How to Format WD My Passport on Windows 10 [4 Easy Methods]

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on April 28, 2024

WD offers one of the most affordable SSDs on the market, and the Passport lineup offers SSDs with large storage at an affordable price.

If you have one and want to format it because it's not performing properly or because you want to change the file system, don't worry; we've got you covered. Keep reading this guide, and the tools will guide you through formatting WD My Passport on Windows 10.

How Do I Format WD My Passport on Windows 10?

There are four different methods you can try to format your WD My Passport SSD. These include popular drive and disk formatting tools like Partition Master, WD's software, Windows File Explorer, and Command Prompt.

The following chart indicates which tools are both easy to use and effective:

As you can see, the simplest and most efficient solution is to use a third-party tool like tools Partition Master. This tool doesn't require any professional know-how, making it easy and quick for you to format your hard drive. Now, we'll walk you through step-by-step guides for each method.

Format WD My Passport on Windows 10 using Partition Master Tool

There's a reason why Partition Master is a popular choice among users. With the help of Partition Master, you can format your WD hard drive to any file system you desire, such as NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, EXT2/3/4, and more.

Additionally, you can also change your file system from the current one to another, like exFAT, without reformatting your WD My Passport. It features a user-friendly interface that makes it simple to navigate through menus and format your WD My Passport drive in just seconds.

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

Step 2. Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected partition, and then click "OK".

Step 3. In the Warning window, click "Yes" to continue.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the top-left corner to review the changes, and then click "Apply" to begin formatting your external hard drive, USB, or SD card.

tools Partition Master is a powerful tool for managing your hard drive. It can perform various tasks, including:

• Format WD My Passport for Mac and PC
• Solve issue: SD card write protected but not locked
• Convert FAT32 to NTFS or vice versa
• Format an invisible external hard drive

Download it, and you'll get to enjoy the convenience of this versatile tool.

Format WD My Passport for Windows 10 using WD Quick Formatter

The WD Quick Formatter is an official utility provided by WD for formatting their hard drives and SSDs. You can utilize this tool to format your My Passport drive. As it is an authentic tool straight from WD, you can use it with confidence.

Here's how to use the WD Quick Formatter and format your WD My Passport:

Step 1. Download and install WD Quick Formatter: https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/16241/~/how-to-format-an-external-drive-using-wd-quick-formatter

Step 2. Launch the WD Quick Formatter.

Step 3. Click "Accept" to agree to the End User License Agreement.

Step 4. The WD Quick Formatter will now scan for your My Passport.

Step 5. Select your drive and click on "Format Drive."

Step 6. Once the formatting of your drive is complete, click "Exit."

Format WD My Passport on Windows 10 using File Explorer

Alternatively, you can format your WD My Passport using Windows File Explorer. If unsure, simply right-click on the drive and format it to your preferred file system through File Explorer – no need to access Disk Management and follow a lengthy process.

If you're unsure how to format a hard drive using File Explorer, follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect your WD My Passport to your Windows 10 PC.

Step 2. Open "This PC."

Step 3. Right-click on the drive and select "Format."

Step 4. From the drop-down menu, select "File System" and choose the file system you want to format your My Passport with.

Format via File Explorer

Step 5. Click "OK" to begin formatting.

Step 6. Allow some time for the formatting to complete. Once done, you're all set.

Format WD My Passport on Windows 10 using CMD

The Command Prompt has been available in Windows since the launch of Windows NT in 1987. It is utilized to address various PC issues and format both internal and external drives. You can also modify Windows settings through the Command Prompt.

If you prefer using the Command Prompt to format your WD My Passport drive instead of File Explorer, follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect your My Passport to your PC.

Step 2. Use your keyboard's "Start" button to type "Command Prompt."

Step 3. Click on "Run as administrator."

Step 4. Type and enter the "diskpart" command.

Step 5. Type and press "Enter" to input "list disk."

Step 6. Type the command "select disk X" (replace "X" with the volume number of your My Passport).

Step 7. Type and enter "format fs=exfat quick" to format your WD My Passport to the exFAT file system. If you prefer to format it to NTFS, type "format fs=ntfs quick" instead.

Step 8. Press the "Enter" key and allow some time for your drive to finish formatting to your chosen file system.

Step 9. Type "Exit" and press Enter to close the command prompt.

