How to Low-Level Format a USB Drive? Beginner's Guide?

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Tracy King 

Updated on April 22, 2024

When your USB drive's storage space runs out, you might consider formatting it. However, the drawback of this process is that it deletes all the information. On the bright side, it frees up the additional space you need. Moreover, if you plan to give away your drive, erasing all data ensures that no one can access it.

But before you begin formatting, you need to grasp the correct approach, particularly whether you require a low-level format or a high-level format for your USB drive. Our tools article will delve into the details of low-level formatting and guide you on how to execute it properly. Continue reading to accomplish this task successfully on your own!

What Is Low-Level Format Low-level formatting, often abbreviated as LLF, is a process in which the hard drive or storage device is prepared for use at a very basic level. It involves creating the physical sectors and tracks on the disk that are necessary for storing data. Unlike high-level formatting, which focuses on setting up the file system and making the drive ready for user data, low-level formatting deals with the underlying structure of the drive. During a low-level format, the hard drive's magnetic surface is divided into minute areas, called sectors, which are the smallest unit of data storage. These sectors are then organized into tracks, which are circular paths on the disk surface. The low-level formatting also assigns unique identifiers to each sector and track, ensuring that the data can be accurately written and retrieved. It's important to note that low-level formatting is not typically performed by average users, as it can be a time-consuming process and may void the warranty on modern drives. In most cases, low-level formatting is done at the factory by the manufacturer, or in specialized situations by IT professionals when dealing with issues like bad sectors or disk errors. In contrast, high-level formatting is the more common method for preparing a drive for everyday use, where the operating system creates the file system, sets up the partition, and makes the drive ready for users to store files and documents.

Low-Level Format, often abbreviated as LLF, refers to the type of formatting that thoroughly erases a disk and creates new sectors and tracks on it.

If you perform a low-level format on your hard drive or USB flash drive, it will reset them to their factory settings, making recovery almost impossible.

3 Ways to Low Level Format USB on Windows

Despite the advantages of low-level formatting, there is one limitation: modern operating systems and storage devices no longer support it, requiring users to rely on third-party tools for this purpose. Consequently, we present three low-level formatting tools, including the comprehensive disk management utility, Partition Master.

But before choosing any of them, remember to back up your valuable data, as we've mentioned that this process will erase everything!

Here are the USB low-level format tools:

• #1. EPM - Partition Master
• #2. USB Low Level Format Tool
• #3. HDD Low Level Format Tool

To help you better understand, we have summarized all three in a table:

Among these tools, we recommend downloading and trying out Partition Master, as its wipe data feature offers a secure solution for low-level formatting of the USB flash drive without causing physical damage.

Guide 1. Low Level Format USB Drive with Tools - Partition Master

The first tool we're introducing for low-level formatting your USB drive is tools Partition Master. The wipe feature of Partition Master functions identically to low-level formatting. Allow me to elaborate further.

This function will erase all existing data and partitions on your USB drive, returning it to its default state. The data will not be recoverable, and it won't cause any harm to the USB flash drive.

Therefore, you should download this software and utilize it for low-level formatting your USB drive.

To learn how to format a USB flash drive, you can follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect the external devices to your PC. Right-click on the external device and select "Wipe Disk."

Step 2. Set the number of times to wipe the data (maximum 10). Then tap "OK".

Step 3. Click "Execute 1 Task(s)" and then click "Apply".

tools Partition Master is a comprehensive tool that also enables you to create a bootable USB drive and format it.

Guide 2. Low Level Format USB with USB Low Level Format Tool

USB Low-Level Format is an excellent software for low-level formatting USB drives, as it performs zero-filling on USB devices. It erases all flags, data, and settings present on a USB drive.

The prominent features of this software include:

• The tool completely removes all data from USB drives, followed by restoring them to their original state to regain lost capacity and return them to normal functioning.
• It supports over 20 USB drive controller brands, such as Intel, Samsung, Micron, Phison, SMI, Marvell, Toshiba, Silicon Motion, and others.
• USB Low-Level Format provides 9 industrial-strength data wipe options for secure data erasure.
• The software supports initializing USB flash drives of any capacity with popular file systems, including NTFS, FAT32, FAT, and exFAT.

