Fixed Solutions: Unable to Format USB Drive on Mac [10 Methods]

You might need to boot your Mac using a USB drive to bypass the issue and find a solution without resorting to external assistance. But what if you can't format the USB drive on your Mac? While it may seem frustrating, we'll guide you through resolving the problem of erasing the USB drive on your Mac.

Upon reviewing the specifics of this article, you will uncover a likely solution to the error "can't erase USB drive on Mac". This information is particularly useful and essential for formatting the USB drive to FAT32 or exFAT on a Mac. It also enables you to identify and address internal issues with your Mac without any interference from USB drives.

Why Can't I Erase a USB Drive on Mac?

To initiate the discussion, let's first examine some significant reasons that account for the issue of "unable to delete files from USB drive on Mac." This error can indeed be infuriating, but understanding its underlying causes is crucial. Therefore, we will initially delve into the reasons behind the "Error Process Has Failed" status error on Mac systems:

• The disk being erased is severely damaged.
• You might find that the disk you're trying to erase isn't mounted at all.
• It could be the startup disk that you're attempting to erase.
• The Mac might be infected with viruses or malware.
• There might be unforeseen termination of system files, interrupting the formatting process.

How to Fix "Can't Erase USB Drive on Mac?" [10 Solutions]

After exploring the possible reasons behind "can't erase USB drive on Mac," it's time to delve into the solutions that can be applied on your Mac. These methods will help you resolve the issue, enabling you to format your USB drive and continue with your intended task. Here's how to effectively tackle this problem:

1. Perform Disk Utility First Aid

Since you're using Disk Utility to format your USB drive on a Mac, the first step to fix any issues with your USB drive is to run the "First Aid" feature on the drive. To do this, please follow these steps: 1. Launch Disk Utility: You can find Disk Utility in the Applications folder > Utilities. 2. Select your USB Drive: In the left sidebar of Disk Utility, locate and select your USB drive. Make sure not to choose the "Volume" within the drive; instead, select the main drive icon. 3. Run First Aid: Click on the "First Aid" tab at the top of the Disk Utility window. 4. Start the Process: Click on the "Run" or "Repair Disk" button to begin the First Aid scan. This will check for any errors or inconsistencies and attempt to repair them. 5. Wait for Completion: Allow the process to finish. It may take some time depending on the size of your USB drive. 6. Review Results: Once completed, Disk Utility will display whether the drive was repaired successfully or if any issues remain. If "First Aid" fails to fix the problem, you might need to consider reformatting the USB drive. However, be aware that this will erase all data on the drive. Always back up important files before proceeding.

Step 1: From the Finder on your Mac, hover over "Applications" and locate "Disk Utility" within the "Utilities" folder. Launch Disk Utility and select the USB drive that you wish to erase.

Next up, select Disk Utility.

Step 2: When you select the drive, look for the "First Aid" button on the top toolbar. A pop-up will appear, seeking confirmation for the process. Click "Run" to initiate the First Aid scan to identify any issues on the drive. Upon detecting errors, it will repair all problems within a certain time frame, mainly determined by the size of the drive.

Notice: If you have accidentally erased your hard drive using Disk Utility, you can rely on dependable data recovery software such as tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to fully recover your lost files.

3. Obtain Permission to Erase USB on Mac

If you're unable to format the USB drive on your Mac, it could be due to insufficient permissions. When you lack the necessary permissions, you'll need to gain access to erase the USB drive on your Mac. Here's a straightforward step-by-step process: 1. **Open Disk Utility**: Launch the "Disk Utility" application, which can be found in the "Utilities" folder within the "Applications" folder. 2. **Select the USB Drive**: In the left pane of Disk Utility, locate and select your USB drive. Make sure not to choose the "Volume" within the drive, but the drive itself (usually labeled with a name and a disk icon). 3. **Authenticate**: With the USB drive selected, click on the "Erase" button at the top of the window. A dialog box might appear asking for your administrator credentials. Enter your username and password to authenticate. 4. **Format the Drive**: In the Erase window, choose a file system format (e.g., "MS-DOS (FAT)" for compatibility with both Mac and Windows, or "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" for Mac-only use). Give your USB drive a new name if desired, then click "Erase." 5. **Wait for the Process**: The erasing process will begin, and it may take some time, depending on the size of the USB drive. Wait until the progress bar completes and Disk Utility indicates that the process is finished. 6. **Verify Permissions**: Once the erasure is done, you can verify if the permissions issue has been resolved by attempting to write files to the USB drive. Remember, always exercise caution when erasing any storage device, as this action permanently deletes all data on it.