You can also use Diskpart to perform the following actions for better management of your devices:

Conclusion

This guide offers 4 methods to format WD MY Passport on Windows 10. For a quick and hassle-free formatting, we recommend utilizing the tool Partition Master. Alternatively, you can use WD's Quick Formatter or format your My Passport drive through File Explorer or the command prompt.

We hope this article answered your questions and successfully assisted you in formatting your My Passport drive. Feel free to share this article with other My Passport users to help them format their drives as well.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting WD My Passport on Windows 10

Do you have any other queries regarding formatting your WD My Passport on Windows 10? Let's address a few common questions on this topic.

1. How do I format WD Passport for Mac? To format your WD Passport for use with a Mac, follow these steps: 1. **Connect the Drive**: Plug in your WD Passport to your Mac using the provided USB cable. 2. **Open Disk Utility**: On your Mac, search for "Disk Utility" either in Spotlight (press Command + Space) or in Applications > Utilities. 3. **Select the Drive**: In Disk Utility, you'll see a list of drives on the left side. Locate and select your WD Passport drive, not the partitions within it. 4. **Erase the Drive**: Click on the "Erase" button at the top or choose "Erase Volume Group" if you see that option. A new window will pop up. 5. **Choose Format**: In the "Format" dropdown menu, select "ExFAT" for compatibility with both Mac and Windows systems. If you're sure you'll only be using the drive with your Mac, you can choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)". 6. **Name the Drive**: Enter a name for your WD Passport in the "Name" field. 7. **Confirm Formatting**: Read the warning message, then click "Erase" or "OK" to proceed with the formatting process. This will erase all data on the drive, so ensure you have backups of any important files. 8. **Wait for Completion**: The formatting process may take a few minutes. Once completed, your WD Passport will be formatted and ready to use with your Mac. Remember that formatting will delete all data on the drive, so make sure to backup any important files before proceeding.

To format your WD My Passport on a Mac, you can utilize either the WD Quick Formatter or Disk Utility. Here's how to format it using Disk Utility: 1. **Open Disk Utility**: First, locate and launch Disk Utility. You can find it in the "Utilities" folder within the "Applications" folder. 2. **Connect the WD My Passport**: Plug in your WD My Passport external hard drive to your Mac using the provided USB cable. 3. **Identify the Drive**: In the Disk Utility sidebar, look for your WD My Passport drive. It might be listed under "External" or "Internal," depending on your system. 4. **Select the Drive**: Click on the drive itself (not the partition) to ensure you're formatting the entire drive and not just a volume. 5. **Erase the Drive**: Click on the "Erase" button at the top of the Disk Utility window. A new window will appear. 6. **Format Options**: - **Name**: Give your drive a new name if desired. - **Format**: Choose a file system. For best compatibility with macOS, select "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" or "APFS" (for newer systems). - **Scheme**: Leave it as "GUID Partition Map" for a bootable drive or "MBR for BIOS" if you plan to use the drive with both Macs and PCs. 7. **Confirm Formatting**: Review your selections and click "Erase" to proceed with the formatting process. A warning message will appear, reminding you that all data will be erased. 8. **Wait for Formatting**: The formatting process will begin. It may take some time, depending on the size of the drive. Do not unplug the drive during this process. 9. **Formatting Complete**: Once the formatting is finished, Disk Utility will display a message indicating the process is complete. Now, you can use your freshly formatted WD My Passport drive with your Mac. Remember to back up any important data before formatting, as the process will permanently delete all files on the drive.

Step 1. Open "Disk Utility."

Step 2. In the top-left corner of the window, click "View," then select "Show All Devices."

Step 3. Select your WD Passport and click on "Erase."

Step 4. Give your drive a name and select the file system to which you want to format your WD My Passport.

Step 5. Click "Erase" to start formatting.

2. Why can't I format my WD Passport?

There could be several reasons why you're unable to format your WD My Passport.

Here are the translations in English:
• The drive might be corrupted or write-protected.
• You have a file open.
• The drive is corrupted or not properly connected to the PC.

3. How can I format a WD external hard drive?

If you're unsure how to wipe an external WD hard drive, here's how to proceed:

Step 1. Download and install WD Quick Formatter.

Step 2. Accept the End User License Agreement.

Step 3. Allow the WD Quick Formatter to scan for your My Passport drive.

Step 4. Choose your drive and click on "Format" once it detects your drive.