To use Command Prompt to format a USB flash drive, use these steps: On Windows 11, you can also use the DiskPart tool with Command Prompt to wipe out and format a USB flash drive.

How to format USB drive on Command Prompt Usually, wiping out the flash drive and starting over with a new partition is the best option since it can also help to resolve logical issues, such as data corruption. Once you complete the steps, the wizard will set up the drive with your configuration. (Optional) Check the Enable file and folder compression option.

Check the Perform a quick format option.In the 'Volume label' setting, confirm the friendly name of the flash drive.Use the Default option in the 'Allocation unit size' drop-down menu.

Quick note: You can only use 'NTFS' or 'FAT32.' If you need to format the drive using 'exFAT,' you will need to use Command Prompt or PowerShell.

Click the Storage page on the right side.

To reformat a USB drive through the Disks & volumes settings, use these steps: Windows 11 also comes with the 'Disks & volumes' settings, a modern version of the Disk Management tool that allows you to manage drives, including the ability to format USB flash drives. Once you complete the steps, the USB flash drive will erase and format to store files again. This process could take a long time, depending on the capacity. If you clear the option, the tool will perform a full format, scanning for bad and writing zeros in all sectors to delete all the data.

Quick note: The 'Quick format' option only deletes the file system table and the root folder, but the data may still be recoverable.

Under the 'Format options' section, select the Quick format option.

In the 'Volume label' field, confirm a drive name that will appear on File Explorer.

Use the default selection in the 'Allocation unit size' drop-down menu.

If you use the flash drive on Linux, 'FAT32' is your best option. If you want to make the storage usable on other systems, such as macOS, use the 'exFAT' option.

Quick tip: The NTFS option has been designed for Windows.

Format usb to ntfs on mac