Last updated on April 19, 2024

Got stuck in formatting the disk in Disk Management?

Hello, I'm new here. I have a question to ask. I was trying to format my internal hard drive, and it got stuck in the formatting process in Disk Management. Should I cancel the operation or just wait? It's been like this since I started formatting.

While browsing forums, we've seen users asking about the “Format is stuck in Disk Management.” Fortunately, we've delved into this issue and have a third-party software to help you out.

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Why Does Full Formatting Take So Long?
How to Stop Formatting in Disk Management?
Alternative to Disk Management – Try Partition Master Format Tool
Common Issues of Getting Stuck While Formatting

Why does a full format take so long?

In the latter case, formatting stops at around 1 TB. A full format takes a very long time (hours).

When you format a drive, you're starting from scratch, which means everything on the drive is erased, and a new file system is created. A full format also scans the drive for bad sectors and marks them as unusable, improving reliability and performance. In contrast, a quick format does not perform these operations. It only removes the file system information while leaving the rest of the data intact. This makes a quick format much faster than a full format. However, they offer less protection against data loss and might lead to more issues with the drive in the future. Therefore, if you plan to use the drive for an extended period, it's recommended to go with a full format.

Can I stop formatting in Disk Management?

Yes, you can stop the formatting process in Disk Management. Follow these steps to do so:

Step 1: Open Disk Management, and right-click the target disk.

Step 2: Choose “Remove Formatting” from the list.

Cancel formatting in Disk Management

Now, your entire drive will show as “Unformatted.” You'll need a professional and secure disk formatting tool to format the drive, which you can continue in the next part.

In addition to disk management, you can also try using Partition Master to format.

Would you like to format your hard drive? tools Partition Master Free is a reliable and user-friendly tool that can help you accomplish the task quickly and hassle-free. It supports Windows computers and is compatible with almost any Windows version. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to use, even for beginners. The best part is that tools Partition Master is available for free, so you can format your hard drive without worrying about excessive costs. So why wait?

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

Step 2: In the new window, assign a "Volume Label," "File System," and "Cluster Size" to the partition, then click "OK."

Step 3: A warning will appear. Click "Yes" to continue.

(4) Click on the “Run 1 Task” button and then click “Apply” to begin formatting the hard drive partition.

Once the formatting process begins, wait for it to finish. This can take several hours, depending on the size of your hard drive. You can continue using your computer for other tasks in the meantime, but avoid running any programs that access the drive, as this could interfere with the formatting process and cause data corruption.

If you're using the command prompt, see the relevant error:

【Frequently Asked Questions on Formatting Issues】

How long does it take to format a drive in Disk Management?

Normally, formatting a drive in Disk Management takes around 10 to 15 minutes. This time can vary depending on the size and speed of the drive, but it should generally not take more than 15 minutes. Of course, if you're formatting a very large drive, it might take longer.

2. How long should it take to format a 2TB hard drive?

    • Quick format - 20-30 minutes
    • Full format - 3 hours or more

Formatting a hard drive means deleting all data on the drive and setting up a new file system. This process usually happens quickly, taking just a few minutes to complete. However, the time it takes depends on the size of the hard drive and the speed of your computer. For instance, formatting a 2TB hard drive might take longer than formatting a smaller capacity drive.

3. How to fix disk formatting errors?

Try using another computer to see if the error persists. If it does, there might be an issue with the disk itself. You can attempt to format the disk, but make sure to back up important data first, as this will erase everything on the disk. If the formatting fails or the error remains, you might need professional assistance.

4. How do I cancel a formatting operation in CMD?

There is no command-line option to stop a formatting operation in progress. However, you can stop the process using Disk Management.

Step 1: Open Disk Management, and then right-click the hard drive or partition you are formatting.

Step 2. Select Offline from the list.

Cancel formatting cmd