How to Fix the "Windows 11 Can't Format Hard Drive" Error

Updated By

Tracy King 

Updated on April 22, 2024

"The format did not complete successfully" - You may randomly encounter this error when attempting to format a hard drive partition, USB drive, or SD card on Windows 11.

Users have抱怨this formatting error in the Microsoft community, but there are few available solutions. Sometimes, you might encounter an error while formatting a hard drive partition in Windows 11. The error message varies, from “Windows won't let me format the drive” to “Windows was unable to complete the SD card format.”

When your hard drive fails to format, panic is a natural response. But as long as you've backed up your data, you have nothing to worry about.

In this guide, we'll take a step-by-step approach to help you resolve the issue where Windows 11 fails to complete formatting on your hard drive. We recommend attempting each of the following options in order before proceeding to the next step.

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Error: Windows 11 Won't Let Me Format Hard Drive

If you've formatted a USB flash drive or hard disk on a Windows computer but were unable to complete the formatting process for some reason, and Windows prompts you to fix the drive partition or that it can't remove the software protection (DRM), I recommend some straightforward steps that are more likely to resolve such issues and fix problems caused by an incomplete format.

Before attempting any of the following Windows fixes, make sure to back up important files from the drive you can't format. You can use Windows' built-in backup tools or Todo Backup disk imaging software.

Case 1 - Windows Unable to Format USB Drive

My computer's hard drive is running out of storage, so I decided to use a blank USB flash drive to create more available space. When I inserted the flash drive into my laptop and tried to format it as FAT32, I encountered a partition error, which now prevents Windows from formatting the USB again.

Scenario 2 - Windows Failed to Format Hard Disk Partition or Drive

You've created a partition on your hard drive to install a second operating system (OS). Now, when you try to format the recently created partition, you receive a message stating “Windows 11 can't format the drive.” What does this error mean, and how can you fix the “Windows can't format the hard drive” issue in Windows 11?

I am stumped when I get an error message telling me that Windows was unable to complete the formatting of my hard disk. Of course, Microsoft knows something that I don't. But let's get to the heart of the matter.

Why can't I format a hard drive in Windows 11?

Many factors can eventually lead to this error. It is recommended to check all these factors before you perform any formatting operation. This ensures that your formatting process is safe and carries no risks.

There can be numerous reasons why you can't format a hard drive in Windows 11. If you're having issues with formatting, you might want to check if any of the following scenarios apply to your situation:

1. The hard drive is write-protected.

Before you begin formatting the drive, make sure it's not write-protected. Write protection prevents the disk from being overwritten or altered in any way. You can easily remove the write protection from your drive using the diskpart method mentioned below.

2. File System Error – The current file system is not supported by Windows.

When Windows 11 encounters an unsupported file system, it may display the hard drive as RAW and render it inaccessible. For instance, if the drive is formatted in Linux's Ext2/3/4 instead of FAT, NTFS, or exFAT, Windows will refuse to format it.

To resolve this issue, you can use a third-party formatting tool to help format the device in Windows 11.

3. Viral infections

When your USB or hard drive is having connectivity issues, it could be a sign of a virus attack. This is because the data on the drive becomes inaccessible and eventually leads to the corruption of the entire drive. Upon encountering this problem, you should take immediate action to rid the drive of the virus.

4. Hard drive is offline, unallocated, or unknown

Windows 11 cannot format a hard drive without partitions because formatting is a partition-based process that requires a partitioned volume to create a file system.

The easiest solution is to convert the unallocated space on the removable disk back into a partition.

5. Windows is unable to format the system partition on the target disk

The most severe reason behind this error is corrupted system files. Usually, this becomes an issue when you run out of disk space or attempt to format an incorrectly identified encrypted drive. In such cases, you must check and repair the damaged system files.

6. Hard drive has bad sectors

Windows is unable to format a hard drive with bad sectors. Bad sectors on a hard drive can be caused by various factors, such as power fluctuations during operation, excessive defragmentation, and more.

You can perform simple repairs on a disk drive by using standard Windows utilities, such as Disk Error Checking and Bad Sector Repair.

7. Drive Physical Damage

Most of the times, hard drive unaccessibility issues are due to hardware failures like disconnected/broken IDE/SATA cable or physical damage to the disk. There's nothing you can do about it and you will have to purchase a new one.

How to Fix the "Unable to Format Hard Drive" Error in Windows 11

Backup all crucial files from the target hard drive beforehand, and then follow the instructions and tutorials below to resolve the "Can't Format Hard Drive" error in Windows 11.

Method 1: Use a Third-Party Formatting Software - Partition Master

The partition manager tool is a program that allows you to format hard disk partitions to FAT32 or NTFS. For instance, if your USB drive shows a "RAW file system error" and is inaccessible in the Windows Explorer, you can use the partition manager tool to format the device, eliminating all errors for better management and optimization of data on your hard drive or external storage devices.

Here are some situations where you can use a partition master tool to format the device and get rid of these errors:

• Repair error code 25/07/82 in Windows 11 using quick and advanced tools.
• Format file system drives like external hard disks, USB flash drives, and other devices to NTFS partition without data loss.
• Format unsupported drives when the computer operating system fails to format or recognizes them as NTFS.
• Recover lost NTFS partitions due to certain formatting operations or system failures.

