How to Format Hard Drive on Windows 11? 2024 Comprehensive Guide

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Tracy King 

Updated on April 22, 2024

Despite the advancements in modern Windows systems, there are still users in 2023 who encounter issues when formatting hard drives, particularly in Windows 11. Consequently, many individuals struggle to utilize their hard drives effectively due to difficulties in formatting them. Let's explore the reasons behind this and discuss potential solutions.

There are numerous methods to format a hard drive. But which one is the best? Below is a list of the top working methods for formatting hard drives in Windows 11. Choose one and follow the instructions to complete the task:

Here are the translations of the given language segments into English:
1. #1. tools Partition Master
2. #2. Windows File Explorer
3. #3. Windows Disk Management
4. #4. CMD - Diskpart Command Prompt

Hard drives come in various types with different interfaces, such as SATA drives and NVME drives. Formatting a hard drive can offer several advantages for regular Windows users, including:

Here are the translations for the provided language snippets in English:
• ✔️Quickly clean out data on the hard drive
• ✔️Change the file system for specific usage
• ✔️Create a suitable format for data transfer, gaming, or quick file storage
Note: The hyperlink in the second line remains the same, as it is a web address and does not need translation.

So let's keep digging and figure out how to do that comprehensively.

How to Format Hard Drive on Windows 11 [4 Free Formatting Methods]

Formatting an external drive on any Windows computer involves utilizing one of several available methods. To determine the most suitable option, let's examine each of them: 1. **File Explorer**: This is the simplest and most straightforward method for formatting an external drive in Windows. Just connect the drive, open File Explorer, navigate to the drive letter, right-click, and select "Format." Here, you can choose the file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32, exFAT), allocation unit size, and check the "Quick Format" box if you want a faster process. 2. **Disk Management**: Another built-in tool in Windows is Disk Management. Access it by right-clicking the Start button, selecting "Disk Management," and locating your external drive. Right-click on the drive and choose "Format." Similar to File Explorer, you'll have options to choose the file system and allocation unit size. 3. **Command Prompt**: For more advanced users or in case the previous options don't work, you can use the Command Prompt. Type "diskpart" in the search bar or command prompt, press Enter, then type "list disk" to view all connected disks. Select the external drive by typing "select disk X" (replace X with the drive number). Finally, format the drive with "format fs= filesystem label=DriveLabel quick" (replace "filesystem" with NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT, and "DriveLabel" with your desired label). 4. **Third-party Software**: If you prefer a more user-friendly interface or need additional features, you can opt for third-party formatting tools like tools Partition Master, MiniTool Partition Wizard, or AOMEI Partition Assistant. These tools often provide extra options such as partition alignment, checking disk errors, or converting between different file systems. Each of these methods has its own advantages and drawbacks. The choice depends on your specific needs, comfort level with technology, and whether you require additional features beyond basic formatting. For most users, the File Explorer or Disk Management options should suffice.

Other options leave you in vulnerable positions or don't format your hard drive as effectively. Hence, it's crucial to choose a suitable disk formatter for Windows 11 for assistance.

#1. Format Hard Drive on Windows 11 using tools Partition Master

tools Partition Master Free is the top choice and the most reliable option for formatting your external hard drive in Windows 11. As shown in the following table, we have already outlined why it outperforms other built-in options in Windows. This is why we highly recommend this tool as the primary method for both you and other Windows users.

These are some of the primary reasons that make this remarkable tool a must-have for any external drive owner. Here's how you can utilize it:

1. Right-click the external drive or USB you plan to format and select "Format." 2. Set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Cluster size, then click "OK." 3. Click "Yes" to proceed. 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button and hit "Apply" to format the hard drive partition.