Step 1. Click on the USB drive and choose "Get Info."

Step 2. Expand "Sharing and Permissions," and click the lock icon to authenticate.

Step 3. Choose "Ignore ownership on this volume".

3. Erase Selected Volumes

If you're unable to erase the USB drive on your Mac, you'll need to follow the correct procedure. You can utilize the Disk Utility to erase the selected volume. Here are some straightforward steps to guide you: 1. **Open Disk Utility**: First, launch the Disk Utility application. You can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder. 2. **Select the USB Drive**: In the left sidebar of Disk Utility, locate and select your USB drive. Make sure not to choose the wrong drive as this action will erase all data. 3. **Erase the Drive**: Click on the "Erase" button (or "Format" in newer versions of macOS) at the top of the Disk Utility window. A new window will pop up. 4. **Choose a Name and Format**: In this window, give your USB drive a new name if desired. For compatibility, choose "MS-DOS (FAT)" or "ExFAT" as the format, depending on whether you need to use the drive with both Macs and Windows machines. If it's solely for use with Macs, choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)". 5. **Confirm Erasure**: Finally, click "Erase" or "Format" to proceed with the erasing process. A warning message may appear, reminding you that all data will be erased. Click "Erase" again to confirm. Once completed, your USB drive should now be erased, and you can use it to store new files or content.

Step 1: On your Mac, open the Finder and navigate to the "Applications" folder. Within the "Applications" list, find the "Utilities" folder, then locate "Disk Utility" and double-click to open it in a new window.

Step 2: As the program opens, locate the respective USB drive on the left panel of the window. Once you've found it, navigate to the toolbar situated at the top on the opposite side of the window. Click on the "Erase" button listed there to initiate a new pop-up window.

Click the "Erase" option.

Step 3: After erasing the drive from your Mac, specify the "Name" and "Format" for the drive. Once these settings are in place, click "Erase" to proceed with the process.

4. Wipe USB Drive Using Terminal Commands

We have discussed issues related to an unmounted drive or a problematic USB drive that doesn't function correctly with Disk Utility. To address these problems, you can erase the USB drive using Terminal commands. Let's explore how to do this easily:

Step 1: Navigate to the "Applications" folder on your Mac using the Finder. Within the applications, locate the "Utilities" folder and open "Terminal" to initiate the command line interface on your device.

Step 2: You need to enter the following command to list all the available drives on your Mac:

diskutil list

Get a list of Mac disks.

Step 3: Make sure you've jotted down the "Device Node" that corresponds to the USB drive. Next, use this command line to erase the disk. For this, we'll assume you're formatting the device to APFS format.

diskutil eraseDisk APFS /dev/device_node

5. Erase USB Drive in Recovery Mode

Considering you're wiping a drive that's directly tied to your Mac's startup process, proceed with caution. In such cases, it might be necessary to boot your Mac into Recovery Mode to safely erase the USB drive. Let's first look at how to enter Recovery Mode on both types of Mac: 1. **For Intel-based Macs:** - Turn off your Mac. - Hold down the `Command` + `R` keys while powering on your Mac. - Keep holding until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe, signifying that your Mac is starting up in Recovery Mode. 2. **For M1-based Macs:** - Turn off your Mac. - Press and hold the `Power button` until you see the startup options screen. - You'll see a globe or an Apple logo, meaning your Mac is in Startup Manager. Then, press and hold the `Option` key (or `⌥`). - Release the `Option` key when you spot the Recovery Partition icon, which resembles a utility disk with a gear on it. Upon successfully entering Recovery Mode, follow these steps to erase the USB drive: 1. From the top menu, choose `Utilities` and then click on `Disk Utility`. 2. In the Disk Utility window, find your USB drive in the left sidebar. It could be labeled with its capacity or a generic name like "Untitled." 3. Select the USB drive, not the volume or partition inside it. 4. Click the `Erase` button at the top of the window. 5. In the pop-up, pick a format for the drive (like `MS-DOS (FAT)` for cross-platform compatibility or `Mac OS Extended (Journaled)` if using only on macOS devices). 6. Enter a new name for the drive, if you wish. 7. Click `Erase` to confirm the deletion. The process should start right away, formatting and erasing the drive. Once the erasure is done, exit Recovery Mode by restarting your Mac and unplugging the USB drive.

