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#How to reformat a usb drive how to#
#How to reformat a usb drive update#
#How to reformat a usb drive windows#

#How to reformat a usb drive how to#

How to format a USB using the Command Prompt (Windows)? You'll see that selecting both the NTFS and FAT options has now become possible. Right-click on your USB drive and then choose Format.

Now head to the Policies tab and select Optimize for performance.

Right-click on the key, and go to Properties/Hardware.

Your USB key should be visible in the section labeled Devices with Removable Storage.

Insert your USB key into the USB port and wait for it to be recognized as a mass medium.

Here's how to format your USB key using the NTFS system on Windows:

If your key has a capacity of more than 2GB, select FAT32 if your storage capacity is less than 2GB, select FAT16.

Next, click on Computer Management > Disk Management, and right-click on the drive letter that corresponds to your USB drive.

Open your Control Panel and select Administrative Tools.

The following procedure will explain how to format a USB key using the FAT file system on Windows. How to format USB key to FAT32 (Windows)?

#How to reformat a usb drive windows#

This system has an unlimited file size maximum (within normal use) and is accessible through all versions of Windows from Windows NT4. The NTFS file system is used to transport files that are larger than 4GB.

This file system is accessible through all versions of Windows from Windows 95 OSR2.

The FAT32 system is best used for multimedia keys with a storage maximum of 4GB.

This file system is accessible via MS-DOS and all versions of Windows.

The FAT16 file system is often used on small USB keys, with a storage maximum of 2GB.

Depending on the needs of the user, a USB key can be formatted with the FAT file system, (including FAT16 format or FAT32 format), or NTFS system. While you may not need to format your hard drives often, and may be satisfied with FAT32 or FAT, it helps to keep in mind that this option is always available if you need to reformat for any reason.Before beginning, it's important to choose which kind of file system you'd like to use. Understand that you will lose all currently stored files upon reformatting.īy reformatting your flash drives, you’ll be able to keep your flash drives performing their best while making sure you have plenty of space and efficiency when using them. Then click Start and OK to get around the deletion warning. You may need to uncheck Quick Format in some cases.

Simply right-click on the flash drive under My Computer on Windows or under Devices in the Finder on Mac, and choose “Format,” which should allow you to change the file format to the one you want. All you need is your flash drive and a computer. exFat combines elements of both FAT and NTFS by writing and reading larger files at faster speeds.įormatting is a relatively easy process in most cases. However, you should keep in mind this file format isn’t always great for flash drives, and is normally reserved for hard drives.įAT and FAT32 are used for almost every operating system, and they’re faster and don’t use as much memory. It’s also ideal for transferring files larger than 4GB because of its ability to create large partitions. NTFS uses less fragmentation, which means that it manages space more effectively than other allocations. The most common file systems include NTFS, FAT, FAT32, and exFAT. Methods of file allocation will determine how and where all files are stored on the flash drive. When formatting, it’s necessary to understand file allocation.

#How to reformat a usb drive update#

You may also need to format a flash drive to update or add new software. You can compress files so more space is usable on the custom flash drive. Another benefit is that you can customize security settings such as user permission on certain files. First, it’s the most effective way to wipe data from the flash drive with speed and efficiency. Formatting also helps erase all data previously stored on the flash drive, and may be used as a last ditch effort for troubleshooting when other methods fail.įlash drive formatting has numerous benefits. This ultimately optimizes the performance of your flash drive. It creates a filing system that organizes your data while freeing more space to allow for additional storage. Why Format a Flash Drive?įormatting a flash drive is the best way to prepare the USB drive for use by a computer. However, it can be beneficial to you to format your drive. Their use only entails plugging it into a port and transferring files for storage. Formatting is something that most flash drive users don’t even think about.