How to format a USB flash drive in Windows or macOS

Even if you do not just formatted the flash drive, there are details that you may not know. For example, how to remove write protection, which file system and cluster size to choose, how to recover data. Layfhaker understand all the nuances.

Formatting is not only removes all the files from the USB-drive, but also can bring it into the order, if he suddenly refuses to work on some of the devices. This guide will help you to clear the flash card and will be useful for both experienced users and beginners.

How to format a USB flash drive in Windows

Step 1. Start system means for formatting

By connecting a USB flash drive, open the "My Computer". When the drive icon is displayed, click on the right mouse button and click "Format".

Step 2. Specify the required parameters and format the USB flash drive

File system - a way to organize data on a flash drive. Select the one that suits you the most.

1. FAT32. USB flash drive is fully compatible with the Windows, MacOS, as well as most USB-devices like game consoles, media players and stereos. But you can not write files to it, the amount of which exceeds 4 GB.
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2. exFAT. The drive will be fully compatible with Windows, starting with version XP SP2, as well as c Mac OS X Snow Leopard or later. But many USB-devices can not work with him. But the stick can record files of any size.
3. NTFS. The drive will be fully compatible with Windows. However macOS you can only view the files on the flash drive without the ability to record on it. Many USB-device will not see the drive. On the other hand, you can save files of any size.

Once selected, enter the size of the cluster (allocation unit size). This parameter specifies the minimum amount of memory that the flash drive can select a single file. For example, if the cluster size of 64 KB, and the size of the recorded file 12 KB, the latter will take not less than 64 KB of memory.

Choose a small cluster size, if you are going on a flash drive to store a lot of small files. This will help to effectively use the space, but the speed of the USB drive will be lower.

If you want to store large files, it is reasonable to specify a higher value in order to speed up storage device. If you can not find the optimal value, the easiest way to leave the default cluster size.

In the "Volume Label" to enter the desired name of the drive.

Make sure that the option "Fast (clearing the table of contents)," noted daw. Thus you will save time on cleaning. But if you want to format the flash drive, the system has checked for errors, then uncheck - then the process will last much longer. Click "Start" and wait for the completion of the procedure.

If necessary, the file system can be changed again. It is enough to re-format the drive.

How to format a protected USB flash drive

Sometimes the computer refuses to format the drive because of the fact that Windows settings exhibited write protection. Disable it can be in the registry editor.

Open the Registry Editor: Use the key combination Windows + R, insert the line appears regedit and press Enter.

In the folder tree, select the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE → SYSTEM → CurrentControlSet → Control → StorageDevicePolicies (last directory can not be on the list).

Inside the folder, open StorageDevicePolicies double-click the parameter WriteProtect, change its value from 1 to 0 and save the result. Close the Registry Editor, remove the drive and restart the PC.

If your flash drive has a switch, it can be protected physically. To enable writing, move it to another position.

If StorageDevicePolicies directory is missing, right-click the catalog Control, then select "Create» → «Forum» and call it StorageDevicePolicies.

Right-click on StorageDevicePolicies section, then "Create» → «Parameter DWORD» or «Setting QWORD» (depending on the bit of your OS: 32 or 64 bit). Name the new parameter WriteProtect, open it by double-clicking and check that its value was equal to 0.

Close the Registry Editor, remove the flash drive and restart the PC.

After these steps, most likely, the protection will be removed and you will be able to format the drive.

What to do if you do not manage to format the USB flash drive

Windows may report the inability to format the drive. So, somewhere in error. And sometimes she asks to format the flash drive it, but the failure of the drive or PC does not allow it.

In this case, instead of the standard Windows tools, try a special program that restore correct operation of the drive and format it. Such software can usually be found on the site stick manufacturer. For instance, JetFlash Online Recovery - for the company Transcend drives. Or USB Flash Drive Online Recovery - for flash drives brand ADATA.

But there is a universal tool that can force almost any format the drive. For example, the free program USB Disk Storage Format Tool. It is very easy to use, understand it will not be difficult.

If using a third-party software to correct errors is not possible, perhaps, the drive is damaged and needs repair.

How to format the flash drive to macOS

Step 1. Run the "Disk Utility"

Connect the drive, go to Finder → «programs» → «Tools» → «Disk Utility."

On the left pane, select your USB-drive. Then click on the tab "Delete» (Erase) in the upper part of the window.

Step 2. Format the USB flash drive, select the options you want

In the resulting window, select the USB drive to one of the following file systems.

1. OS X Extended (Magazine). The drive is fully compatible with MacOS. But in Windows, you do not even open it. Not all media players and other USB-devices will see the stick. But it can store files of any size.
2. MS-DOS (FAT / FAT32), exFAT - Features of these file systems are given above.

By selecting from these options, click on the "Erase» (Erase) and wait until the formatting is complete.

Again, you can change the file system during each format the flash.

What to do if you do not manage to format the USB flash drive

Formatting problems in macOS may occur if the flash drive is damaged or in her case there is a physical switch. In the first case, can only be attributed drive to a service center. The second is sufficient to remove the protection by clicking the switch.

How to recover formatted USB flash drive

As mentioned above, formatting the drive will erase all its contents. If you forget it, you can lose important files. In addition, the recorded information on a flash drive may not be available due to malfunction of the software. Fortunately, in many cases, the problem is easy to solve with the help of special data recovery software.