How to Format USB to NTFS in Windows 10/11 (All 4 Ways)

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Tracy King 

Written by

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Last updated on April 22, 2024

A file system is the way data is organized. For better performance, people need to choose specific file systems for different situations. Under such circumstances, some users might try to format their USB drive to NTFS on Windows 10 for various reasons. For instance, to change the file system to copy files that are too large for FAT32, fix RAW USB drives, restore a USB drive to its full capacity, and so on. However, it can be quite challenging to accomplish the task without losing data if you don't know much about computers and hard drives.

So, on this page, we introduce you to four simple ways to format or reformat your USB drive to NTFS. Some of these methods allow you to keep your data. So, feel free to try the one that suits your situation best. Also, these solutions can be applied when formatting an SD card, external hard drive, flash drive, or other removable storage device to NTFS.

If your USB drive is filled with many files and you don't have enough space to move them, you can directly convert the file system of the flash drive to NTFS without formatting or losing data. Here, you can attempt to accomplish this task in two ways:

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Two Ways to Convert USB to NTFS in Windows 10 Without Formatting

One way is to use a third-party converter, and the other is to utilize Windows' built-in utility, CMD. For those who are not familiar with command lines, Method 1 might be the better choice for converting the file system, though it may result in data loss.

Method 1: Convert USB to NTFS Using a Free Partitioning Tool

Here we recommend using free Partition Master. This program is a free and easy-to-use disk and partition management tool for Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista. It can help you format or convert USB drive to NTFS in Windows 10/8/7 or earlier with just a few simple steps.

Step 1. Install and launch tools Partition Master on your computer.

Step 2: Right-click on a FAT32 partition in Disk Management and choose "Advanced" then "Convert to NTFS."

Step 3: Click on “Proceed” in the pop-up dialog box to continue.

Click the “Apply” button to start the conversion process. Wait for it to finish.

If there is no important data on your USB drive or other device, you can directly choose "Format Partition" in Step 1 to format USB drive to FAT32 or NTFS in Windows 10/8/7. Similarly, you can also try the free disk formatting tool built-in Windows to accomplish this task.

Step-by-Step Video Tutorial: How to Format a USB Flash Drive using CMD

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Method 1: Convert USB to NTFS Using CMD

1. On Windows 10, press the Windows + X keys to open the Context Menu.

2. Select "Command Prompt (Admin)" to open Command Prompt in administrator mode.

2. Type convert (drive letter): /FS:NTFS, for example, convert G: /FS:NTFS.

After a few simple steps, Windows will immediately begin converting your file system. This can take some time, especially if you have a very large hard drive.

If you don't understand the CMD method or aren't comfortable with the risk, you can always go back to the first option of using a third-party free tool to convert your USB drive to NTFS format.

Format a USB as NTFS using the Windows tool in Windows 10

Since formatting the disk will delete all data, make sure to back up any important files to a secure location before attempting either of these methods. In case you need to recover data from a formatted USB drive, the Data Recovery Wizard tool can help you get your lost data back easily and successfully.

Method 1: How to Format a USB as NTFS Using Windows File Explorer

1. Open the Windows 10 File Explorer (press Win+E), find your USB drive, right-click on it, and select "Format."

2. Select NTFS as the file system and check "Quick format," then click "Start" to begin the formatting process.

3. When finished, click “OK” to confirm. Your USB device is now formatted as NTFS.

Method 2: How to Format a USB Drive to NTFS Using Disk Management

1. Right-click "This PC," then select "Manage," and then choose "Disk Management."

2. Right-click your USB flash drive or external hard drive, then select “Format.”

3. Set the USB disk format to NTFS, check "Quick Format," and then click "OK" to confirm.

In short, format the USB as NTFS.

With the above methods, you have 4 ways to format a USB drive or USB stick to NTFS on Windows 10/8/7. It will take you little time and effort. You can choose anyone based on your preference. Since formatting USB to NTFS via File Explorer and Disk Management will lead to data loss, you should consider data recovery and creating backups.

In addition to looking for the best way to format a USB drive in Windows 10, people also ask:

**1. Why can't I format a USB drive in Windows 10?**

If your USB drive is corrupted, you will not be able to format it by right-clicking on it and formatting it in Windows Explorer. In this case, you need to format the USB drive with cmd or a disk formatting tool like format USB drive with cmd.

< strong > 2. How to format a flash drive on Mac?

To format the USB drive as FAT32, follow these steps:

Plug in the USB flash drive to your Mac computer. Go to Applications > Utilities, and double-click Disk Utility to open it. Select your USB flash drive from the sidebar, then click Erase. Rename the USB flash drive, choose MS-DOS (FAT) for Format, and Master Boot Record for Scheme. Then, hit Erase. Read more>>

3. Should I format my USB drive as FAT32 or NTFS?

FAT32 is an older and simpler file system, which is why it's compatible with virtually all operating systems. In contrast, NTFS is more powerful and efficient than FAT, as it employs advanced data structures to enhance reliability, disk space utilization, and overall performance. While NTFS is becoming more prevalent, FAT32 is still more widely used.

When formatting a USB drive, the file system you choose is important, and two main factors should be considered: portability and file size limitations. You can base your decision on these factors. Read More >>

How do I convert my USB from FAT32 to NTFS format?

Plug the USB into your computer. Right-click the USB flash drive, and select “Format.” Choose NTFS for the “File System.”

5. How to convert USB to NTFS without formatting?
You can easily convert USB to NTFS without formatting using the tool Partition Master. Download and run the software, then right-click on the USB drive and select "Convert to NTFS."