For Intel-based Macs:

Step 1: You need to shut down your Mac and press and hold the "Command + R" buttons while turning it back on.

Step 2: As the Apple logo appears, release the buttons and enter your username and password. This will allow you to proceed to the "macOS Utilities" screen.

For Apple Silicon Macs:

Step 1: You need to turn off your Mac and then press and hold the Power button while restarting it.

Step 2: Keep the button pressed until the "Options" screen appears on the display. Click on it and enter your username credentials to log into the Mac and access the "macOS Utilities" screen.

With your Mac in Recovery Mode, you'll now need to follow these straightforward steps to erase the USB drive:

Step 1: In the "macOS Utilities" window, locate Disk Utility and open it. Upon launching, select the USB drive volume that you wish to erase.

Step 2: Click the "Erase" button and follow the on-screen instructions to format the drive. Exit Disk Utility, then restart your Mac to exit Recovery Mode.

6. Restart Mac in Safe Mode

The problem could relate to the macOS itself, which requires proper troubleshooting. In such scenarios, you have the option to use Safe Mode to restart your Mac correctly. This might alleviate any existing issues on your Mac, including those related to malware and viruses.

For Intel-based Macs:

Step 1: If your Mac is turned on, you'll need to restart it. As it starts up, press and hold the "Shift" key on your keyboard, and release it when you see the login screen.

Step 2: Supply your Mac's credentials and log in to your device. You may need to do this twice before successfully logging in. To verify, you'll see the "Safe Mode" words in the top-right corner of the window.

For Apple Silicon Macs:

Step 1: Begin by turning off your Mac and allowing it to fully power down. Then, restart the device and press and hold the "Power" button until the "Loading startup options" screen appears.

Step 2: Select a volume and press the "Shift" key to locate the Safe Mode option. Click on "Continue in Safe Mode" to boot your Mac into Safe Mode.

7. Update the macOS

You can even attempt to update your macOS to find a solution to the issue of being unable to erase the USB drive on a Mac. To do this, follow the straightforward steps outlined below:

Step 1: Click on the "Apple" icon located in the top-left corner of the screen to open the menu. From the dropdown options, choose "About This Mac" to launch a new window.

Step 2: You can proceed to click on the "Software Update…" button to open the respective window.

Step 3: It will scan and look for available macOS updates on your device. If there are any updates found, click on the "Update Now" button to proceed with the installation.

Next up, just translate this sentence into American English:

8. Reduce the Security Level

To prevent the issue of not being able to erase the USB drive on a Mac, you can try reducing the security settings when formatting it using Disk Utility. To accomplish this, please follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: On your Mac, open "Disk Utility" by navigating to the "Utilities" folder within "Applications" in Finder. Upon connecting the USB drive, locate it in the left panel to access its settings.

Step 2: Next, locate the "Erase" button at the top to initiate the process. While formatting the drive, you can access its "Security Options."

Step 3: Modify the security levels using the slider available in the next window. The lower the level, the lesser the likelihood of encountering a formatting error.

9. Delete the Partition

If you wish to address the issue of not being able to erase the USB drive on your Mac, you can opt to delete the partition. To proceed with this method, please follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: You need to launch "Disk Utility" from the "Utilities" folder. You can find it in the Applications section across Finder.

Step 2: After opening the tool, click on the "Partition" button at the top to open a new window. Choose the specific drive partition you wish to delete and then click on the "-" button. Assign a name and format for the new partition, and finally, click on "Apply" to save the modifications.