以下是使用USB低级格式化工具对USB驱动器进行低级格式化的步骤：

Step 1. Download and install the USB Low-Level Format software.

Step 2. Select the destination folder.

Step 3. Choose the USB device you want to format and click "Start." This will perform a low-level format on your USB flash drive.

This utility only supports the USB format, and you cannot create a bootable USB drive. If you're seeking more useful features to enhance your hard drive performance, download the free tool Partition Master.

Guide 3. Formatting USB with HDD Low Level Format Tool

HDD Low Level Format Tool is an excellent utility for performing low-level formatting on hard drives. It serves two main purposes: to completely erase all data and to fill the entire storage space on the drive with zeros.

The features include:

• The software enables easy partition formatting and reinstallation of the operating system.
• Supported interfaces include S-ATA (SATA), IDE (E-IDE), SCSI, SAS, USB, and FIREWIRE.
• The speed is limited to 180 GB per hour, which equates to 50 MB per second.

Here are the steps to low-level format your USB flash drive using the HDD Low Level Format Tool: 1. **Download HDD Low Level Format Tool**: Visit the official website or a trusted source to download the HDD Low Level Format Tool. Make sure it's the latest version to ensure compatibility with your system. 2. **Install the tool**: After downloading the executable file, double-click on it to start the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. 3. **Connect the USB drive**: Plug in your USB flash drive into your computer's USB port. Ensure that it's properly connected and recognized by your system. 4. **Launch the tool**: Locate the HDD Low Level Format Tool icon on your desktop or in the Start menu, and double-click it to open the application. 5. **Select the USB drive**: In the main window of the HDD Low Level Format Tool, you'll see a list of available drives. Identify your USB drive from the list, usually denoted by its capacity and manufacturer. Make sure you select the correct drive, as low-level formatting will erase all data and might be irreversible. 6. **Start the low-level format**: Once you've selected the USB drive, click on the "Start" button to begin the low-level formatting process. A warning message may appear, reminding you about the data loss; confirm your decision to proceed. 7. **Wait for the process to complete**: Formatting may take a while, depending on the size of your USB drive. Do not interrupt the process or remove the drive during this time. 8. **Format completion**: Upon completion, the tool will display a message indicating that the low-level format is finished. You can now safely eject the USB drive and close the HDD Low Level Format Tool. 9. **Reinitialize the drive**: Reformat the USB drive with a file system like FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT to make it usable again. To do this, right-click on the drive in File Explorer, choose "Format," and select the desired file system. Then click "Start" and wait for the process to finish. Remember that low-level formatting should only be done when necessary, as it thoroughly erases all data and may not be suitable for regular use cases.

Step 1. Download and install the HDD Low Level Format Tool.

Step 2. After downloading the software, choose the USB flash drive you wish to format and click "Continue".

Step 3. In the following window, choose "Low-level format." A warning will pop up, cautioning that all data will be erased. Proceed by clicking "Format this device."

Click "Low Level Format".

Step 4. A warning message will appear again. Click "Yes" to proceed, and the formatting process will begin. This may take some time.

Step 5. Now, if you navigate to My PC/File Explorer, you won't see the formatted drive listed. Therefore, you need to create a partition. To do this, right-click on the Start Menu and select Disk Management.

Step 6. Create a new simple volume.

Step 7. Choose the Volume Label and File System, then click "OK".

Download Partition Master for an easy way to low-level format your USB flash drive:

If you'd like to learn more about formatting USB, including how to format a USB flash drive using CMD, please click on the video below for more information:

When and Why Do I Need to Low Level Format USB Drive When you encounter specific issues with your USB drive, such as corruption, bad sectors, or when it's not recognized by your computer, you might need to perform a low-level format. A low-level format goes beyond a regular format, deleting all data and restructuring the drive at a more fundamental level. Here are some scenarios where you might need to low-level format a USB drive: 1. **Recovering from Bad Sectors**: If your USB drive has bad sectors that cannot be repaired through standard tools, a low-level format can overwrite and reallocate the affected areas. 2. **Performance Issues**: If the drive is significantly slower than it used to be, a low-level format can help optimize its performance by resetting its parameters. 3. **Data Security**: In cases where you want to ensure complete data erasure for privacy or security reasons, a low-level format can overwrite the entire drive, making it difficult to recover any previous data. 4. **Factory Reset**: If you're planning to resell or donate the USB drive, a low-level format can return it to its original, unpartitioned state, removing any personal information. 5. **Incompatibility Issues**: Sometimes, a low-level format may be necessary to resolve compatibility problems with certain devices or operating systems. It's important to note that a low-level format usually deletes all data on the drive permanently, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding. Additionally, not all USB drives support low-level formatting, so consult the manufacturer's instructions first.

