How to Format an SSD Drive
Formatting an SSD drive is useful in the event you want to sell the drive, dispose of the drive, or install a new operating system. You can format an SSD drive using a Windows or Mac computer. Verify that the SSD drive you want formatted...
Method 1 of 2:
Formatting an SSD Drive in Windows
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Verify that the SSD drive you want formatted is either installed in your computer, or attached to your computer via USB cable. -
Go to 'Start' and click on 'Control Panel.' -
Click on 'System and Maintenance,' then click on 'Administrative tools.' -
Open the 'Computer Management' application. -
Click on 'Disk Management' in the left pane of the Computer Management window. -
Click on the name of your SSD drive in the list of drives displayed on-screen. -
Right-click on the SSD drive, then select 'Format.' -
Select your preferred values from the 'File system' and 'Allocation unit size' drop-down menus. -
Place a checkmark next to 'Perform a quick format,' then click on 'OK.' Your computer will format your SSD drive.[1]
Method 2 of 2:
Formatting an SSD Drive on Mac OS X
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Verify that the SSD drive you want formatted is either installed in your computer, or attached to your computer via USB cable. -
Open Finder to verify that the SSD drive displays in your list of devices. -
Click on 'Applications,' then click on 'Utilities.' -
Launch the 'Disk Utility' application. -
Click on the name of your SSD drive in the left pane of Disk Utility. -
Click on the 'Erase' tab, then take note of the value next to 'Partition Map Scheme,' which is located at the bottom of the window. -
Verify that the value next to Partition Map Scheme reads, 'Master Boot Record' or 'Apple Partition Map,' then click on the 'Partition' tab.- If the value next to Partition Map Scheme reads, 'GUID Partition Table,' select 'Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)' from the Format drop-down menu, click on 'Erase,' then skip to step #13.
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Select the number of partitions you want from within the 'Partition Layout' drop-down menu. -
Type a name for the partition, or SSD drive, under 'Partition Information,' then select 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the Format drop-down menu. -
Click on the name of the SSD drive in the middle window, then click on 'Options.' -
Select 'GUID Partition Table,' then click on 'OK.' -
Click on 'Apply,' then click on 'Partition' to verify that you want to format your SSD drive. -
Wait for Disk Utility to format your SSD drive. The name of the drive will display in Finder when complete.[2]
Discover more
click drive ssd partitionShare by
Kareem Winters
Update 24 March 2020
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