However, to further emphasize the significance of this tool, let's explore some remarkable features that Partition Master provides, such as:

• Easily resize or move your partition
• Create or delete partitions on internal or external drives
• Format or wipe external hard drive partitions effortlessly
• Produce a new partition swiftly
• Capable of converting MBR to GPT, and primary to logical partition

If this method efficiently helped you format your hard drive to the desired file system format, click your mouse and share this tutorial online to help more friends around you:

#2. Format External Hard Drive with Windows File Explorer If you need to format an external hard drive using Windows File Explorer, follow these steps: 1. **Connect the External Hard Drive**: Plug in your external hard drive to your computer using a USB cable. 2. **Open File Explorer**: Click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar or press the `Windows + E` keys simultaneously. 3. **Locate the External Drive**: In the left pane of File Explorer, under "This PC," you should see the external hard drive listed. It might be labeled as "Removable Disk" or have a drive letter like "E:", "F:", etc. 4. **Right-click on the Drive**: Hover over the external hard drive and right-click on it. A context menu will appear. 5. **Select "Format..."**: From the context menu, choose "Format." 6. **Format Settings**: - **File System**: Choose the file system you want to use (e.g., NTFS for general use, exFAT for compatibility with other devices, or FAT32 for older systems). - **Allocation Unit Size**: Typically, keep the default setting for most scenarios. - **Volume Label**: Optionally, enter a new label for your hard drive. - **Quick Format**: Check this box if you want a faster formatting process, but note that it won't erase all data thoroughly. 7. **Warning Prompt**: Before formatting, a warning message will appear, reminding you that all data will be erased. If you're sure, click "OK." 8. **Format Process**: The formatting process will begin, and it may take some time depending on the size of the hard drive. Wait until it completes. 9. **Completion**: Once finished, your external hard drive will now be formatted with the chosen settings. You can start using it or allocate new partitions as needed. Remember, formatting will delete all data on the drive, so ensure you have backups of any important files before proceeding.

The second method is using File Explorer to format your device. It's important to note that File Explorer is the quickest and most user-friendly option.

So, it's very easy to use for all types of users. Here's why:

1. Press Windows + E on your keyboard 2. Select the target hard drive, right-click on it, and choose Format 3. Choose a file system for the hard drive 4. Check the Quick Format option 5. Click on Start 6. Confirm the action when prompted and wait for the formatting process to complete

Format external hard drive

Repeat the process for any additional partitions on the target hard drive that you want to format. This will comprehensively format your disk storage.

Remember to select the Quick Format option. Otherwise, it will perform a full format that takes longer than you'd like.

#3. Format External HDDs/SSDs using Disk Management

The next approach is to format your hard disk drive using Disk Management. In this option, we'll guide you through the entire process by utilizing the Disk Management feature within Windows 11.

So, to do that, here's what you would do:

1. Press Windows + X and click on Disk Management. 2. Locate the hard drive you intend to format, right-click on it, and select Format. 3. Click Yes when a warning appears, asking you to proceed with formatting options. 4. Select the file system for the target hard drive. 5. Check the box for "Perform a quick format." 6. Click OK and wait for the formatting process to complete.

#4. How to Format External Hard Drive Using CMD - Diskpart Command Line If you need to format an external hard drive using the Command Prompt (CMD), follow these steps: 1. **Connect the External Hard Drive**: Plug in your external hard drive to your computer via USB or any other appropriate connection. 2. **Open Command Prompt as Administrator**: Press `Win + X` on your keyboard and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" depending on your Windows version. 3. **Identify the Drive Letter**: To find the drive letter assigned to your external hard drive, type `diskpart` and press Enter. This will open the Diskpart utility. Then, type `list disk` and press Enter. It will display a list of all available disks connected to your system. Identify your external hard drive by its size. 4. **Select the Disk**: Once you've identified the correct disk, type `select disk X`, replacing "X" with the disk number (e.g., `select disk 1`). Make sure to double-check before selecting to avoid formatting the wrong disk. 5. **Clean the Disk**: Type `clean` and press Enter. This command will erase all data from the selected disk. 6. **Create a New Partition**: Type `create partition primary` and press Enter. This will create a new primary partition on the disk. 7. **Format the Partition**: Type `format fs=NTFS quick label="MyExternalDrive"` (replace "MyExternalDrive" with a custom label if desired) and press Enter. This formats the partition with the NTFS file system, which is suitable for most users. If you prefer a different file system, like FAT32, replace "NTFS" with the desired file system. 8. **Assign a Drive Letter**: Type `assign` and press Enter. This will automatically assign a drive letter to the formatted partition. 9. **Exit Diskpart and Command Prompt**: Type `exit` twice to close both the Diskpart utility and the Command Prompt. Now, your external hard drive should be formatted with the NTFS file system and ready to use. Remember that formatting will delete all data, so ensure you have backups before proceeding.

