format external hard drive windows 10 ntfs

Formatting erases the data from the hard drive, but that data can be recovered via specific data recovery software. It’s recommended to do so from time to time, especially when it comes to external drives and flash drives-but always remember to create a backup of critical data.įinally, there’s a difference between a secure wipe and formatting. Wait for the window with a list of hard drives and click ‘Drive Options.’ Once there, choose the hard drive you want to format, choose a desirable file system (NTFS recommended), and click ‘Format.’ Once the formatting process is completed, you can continue with the installation of the operating system.Īs we’ve shown in our short guide, learning how to format an external hard drive is very simple, and anyone can do it. If you are installing a new copy of Windows, you will have to wipe a drive manually. Click on the ‘Erase’ button and wait for the process to complete.Within the ‘Format’ bar, choose the file system you want to use.In the new window, choose the drive you want to format from the left side.Open ‘Utilities’ and choose ‘Disk Utility’.Even though you guys usually aren’t much into gaming, I’ll go ahead and help you format your external HDD. Now, the process is complete, and your hard drive is ready to use.ĭon’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about the Mac lovers out there. It shouldn’t take long, although a full format takes two to three times longer than a quick format. Wait for the progress bar to be completely full. Click the ‘Start’ button on the bottom of the window.Select ‘Quick Format’ for used drives or ‘Full Format’ for new drives.In the newly opened window, choose the file system you want to use.Right-click on the hard drive and choose ‘Format’ from the menu.Open ‘Computer’ and locate your hard drive.As for formatting external hard drives, ExFAT is the way to go. Formatting an External HDD: Windows OSįor Windows, we recommend you choose the NTFS option when formatting a regular HDD. Here are the steps you need to complete in different operating systems to format your external drive. External memory is straightforward to format, and I advise you to always format a new hard drive before you start using it.

Format external hard drive windows 10 ntfs