How to Format Internal Hard Drive in Windows 10? [Latest Tips]

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Tracy King 

Last updated on May 10, 2024

Key takeaways:

1. Back up any important files before formatting your internal Windows 10 hard drive. 2. Run a free third-party software recommended by CNET or the built-in Windows tool to format your internal HDD or SSD.

Quick navigation

Option 1: How to Format Internal Hard Drive with a Free Partition Manager
Option 2: Format Internal Hard Drive with Command Prompt
Option 3: Format Hard Drive via Disk Management

Trying to format an internal hard drive on Windows 10?

This article will show you how to format an internal hard drive in Windows 10. You can begin formatting for any reason from here.

Scenario 1 - If you have purchased a new hard disk, you need to format the disk before you can store any data on it.

Scenario 2 - If your disk becomes cluttered and full, formatting can help free up space and improve performance.

Scenario 3 - If the drive is infected with malware or some other type of malicious software, formatting can eliminate the infection and allow the user to start over.

Scenario 4 - If the user plans to sell or dispose of the computer, formatting the hard drive ensures that all personal data is deleted and cannot be accessed by others.

If this describes you, read on!

Select the format for the internal hard drive

There are a few things to consider when choosing a file system format for your internal hard drive.

One factor is the operating system that will be used. For example, Windows employs the NTFS file system, while macOS uses HFS+. Another factor is the size of the files that will be stored on the drive. If the disk is intended to store large files, such as videos or audio files, then NTFS or exFAT might be a better choice. Lastly, compatibility of the file system with other devices should also be taken into account.

The best file system format for an internal hard drive depends on the specific needs and requirements of the user.

How to Format Internal Hard Drive in Windows 10 [3 Steps]

Format a new internal hard drive – Choose to format using the Partition Manager (recommended) or Disk Management.

Reformat an existing internal hard drive – using free formatting software and the command line tool Diskpart for disk management.

Method 1: How to Format Internal Hard Drive with Free Partition Manager

AOMEI Partition Assistant is an all-inclusive partition manager that can be used to format internal hard drives. The software is user-friendly and provides a step-by-step guide to help you through the process. In addition, it allows you to create, resize, and merge partitions. It also supports both MBR and GPT disk formats.

Start with this excellent choice:

Step 1: Run the disk partition tool, right-click on the hard drive partition you want to format, and select "Format."

Step 2. In the new window, set the "Volume label," "File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT)," and "Cluster size" for the partition to be formatted, then click "OK."

Step 3: A warning will appear. Click “Yes” to proceed.

4. Click “Execute 1 Task” to review your changes, then click “Apply” to begin formatting the partition.

Option 2: Format the internal drive from the command prompt

How to format an internal disk using Command Prompt - Diskpart commands:

Step 1: Click the “Start” icon, type “Command Prompt” in the search box, and then select “Run as administrator.”

Want more options? Check out this guide on Command Prompt shortcuts.

Step 2: Type diskpart and press Enter.

Step 3: Keep typing the command and hit Enter.

1. list disk
2. select disk X (Replace X with your drive letter.)
3. list volume
4. select volume Y (Replace Y with your partition number.)
5. format fs=ntfs quick (If you choose a different file system, replace "ntfs" with "exFAT" or "FAT32." For example, format fs=fat32 quick.)

Option 3: Format the hard drive through Disk Management

Format a new hard drive (internal HDD or SSD):

Video Tutorial - How to Initialize and Format a Hard Drive:

• Start using Disk Utility at 0:41.

Step 1: Open the Disk Management in Windows 10 - Press the "Windows + R" keys and type "diskmgmt.msc" in the box. Click OK.

Step 2: Right-click the internal hard drive and select "Initialize Disk."

Initialize the disk as an MBR or GPT partition style.

Step 3: Right-click on the Unallocated space, and then click New Simple Volume. Click Next.

• Review the default simple volume size, then click Next. • Select Assign the following drive letter, then click Next. • Select Format this volume with the following settings: choose File system, Allocation unit size, and Volume label. Check Perform a quick format, then click Next.

Step 4: Tap Done.

The Bottom Line

This article will show you three simple ways to format an internal hard drive on Windows 10. To safely format the device, we recommend using Partition Master Free.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting Internal Hard Drives

Here are some brief answers to common questions.

How do I format a hard drive in Windows 10?

1. Right-click the drive you want to format, then select "Format."

2. Type a label for the drive, choose a file system, and a cluster size.

3. Click “OK” to continue.

Why can't I format my internal hard drive?

One possibility is that the drive is currently in use by another program or process. Try restarting your computer and formatting the drive. If that doesn't work, you can try using a third-party disk management tool (like the Partition Master) to format the drive. If none of these methods work, your hard drive might be failing and need to be replaced.

Another "Format" error you might encounter is:

How do I format the built-in SSD on my Windows 10?

"Disk Management" can initialize and format the partition for your new internal SSD.

For existing internal SSDs, you can use third-party partition managers and built-in utilities (Diskpart and Disk Management).