You might need to low-level format your USB drives in the following scenarios:

• If you have important data on your USB drive and want to give it away, you'll need a low-level format to erase it, ensuring that no one can access your personal information.
• You might require a low-level format to free up space or capacity on your USB drive.
• If there were bad sectors or tracks on your USB drive and conventional methods failed to remove them, a low-level format would be recommended.

The advantages of performing low-level formatting on USB drives are as follows:

• Low-level formatting removes viruses that are embedded in the boot sector, which can be difficult to eliminate otherwise.
• Fixing issues or errors
• It wipes out all types of data, making it impossible to recover if you plan on giving away the drive.
• Restoring damaged drive sectors.

You can refer to the best USB low-level format tools mentioned above. We highly recommend Partition Master, which can even format a bootable USB drive. If you find this post helpful, please share it with more people by clicking the buttons below.

Conclusion

This article delves into the details of low-level formatting and guides you on how to perform it on USB flash drives using three different tools: Partition Master, USB Low Level Format Tool, or HDD Low Level Format Tool.

Among them, Partition Master is the most reliable software for low-level formatting USB drives, as it erases all existing data and can even format a bootable USB drive. So, download this software and give it a try!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Low Level Formatting USB: 1. 什么是低级格式化（Low Level Format, LLF）USB？ What is Low Level Formatting (LLF) for a USB drive? 2. 为什么需要对USB进行低级格式化？ Why would you need to low level format a USB drive? 3. 低级格式化与普通格式化有什么区别？ What's the difference between Low Level Formatting and normal formatting? 4. 低级格式化会删除所有数据吗？ Does low level formatting erase all data from the USB drive? 5. 低级格式化能修复USB驱动器的硬件问题吗？ Can low level formatting fix hardware issues with a USB drive? 6. 如何执行USB的低级格式化？ How do you perform a low level format on a USB drive? 7. 是否所有的USB驱动器都支持低级格式化？ Are all USB drives capable of being low level formatted? 8. 低级格式化USB需要多长时间？ How long does it typically take to low level format a USB drive? 9. 低级格式化后，USB的性能会有所提高吗？ Does low level formatting improve the performance of a USB drive? 10. 有没有替代低级格式化的其他方法来解决USB问题？ Are there alternative methods to low level formatting for fixing USB issues? 11. 低级格式化是否会影响USB的使用寿命？ Does low level formatting shorten the lifespan of a USB drive? 12. 在什么情况下应该避免使用低级格式化？ Under what circumstances should you avoid low level formatting a USB drive? 13. 低级格式化后，USB是否仍受原来的制造商保修？ Is a USB drive still under manufacturer warranty after a low level format? 14. 如何防止未来需要对USB进行低级格式化？ How can you prevent the need for low level formatting on a USB drive in the future? 15. 有哪些推荐的低级格式化工具或软件？ What are some recommended low level formatting tools or software for USB drives?

In case you're still unclear, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) along with their answers below to assist you further.

1. What is the best low-level formatting tool for USB?

The best low-level format tools for USB include:

• HDD Low-Level Format Tool
• USB Low Level Format
• Partition Master Tools
• Kingston USB Format Utility

Among these, Partition Master is the most reliable software for low-level formatting USB drives.

< b > 2. Can you low-level format a USB drive?

Yes, you can. Modern operating systems and storage devices no longer have built-in low-level formatting capabilities, so you'll need to utilize third-party tools to perform low-level formatting on your USB flash drives.

3. Does low-level formatting erase all data?

Yes, a low-level format will erase all data contained, making it irrecoverable.

4. Which is better for USB, NTFS or FAT32?

It depends on what you want to use your USB flash drive for. NTFS is the best option if you need the USB for a Windows-only environment.

On the other hand, if you need to exchange files with a non-Windows system like Mac or Linux, FAT32 would be a better choice, as long as your file sizes are less than 4GB.