While Formatting a USB drive is a simple process for many, others with a new laptop or PC may struggle to find the appropriate menu item. The USB Disk formatting options in Windows are flexible.

A USB drive’s contents are erased during the formatting process. New USB drives should be formatted before use to prevent security risks. In Windows 11, formatting a USB drive is a breeze and takes barely any time at all.

Why to Format a USB Drive?

As was previously said, there are numerous advantages to formatting a USB drive. It just depends on what you require. Some people may wish to reformat their USB drive to switch file systems, while others may simply wish to wipe the drive clean.

To free up space and avoid the trouble of manually deleting the contents, users typically format a USB device. When you format, all of your files will be removed and unindexed, and the space they occupy will be marked as free.

In addition, many end users believe, incorrectly, that formatting USB devices improves their read/write speed. The performance boost is more noticeable after a sizable amount of storage space has been freed up.

A Guide to Formatting Pendrives in Windows 11 Through Various Ways

So, if you need to know how to format a USB drive in Windows 11, keep reading! We’ve included some easy-to-follow instructions for formatting USB drives in Windows 11 below. Okay, so let’s begin.

1) Format USB Flash Drives on Windows 11 from the File Explorer

USB drives can be formatted without the use of any additional software. Like previous versions of Windows, Windows 11’s File Explorer serves as a one-stop shop for formatting external storage devices. Using File Explorer, here’s how to format a Pendrive on Windows 11.

1. Hook up the USB drive to the PC running Windows 11 so it may be formatted.

2. It’s time to launch Windows 11’s This PC (File Explorer).

3. Select Format from the right-click menu of the attached USB disk.

4. Quick Format can be activated by selecting NTFS or FAT32 under File System.

5. When ready, press the button labeled “Start.”

6. When prompted, select OK to confirm the format.

7. Your USB disk will be formatted. A confirmation window will pop up.

So long! To format a USB disk in Windows 11, this is the simplest method.

2) Format USB Drive on Windows 11 Using the Settings App

There is a dedicated storage management tool in Windows 11. It can be used to format a flash drive or any other external disk that is linked to a computer running Windows 11. In Windows 11, the Settings app is used to format USB drives.

1. The Settings app may be accessed by pressing the Windows Key + I simultaneously.

2. Select System > Storage in the Settings menu that appears.

3. Select Advanced Storage Settings from the Storage menu.

4. Disks & volumes are where you should go next.

5. Next, select your USB drive from the pull-down menu that appears next to its name.

6. The Properties menu is next.

7. The Format button can be found in the Properties menu.

8. Select the Format button after entering the Label and File System.

So long! If you do this on a computer running Windows 11, the attached USB device will be formatted immediately.

3) Format the USB drive Using the Disk Management Utility

In Windows 11, the USB drive formatting process is handled by the Disk Management tool. Learn how to use the Disk Management tool to format a USB flash drive.

1. Disk Management may be accessed by right-clicking the Windows 11 Start button.

2. When you launch Disk Management, look for the USB drive you just plugged in.

3. To format a detachable drive, right-click it and choose the option.

4. Change the Volume Label and File System at the format prompt. Select Do a rapid format, and then press OK.

5. When prompted, select OK to confirm the format.

So long! This teaches you how to use the Disk Management tool in Windows 11 to format a USB device.

4) Format a Pendrive using CMD

If you prefer, you can use Windows 11’s Command Prompt to format your external drive. Learn how to use the command prompt to format a USB flash drive in Windows 11.

1. Type CMD on the Windows 11 search. Right-click on the Command Prompt app and select Run as administrator.

2. Type diskpart into the prompt that appears, and hit Enter.

3. Now, in the command prompt, type list disk.

4. To use your USB drive, type select disk + number (replace the number with the one that appears next to your drive). Choose Disc 2 as an illustration.

5. After that, hit Enter to continue to list loudness.

6. The above command will display the total number of volumes and their names on your computer. Write down your USB drive’s volume number and run this command: Just pick a volume to read.

7. Use this command to set the volume:

format fs=ntfs quick

8. Your USB disk will be formatted. To quit the program, type exit at the prompt.

So long! In Windows 11, the Command Prompt is where you format your USB device.

This completes the short list of the most reliable approaches to formatting a USB Drive in Windows 11. These techniques are compatible with Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows Vista, etc. If you’re still having trouble formatting a USB drive or Pendrive with Windows 11, please let us know.