10. Format USB with Mac Unsupported File System on Windows

If you're unable to format your USB drive on a Mac, it might be due to the fact that macOS doesn't support the file system in use. In such a case, you can format the drive on a Windows device first and then connect it to your Mac. A recommended tool for this purpose is tools Partition Master Free. This is an all-in-one partition management software that allows you to format the USB drive to exFAT or FAT32, which are compatible with Mac. Follow the steps below to accomplish this task: 1. Download and install tools Partition Master Free on a Windows PC. 2. Launch the software and locate the USB drive in the main interface. 3. Right-click on the USB drive and select "Format." 4. In the Format Partition window, choose "exFAT" or "FAT32" as the file system since these are compatible with both Windows and Mac. 5. Click "OK" to confirm your selection, and then click "Execute Operation" followed by "Apply" to start the formatting process. After the formatting is complete, safely connect the USB drive to your Mac, and it should be recognized without any issues.

1. Right-click on the external drive or USB you plan to format and select "Format." 2. Set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Cluster size, then hit "OK." 3. Click "Yes" to proceed. 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button and then click "Apply" to format the hard drive partition.

Here are ten solutions to fix the "can't erase USB drive on Mac" issue. If you encounter other formatting problems, you can also seek solutions from the buttons below.

Conclusion

Have you found a solution to the issue of not being able to erase a USB drive on a Mac? This article provides a comprehensive guide to addressing the problem, starting with an examination of the reasons behind it, followed by steps to fix the issue with your USB drive on your Mac. If you have any feedback or suggestions for our content, please feel free to share them in the comments. We would appreciate it if you could share this article with other readers if you found it helpful.

"Frequently Asked Questions: Unable to Erase USB Drive on Mac"

Do you have additional queries regarding the issue of unable to erase a USB drive on a Mac? We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions with their detailed answers for your reference:

1. Why can't I delete files from my USB on Mac?

If you're unable to delete items from a USB drive on your Mac, it could be due to the drive having write protection enabled. This means it's set to be read-only, preventing any modifications. There's also a possibility that the files on the USB drive might be corrupted, which could contribute to the issue.

2. How do I force my Mac to erase a hard drive? To force your Mac to erase a hard drive, follow these steps: 1. **Backup Important Data**: Before proceeding, ensure that you have backed up any important files and data as the process will permanently delete all content. 2. **Open Disk Utility**: Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select "Utilities." Then, choose "Disk Utility" from the list. 3. **Select the Hard Drive**: In the left sidebar of Disk Utility, locate the hard drive you want to erase. It's usually labeled with the name you've given it or "Macintosh HD." 4. **Erase the Drive**: Click on the "Erase" button (or "Format" in newer versions) at the top of the Disk Utility window. A new window will appear. 5. **Name and Format**: Enter a new name for the drive if desired, then choose a file system format. For most purposes, "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" or "APFS" (Apple File System) are suitable options. 6. **Security Options**: If you want to securely erase the drive, click on the "Security Options…" button. Here, you can choose the number of passes to overwrite the data, making it more difficult to recover. Note that this process may take significantly longer. 7. **Confirm Erase**: Review your settings, then click "Erase" or "Format" to proceed. A warning message will appear, reminding you that this action cannot be undone. Click "Erase" or "OK" to confirm. 8. **Wait for Completion**: Disk Utility will begin erasing the hard drive. This process can take several minutes to hours, depending on the size of the drive and the chosen security option. 9. **Exit Disk Utility**: Once the erasure is complete, close Disk Utility and you can now use the freshly erased hard drive for a new installation or storage purposes. Remember, erasing a hard drive deletes all its contents, so make sure you have backups of any essential files before starting the process.

You'll need to put your Mac into Recovery Mode to forcibly erase it. To do this, we've provided a comprehensive solution in the article above.

3. What is the best format for an external hard drive for Mac?

The Apple File System (APFS) is the default file system for macOS 10.13 and later, succeeding the well-known HFS+ file system on Macs. It is more flexible and robust, making it the ideal format choice when formatting an external hard drive for a Mac.