{"id":3116,"date":"2021-03-11T09:55:51","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T17:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/SUMMALAI.COM\/?p=3116"},"modified":"2021-03-11T09:55:52","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T17:55:52","slug":"how-to-fix-windows-cant-format-flash-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/SUMMALAI.COM\/?p=3116","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix \u201cWindows can\u2019t format flash drive\u201d ?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How to solve the problem of Windows unable to format flash drive? Here provides you four methods to fix this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 1. Eliminate possible virus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

USB flash drives are very portable and can be connected to computer easily via USB drive to backup or transfer data, so many users often carry them around and use them on various computers, making it easy to infect virus. In this case, you can make use of a reliable anti-virus tool to remove malware or virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that, you can try to format the flash drive again. If you still cannot format the USB flash drive, proceed to the following methods, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 2. Check and fix bad sectors on the flash drive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we all know, the flash drive and other storage devices consist of sectors, the smallest unit for data storing. Files stored on them usually occupy discontinuous sectors. The bad sectors means the sectors are damaged and cannot be read or written, so the formatting process can be disrupted. To check and fix bad sectors, you can use CHKDSK.exe tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.<\/strong> Press \u201cWin+ R\u201d keys on your keyboard to open \u201cRun\u201d dialog, input \u201ccmd\u201d and press Enter to open Command Prompt window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. <\/strong>In the window, enter \u201cchkdsk g: \/f \/r \/x\u201d and hit on Enter to execute this command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note<\/strong>: replace g with the drive letter of your flash drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chkdsk<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Method 3. Disable write protection attribute before formatting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Besides, Windows will be unable to format flash drive which is write-protected. But the flash drive can become write-protected due to different causes such as physical lock, being set into read only mode, or wrong registry settings or corrupted file system. Different causes need different solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Check the physical switch<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Have a check at your flash drive at first, if there is a physical lock switch on the side, you can slide the switch to the unlock area. Then, connect it to your computer, and you can format it in your need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Move<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Clear read-only attributes with Diskpart utility<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Connect your flash drive to the computer at first, and make sure it can be detected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.<\/strong> Press \u201cWindows\u201d + \u201cR\u201d combination on your keyboard to open the Run dialog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. <\/strong>Then type \u201cdiskpart\u201d in the Run dialog box, click \u201cOK\u201d to open the Diskpart Command Prompt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Type \u201clist disk\u201d and press \u201cEnter\u201d, all the disks connected to the computer will be displayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. <\/strong>Type \u201cselect disk n\u201d, here n refers to the drive letter of your flash drive. Then, press \u201cEnter\u201d to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.<\/strong> Type \u201cattributes disk clear readonly\u201d, diskpart will change your USB\u2019s properties so that it is no longer read-only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Clear<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After that, you can format flash drive in your need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Remove write protection through editting the registry<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Connect your flash drive to the computer at first, and make sure it can be detected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.<\/strong> Open Run dialog, type \u201cregedit\u201d and hit Enter or click “OK” to open the Registry Editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.<\/strong> Access to the following path:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cComputer\\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\StorageDevicePolicies<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Double click the \u201cWriteProtect\u201d and change the value from 1 to 0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Close Regedit and restart your computer. Connect your USB drive again and you should be able to format it successfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 4. Fix \u201ccan\u2019t format flash drive\u201d error with CMD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Connect your flash drive to the computer at first, and make sure it can be detected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.<\/strong> Click \u201cstart\u201d and type \u201ccommand prompt\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.<\/strong> Then, right click \u201ccommand prompt\u201d and select \u201crun as administrator\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. <\/strong>After that, type \u201cdiskpart\u201d and press \u201cEnter\u201d. Then execute the below commands in turn:<\/p>\n\n\n\n