The final method and the most reliable option within Windows is to format through Command Prompt (CMD). In this section, you'll be using CMD commands to initiate the Diskpart command line to format the external device.

Here's how to do that in English:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator
• Type Diskpart and press Enter
• Type list disk and press Enter
• The disk we want to format is DISK 2
• Type select disk 2 and press Enter (replace 2 with your disk's number)
• Type list volume and press Enter
• Type select volume 10 and press Enter (replace 10 with the external drive volume number)
• Type format fs=NTFS quick (the partition label will be 'tools')

Type exit and press Enter. You're done.

This will format your hard drive and also assign it a drive letter. So make sure you follow these steps correctly and select the correct DISK that you want to format.

Note that the above four methods also work to format other types of storage devices for you, such as:

Conclusion

These are some of the most reliable methods for formatting an external hard drive on your computer. It's crucial to understand that each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. Although the Command Prompt (CMD) method is the most dependable, it is not the easiest.

That's why it's recommended to use a third-party professional tool like tools Partition Master. It's the easiest and most convenient choice, as well as the safest and most reliable among the four options discussed in this article.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting Hard Drive in Windows 11

If you have any further questions regarding this issue, you can find your answers here.

1. Can I format the hard drive on Windows 11 from Settings?

Certainly! You can format a hard drive using the settings in Windows 11. Here's a brief guide to help you: 1. **Open Settings:** Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Windows Settings app. 2. **Go to "System":** In the Settings window, click on "System" from the left pane. 3. **Select "Storage":** On the System page, click on "Storage" in the right pane. 4. **Choose "Manage Disks and Volumes":** Scroll down and click on "Manage disks and volumes" under the Storage settings. 5. **Open Disk Management:** A new window will appear. Click on "Disk Management" at the bottom of the left pane. 6. **Locate the Hard Drive:** In the main part of the Disk Management window, you'll see a list of disks. Find the hard drive you want to format. 7. **Format the Drive:** Right-click on the hard drive you wish to format and select "Format" from the context menu. 8. **Format Options:** In the Format dialog box: - Choose a file system (usually NTFS for most purposes). - Assign a new volume label if desired. - Decide whether to enable the Quick Format option (this is usually recommended). 9. **Confirm Formatting:** Click "OK" to start the formatting process. A warning will appear, reminding you that formatting will erase all data. Click "Format" to proceed or "Cancel" to stop. 10. **Wait for Completion:** The formatting process may take some time, depending on the size of the hard drive. Do not interrupt it. Once done, the hard drive will be formatted and ready for use. Remember, formatting deletes all data, so ensure you've backed up anything important before proceeding.

Here are the translations of the instructions into English: 1. Right-click the Windows logo and choose to open Settings. 2. Click on System and then select the Storage tab. 3. Click on "Advanced storage settings". 4. Next, click "Disks & volumes" from the settings. 5. Select the hard drive you intend to format from the list. 6. Then, choose "Properties", and click the "Format" button.

2. Why can't I format my hard drive in Windows 11?

There can be various reasons and causes that prevent you from formatting a hard drive in Windows 11, including:

• Unsupported file system on the hard drive for Windows 11
• Hard drive contains unknown errors
• Hard drive is locked
• Unknown virus or malware infection, etc.

If you're encountering a similar issue, don't worry. You can follow this tutorial for assistance: Windows 11 Was Unable to Complete the Format.

3. Should I format the hard drive as NTFS or FAT32 in Windows 11?

The file system you format a hard drive to depends largely on how you intend to use the disk drive in Windows 11.

Here are the translations for the provided language segments into English: 1.
• If you typically use a hard drive to save and store personal data, run programs, or even install a new operating system, NTFS should be the default format.
2.
• However, if you need a specific file system format for creating a test environment or storing games, you can set the format as FAT32.

For more guidance, follow this link: Format 2TB Hard Drive to FAT32.