How to Format a Flash Drive

On Windows operating system

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 1

Connect the USB flash drive to the computer by inserting it into one of the flat rectangular USB ports on the outside of the computer.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 2

Open Start . Click the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of the screen, or press the key ⊞ Win.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 3

Type "this pc" into Start. You'll see a desktop icon appear at the top of the Start window.

On Windows 7, click Computer on the right side of the Start window.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 4

Click This PC , the desktop icon at the top of the Start window, to open the This PC window.

Skip this step on Windows 7.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 5

Right-click the flash drive icon below the "Devices and drives" heading in the middle of the page to open a list of options.

On a laptop, you use two fingers to touch the trackpad instead of right-clicking.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 6

Click Format . It's near the middle of the drop-down list to open the Format window.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 7

Click the "File System" box below the "File System" heading near the top of the page. The screen will display a list with the following options:

NTFS - The default format of the Windows operating system. If your drive is used as a secondary drive for Windows, you should select this option.

FAT32 - The widest compatible format. Suitable for most computers and game consoles.

exFAT - Similar to FAT32 , but designed specifically for external hard drives (such as flash drives) and more convenient.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 8

Click a format option. The choice used will depend on your drive usage needs. For example, choose FAT32 if you want to format a flash drive for game consoles, or choose NTFS if you want to create a Windows-specific backup drive.

If you have previously formatted the drive and you are confident the drive is not damaged, you can check the Quick Format box.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 9

Click Start , then select OK to let Windows begin the process of formatting the flash drive for you.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 10

Click OK when prompted. So, your flash drive has been formatted successfully.

On Mac operating system

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 11

Connect the USB flash drive to your computer by inserting it into one of the flat rectangular USB ports on the outside of your Mac computer.

Some Macs don't have USB ports, so you'll need to buy an adapter.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 12

Click Go in the menu bar in the top left corner of the screen.

If you don't see Go , first click the Finder icon with the blue face in your Mac's Dock.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 13

Click Utilities in the Go drop-down list .

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 14

Double-click Disk Utility . It's in the middle of the Utilities page.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 15

Click the flash drive's name on the far left side of the Disk Utility window.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 16

Click the Erase tab at the top of the Disk Utility window.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 17

Click the "Format" box in the middle of the page to open a list with the following options:

Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (Journaled)

Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) (Journaled, Encrypted)

Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled )

Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled, Encrypted )

MS-DOS (FAT)

ExFAT

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 18

Click a selection. Typically, you will use one of the Mac OS options for a flash drive used on your Mac (such as a backup drive), although you can choose MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFat for compatibility. better.

How to Format a Flash Drive Picture 19

Click Erase , then click Erase when prompted to begin the formatting process. Once the formatting process is complete, you'll see the flash drive icon appear on your Mac screen.

Micah Soto

Update 26 May 2024