How to Format a Bootable USB on Win 10/11?

A bootable USB flash drive serves as a gateway to the WinPE or Linux environment, facilitating tasks such as deploying Windows Server essentials. However, as needs evolve or issues arise, you might find yourself seeking to format the flash drive. Whether it's for erasing data, changing the file system, or eliminating viruses or malware, this guide will walk you through the process of how to format a USB step by step. Let's get started.

Method 1: Format a Bootable USB With CMD

The Command Prompt, often abbreviated as CMD, is a powerful text-based interface that allows you to interact with your computer's operating system through a series of typed commands. Specifically, Diskpart is a valuable utility that operates within the Command Prompt to manage disks and partitions. It provides a direct way to execute various tasks, from simple operations like navigating folders to more advanced tasks like system configuration. When it comes to formatting a bootable USB, this tool comes in handy.

To format a bootable USB on Win 10/11 using Diskpart, follow the instructions below:

1. Launch the Run Windows by using Windows + R keyboard shortcut.
2. Enter diskpart in the search box and press Enter.
3. Type list disk and hit Enter. Now, type select disk X (X is the disk number of your bootable USB drive).
4. Type Clean and press Enter to continue. It takes a couple of minutes to wipe all your Bios boot files on the USB drive.

   

5. Type create partition primary into your Window and press Enter to create a partition on the bootable USB drive.
6. Write format fs=fat32 quick or format fs=ntfs quick, depending on the file system of your preference. Hit the Enter key to continue.

   

7. Type Exit, and it's done.

Method 2: Format a Bootable USB With Disk Management

Besides the command prompt, you can also initiate a bootable USB format using Windows built-in tools, such as Disk Management. Disk Management is a valuable tool that enables users to manage their computer's storage effectively. It provides a graphical interface to perform various tasks related to disk and partition management. To be more specific, this tool allows you to create new drives, extend volumes, shrink partitions, assign drive letters, and yes, format drives, including your bootable USB.

Now, let's proceed with a comprehensive step-by-step guide on formatting a USB drive for Windows 10/11 using Disk Management:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window and type diskmgmt.msc into the search box. Press Enter, and Disk Management will appear on the screen.
2. Locate the bootable USB drive and right-click on it. Select Format.

   

3. Choose the correct file system and click Default for the allocation unit size. Press Ok to complete the process.

Method 3: Format a Bootable USB With File Explorer

While utilizing the Disk Management utility for formatting a USB drive on Windows 10/11 is generally efficient, there are instances where it might not yield the expected results. For example, Disk Management might not handle some USB drives seamlessly due to complex file systems, unusual partitions, or unique configurations.

At this point, File Explorer steps in as a more versatile method for formatting bootable USB drives on Windows 10/11. Its familiarity and broader compatibility often make it a dependable alternative.

Here's how to use this method:

1. Open File Explorer using Windows + E hotkey. Go to the This PC section and locate the bootable USB flash drive.
2. Right-click the bootable USB flash drive and select Format.
3. Select the file system of your preference between NTFS and FAT32 and choose the allocation size. The users can also restore the device's default settings by tapping Restore Device Defaults.

   

4. Press Start to format your bootable USB.

Method 4: Format a Bootable USB With AOMEI Partition Assistant

Now that you are well acquainted with the command prompt and Windows built-in tools to format the bootable USB flash drive, what if you want a more user-friendly interface and more flexibility to step back in the process? AOMEI Partition Assistant, a third-party software, can be your best bet.

It is a reliable and well-known disk partition manager that enables you to format a bootable USB in Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. In addition, the tool lets you choose among different options, including NTFS, FAT32, Ext3, Ext 2, and more.

Stick to the stepwise instructions below and initiate Windows 10/11 USB format with AOMEI Partition Assistant. Here's how:

1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant on your Windows PC. Plug in the bootable USB drive.
2. Right-click the bootable flash drive and select Format Partition.

   

3. Choose file system from the drop-down menu and tap OK.

   

4. Click Apply to format your bootable USB and complete the process.

[Bonus] How to Recover Your Data After Formatting a Bootable USB?

Although these aforementioned solutions can help format the USB flash drive in seconds, they won't cover data losses. What should you do if you want your data back after formatting? Is it possible to retrieve the content on the USB drive? Thankfully yes, you can recover your lost files using Recoverit.

Wondershare Recoverit stands out among loads of data recovery tools with its robust capabilities. With support for over 1000 file types and formats, this software offers comprehensive data rescue solutions. Moreover, it caters to over 2000 types of storage devices, spanning a wide spectrum of scenarios.

Are you ready to recover your files from your formatted bootable USB? Follow the step-by-step guide below:

1. Select the External Drive

   Connect your formatted USB drive to your PC and launch Wondershare Recoverit. Choose the USB drive as the recovery target.

   

2. Scan the Formatted Bootable USB

   Clicking Start to trigger Recoverit to conduct a thorough scan of your formatted USB drive. Progress can be tracked on-screen, with options to pause or stop. Expect a brief wait as the tool inspects your drive's data.

   

3. Preview and Recover

   After scanning, preview the recovered files. Click Recover and choose a storage location for retrieval. Take charge of data selection and recovery destination.

   

   To see it in action, watch our informative video guide:

Conclusion

That's all about the guide to format bootable USB on Windows 10/11. Simply put, formatting a bootable USB drive on Windows 10/11 is easy with multiple methods. While Command Prompt and Windows built-in tools are reliable for formatting the bootable flash drive, you can also turn to third-party software for added convenience. Don't worry if you want your data back after formatting the USB, as Recoverit will make it in three simple steps.