How to Format an Unallocated Hard Drive [Step-by-Step Guide]

Do you know how to format an unallocated disk on Windows? If you're looking for a detailed guide on formatting an unallocated disk, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll discuss three methods to format an unallocated disk. Hopefully, you'll find the best solution from this article!

Why format an unallocated disk?

Before we delve into how to format unallocated disk, let's first understand what an unallocated disk is.

From the above definition, we know unallocated space refers to the unused space. It can be used to place files, but no application can write files and data into it. As there is no partition on the disk, the unallocated space is unavailable on the disk. To improve the disk performance and utilization, you must format the unallocated space before using the disk.

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How to Format an Unallocated Drive? [3 Ways]

There are 3 ways to format unallocated disk on Windows. You can use the built-in tools of Windows: Disk Management or Diskpart command, or choose a professional third-party utility: tools Partition Master Free. Which is the best? Find the most suitable one for you from the table below.

Method 1: Format Unallocated Disk with AOMEI Partition Assistant

tools Partition Master is the best free disk management tool that supports Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, as well as Windows XP/Vista. You can easily format unallocated disk space to FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, and Ext2/3/4 to suit different operating systems. Download it now to learn how to format unallocated disks.

You can format an unallocated disk by creating a partition on the unallocated space and selecting the desired file system format. Let's look at the steps involved.

Step 1: Right-click on the hard drive partition and select the “Format” option.

(2) In the new window, assign a “Volume Label,” “File System,” and “Cluster Size” to the partition, then click OK.

Step 3: You'll see a warning window. Click “Yes” to proceed.

Step 4: Click on the “Perform 1 Task” button and then click “Apply” to start formatting the hard drive partition.

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Method 2: Format Unallocated Disk with Disk Management

< a href="/diskmanager/disk-management.html" >Disk Management is a built-in Windows tool you can use to easily initialize, format, or partition a hard drive. You can format unallocated space by creating a new simple volume. Here's how:

Step 1: On your computer, select Disk Management and open it. Or press "Windows + R," then type "diskmgmt.msc."

Step 2. Right-click the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume.

Step 3: Select “Create a new simple volume,” and click “Next.”

Step 4: Specify the size for the new volume, select a drive letter to assign to it, and click Next.

Step 5: Select “Format the partition using the following settings,” and set the correct format and other appropriate parameters.

6. After selecting the correct parameters, click “Next,” and then click “Finish” to begin formatting the unallocated space on your hard drive.

Method 3: Format Unallocated Disk via CMD

Diskpart is a built-in free utility in Windows that offers multiple functionalities for managing disk partitions and fixing device errors. It can also format unallocated disks when used with the Command Prompt. However, exercise caution when inputting commands. Let's look at the detailed steps.

Step 1: Open the Run window and type "cmd".

Step 2: Type "diskpart", and press "Enter" to open the program.

Step 3. Enter the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each to run them.

Step 4: Close the window to finish formatting the unallocated disk.

Conclusions

According to this guide, we can learn how to format unallocated disk on Windows. Three methods are provided. Disk Management and Diskpart can both be used to format an unallocated disk. However, I highly recommend using the tool Partition Master, as it possesses powerful features and an easy operation. It's a great assistant for your computer, meeting various demands on your disks.

Frequently Asked Questions on Formatting Unallocated Disk in UTF-8

**How to format an unallocated drive in Windows 10?** To format an unallocated drive in Windows 10, follow these steps: 1. **Open Disk Management**: Press `Win + X` keys and then select "Disk Management." 2. **Locate the unallocated space**: In the Disk Management window, find the area labeled "Unallocated." This is typically displayed in black or as an area without a drive letter assigned. 3. **Right-click and choose New Simple Volume**: Right-click on the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume" from the context menu. 4. **Follow the New Simple Volume Wizard**: - Click "Next." - Accept the default simple volume size or customize it according to your needs, then click "Next." - Assign a drive letter or keep the default setting, then click "Next." - Choose a file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32, etc.), and optionally set a volume label. Ensure you select an appropriate allocation unit size, usually leaving the default. - Finally, click "Next," and then click "Finish" to start the formatting process. 5. **Wait for formatting to complete**: Formatting may take some time depending on the disk size. Once finished, the newly formatted drive will be ready for use. Please note that formatting will erase all data, so make sure to back up important files before formatting.

Formatting an unallocated drive in Windows 10 is very straightforward. You can use Disk Management or CMD to format an unallocated drive following this guide. Here are the simple steps to format an unallocated drive in Windows 10 using Disk Management:

Step 1: Type "diskmgmt.msc" in the Run prompt and open Disk Management.

Step 2: Right-click on the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume."

Step 3. Set the parameters and format for the unallocated disk, then click Finish.

Why can't I delete unallocated space?

Since unallocated space is not part of a partition, you cannot use or delete it. If you want to utilize this space, you can create a new partition on the unallocated space or extend an existing partition into it.

3. Can I format unallocated space?

Certainly, you can format unallocated space. If you want to format unallocated space, you'll need to create a new partition on the disk and then choose an appropriate file system for the unallocated space.