Step 1: Run Partition Master, right click the hard drive partition you want to format and then choose “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: You will then see a warning prompt; click “Yes” to proceed.

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

In addition to formatting devices on Windows 11, the Partition Master tool provides an easy-to-use solution for managing various types of hard disk partitions. It enables you to conveniently resize and move drive partitions with ease. It also allows you to manage different file systems, such as FAT, NTFS, Ext2/Ext3, ReFS, and more.

Method 2: Remove Viruses/Malware and Reformat the Hard Drive

Once your hard drive is infected with malware or a virus, it can be almost impossible to format the device.

To scan your hard drive, you can use Windows Defender or any other antivirus program.

Step 1. To scan your drive for potential malware, click on the Windows Search and type defender.

Step 2. Open the Windows Security app.

Step 3: Now click on the “Shield Icon” from the left pane.

Click “Virus & threat protection” to remove any viruses or malware.

Step 4: Scroll down, then tap “Scan Options.”

Step 5: Now select “Full Scan” from the list and start a thorough scan.

First, run a virus scan to ensure your computer is safe. Then, use a professional partition manager – AOMEI Partition Assistant. It's one of the best (though not free, it's definitely worth the money), and you can run its “Format Hard Drive” function to delete the data and reformat the drive while it's clean.

## Method 3: Run CHKDSK and Format the Hard Drive

CHKDSK (Check Disk) is a utility that checks for hard drive storage errors and attempts to fix them within its capabilities. It's a good troubleshooting tool for repairing hard drives with corrupt files.

1. Type "cmd" in the Windows search, then click "Run as administrator."

2. Type chkdsk E: /f /r /x and press Enter.

Note: Replace E with the letter of the drive you want to format.

3. Open File Explorer, then right-click the drive you want to format.

4. Click “Format”, select the NTFS file system, check “Quick Format”, and then click “Start”.

Method 4: Clean up your disk and create a formatted hard drive using DiskPart

When you can't format a device or partition through File Explorer in Windows, you can try formatting it with the Diskpart command. It's an excellent way to format USB drives, SD cards, hard disk drives, and other storage devices from the Command Prompt.

Remove Write Protection from USB or Hard Disk using Diskpart

1. Type cmd in the Windows search bar, then click Run as administrator.

2. Type diskpart and press Enter.

3. Type **list disk** and press Enter.

4. Type select disk 1, and press Enter.

Replace 1 with the number of your disk.

5. Type attributes disk clear readonly and press Enter.

Lock and Write Protect will be removed from the disk drive or USB drive.

Format a drive using DiskPart in Windows 11

1. Type "cmd" in the Windows search bar, then click "Run as administrator."

2. Type diskpart and press Enter.

3. Enter the commands listed below, pressing Enter after each one:

List disk partitions

Select disk 0 (replace 0 with the number of your disk)

Select the disk drive you wish to use by its number from the command:

"List the dossier"

Select Volume 6 (replace 6 with the volume number of the partition you want to format)

< strong > Format the file system as NTFS, quick format

Use the command to format the partition:

You can replace NTFS with FAT32, exFAT, and so on.

The reasons for being unable to format a hard drive on Windows 11 can be complex, but you can fix it.

This simple, free guide will teach you how to fix the “Windows 11 unable to format” error message. This issue can affect USB flash drives, SD cards, external and internal hard drives.

You can choose to format the drive using the built-in Disk Management tool in Windows 11 or the diskpart utility. If you find formatting with diskpart difficult or are unable to format the hard drive, tools like Partition Master can assist you.

Partition Master features a user-friendly interface, with no complicated parameters to set. It is the most efficient and straightforward tool for resolving this particular Windows formatting error that requires special knowledge.

With its integrated disk management and broad filesystem support, this software is all you need for formatting hard drives. If you're looking for a reliable partitioning and formatting aid for Windows 11, Partition Master should be your go-to tool!

Frequently Asked Questions on Formatting Hard Drive Issues in Windows 11

If you're looking for more answers on how to fix the “Can't Format Hard Drive on Windows 11” error, relax and follow through with the troubleshooting steps enlisted below – you'll find reliable solutions right here.

How to format a USB drive on Windows 11?

Connect the USB flash drive to your Windows 11 device. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer. Open the USB flash drive and back up any important files to another drive. Right-click on the USB flash drive and select "Format." Assign a new file system to the USB drive - FAT32 (for 32GB or smaller) or exFAT (for 64GB or larger). Check "Quick Format" and then click "OK."

2. How do I fix a USB drive that won't format?

• Unlock the USB flash drive by sliding its physical switch to the OFF side.
• Eject the drive properly and reconnect it to your computer.
• Run CHKDSK to fix file system errors on the USB drive.
• Scan and remove viruses and malware.
• Format the USB drive using tools like File Explorer or Partition Master.

Does Windows 11 support the FAT32 file system?

Yes, FAT32 is a file system format supported by Windows. It is commonly used on external and removable storage devices such as USB flash drives and SD cards. Windows 11 also recognizes and supports the FAT32 format.