In this guide, we will show you how to erase all data from a USB drive. The process for erasing a USB drive can vary somewhat depending on whether you’re using a PC or a Mac, however, the end goal remains the same – completely deleting all data on the drive so it can be redirected or reused.
The first and most important step in achieving this is to format the USB drive. The formatting process basically organizes the storage space of the drive, preparing it for data storage by deleting all the previous data. However, the details of this procedure can differ slightly between a PC and a Mac. Despite the slight differences in the steps involved, the result is the same: all data on the USB drive is completely erased, preparing the drive for future use.
The following instructions will guide you through the process depending on the type of computer you are using. We’ve made sure to provide clear step-by-step instructions for both PC and Mac users to make the process as simple as possible.
Furthermore, it should be noted that there are several different file systems that you can choose to format your USB drive with. These include, but are not limited to, FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS for Windows-based systems, and MacOS Extended (aka HFS+) for Mac systems. The choice of file system will depend largely on how you intend to use your USB drive, each with its own unique set of features and limitations. Therefore, it is advised to familiarize yourself with these options before proceeding with the formatting process.
How to erase a USB drive on a Windows PC
The way you erase and delete a USB disk on a Windows PC is different from that on a Mac. To do this, connect a file usb stick in your Windows computer.
select now this computer On your computer, if this is not an option, press Windows key and E at the same time, this will open File explorer on your device. select now this computer from the list on the left.
It will now show you a list of different drives on your computer, select a file USB drive And Right click on the featured device.
A dropdown list will now appear, select appearance A new window will open giving you various options to configure your device. This is usually the option I use the most quick formatBecause this works fine. Once you have selected the option you want click Begins. You will be asked again if you want to format the USB drive, click Yes The drive will be formatted. That’s it when it’s done it will say formatting completed select ok and the drive has been erased on your Windows PC.
How to erase a USB drive on a Mac computer
In order to erase and format a USB drive on a Mac computer, you will need to use Apple Disk Utility software.
The first thing you need to do is connect the USB drive to your Mac or MacBook.
This can be done by opening a file discoverer on your Mac and then select ApplicationsNow select Utilities, then Open File disk utility program.
You will now see your USB drive Listed in the list of drives, make sure that drive is selected and then select erase. You will then get a bunch of options to choose from, you can select Mac OS Extended (Journaled), this is the best option you can select to use with your Mac.
You can also format a USB drive for use with a Windows computer on a Mac, if you want to do that, then MS-DOS (FAT).
We hope you find this guide useful and we hope it helps you easily erase a USB drive on your Windows PC or Mac computer. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please let us know in the comments section below.
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