, see the questions below and their answers:

How to format a DVD/CD disc?

Insert the DVD into the drive and open File Explorer. Right-click the DVD drive, and select “Format” from the list. Check the “File System” box. Click “Start,” then click “OK.”

Why can't I format my CD?

When you receive an error message like “Can't format……” while trying to format the disk, your device might become a RAW drive. In this case, run CHKDSK to check and fix file system errors first. Then, format the hard drive with reliable formatting tools like Partition Master.

3. Can I format a CD that has already been burned?

Yes, of course. But before formatting, make sure you don't mind the files on it, because formatting will delete everything on the disc.

Alternatively, back up the contents of the disc to another secure drive before formatting.