Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format? Fixed!?

This page discusses the reasons behind the "Windows was unable to complete the format" error and presents 5 effective methods to assist all Windows users in effortlessly resolving this issue from USB flash drives, SD cards, external hard drives, and other devices. If you encountered difficulty formatting your USB or SD card, relax and follow the guidelines provided to complete the format process smoothly.

Error: Windows was unable to complete the format

Formatting a Micro SD card, USB flash drive, pen drive, hard drive, or SSD is a routine task for regular users to change the device file system and reclaim its full capacity, and most of us are familiar with it. However, there might be instances when you fail to finish formatting on a Windows PC, as demonstrated in the scenarios below:

Case 1 - Windows is unable to complete the format on USB

"Yesterday, Windows prompted me to format my USB flash drive when I plugged it into the computer. However, when I attempted to reformat it to FAT32, I encountered an error saying 'Windows was unable to complete the format.' How can I resolve this issue?"

Case 2 - Windows was unable to complete the format on the SD card Translation: Scenario 2 - Windows was unable to finish formatting the SD card

"I have an issue with my micro SD card. I am unable to format it. I get an error message saying 'Windows was unable to complete the format.' What can I do about this?"

What does “Windows was unable to complete the format” mean? “Windows was unable to complete the format” is an error message displayed in a pop-up window, cautioning users that the Windows operating system cannot perform the formatting process on the selected device to alter the file system and render the problematic device functional again.

Remain calm if you're unable to format an SD card, USB, external hard drive, or other devices on a Windows PC. First, investigate the reasons behind this error. Afterwards, apply the appropriate solution and refer to the guide steps to resolve the "Windows was unable to complete the format" issue on your device, successfully formatting it.

For an instant solution to the 'Windows was unable to complete the format' issue, you can fully rely on the professional formatting tool - tools Partition Master as shown in Method 1 below for assistance.

Causes of "Windows Unable to Complete Format" Error

There can be various reasons that might prevent Windows from completing the formatting process on your devices. Here's a list of the primary reasons explaining why Windows is unable to format USB drives, SD cards, external hard drives, and other such devices:

#1. The device has a file system error.

When a storage device shows up as RAW or contains an unsupported file system like Linux Ext2/3/4, Windows won't be able to format it directly using File Explorer or Disk Management. To resolve this issue, you'll need a third-party formatting tool for assistance.

#2. Presence of bad sectors on USB, SD Card

When a storage device hits a certain number of bad sectors, you won't be able to format it with Windows' default tools. To get the device back in shape and finish formatting a USB or SD card, you can run a disk error check and employ a bad sector repair utility to fix those errors.

#3. Virus or malware infection

When your storage device is infected by a virus or malware, you cannot access the saved data or format the device normally. You must first remove the virus and then proceed with formatting.

#4. The device is locked or protected by third-party software

If your USB or SD card becomes locked or write-protected by third-party software, you also won't be able to format the device. You must first remove the write protection before you can format your SD card or USB drive.

#5. Physical damage

When your storage device is physically damaged, there's not much you can do aside from taking it to a local manual repair center or buying a new one to replace the damaged device.

# 7 Solutions for "Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format" Error

Partly, we'll guide you through 6+ practical methods to resolve the 'Windows was unable to complete the format' error. Since the causes vary, the solutions might differ as well. Review and apply the appropriate method to effortlessly eliminate this error now.

Method 1: Utilize Partition Master Tool

Applies to: Resolve the "Windows was unable to complete the format" issue due to a file system error or unsupported file system on USB, SD card, hard drive, etc.

If your storage devices cannot be formatted due to a file system error, such as a USB showing as RAW in Disk Management, tools like Partition Master can effectively format your device to a Windows-supported file system, such as NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT, with ease.

Follow the steps to learn how to fix file system errors on your SD card or USB drive using this software, and then format the drive with just a few simple clicks:

Step 1. Run AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the hard drive partition you intend to format and choose "Format".

Step 2. In the new window, set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Cluster size for the partition to be formatted, then click "OK".

Format Hard Drive Partition - Step 2

Step 3. You'll see a warning message; click "Yes" to proceed.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button to review the changes, then click "Apply" to start formatting the partition on your hard drive.

Do you like using this powerful tool to fix the "Windows was unable to format" error? If you find it helpful, please share it with others in need by clicking the buttons below!

Method 2: Use the Diskpart Command

Applies to: Resolving the error "Windows unable to format USB, SD, or other device" due to file system issues or bad sectors.

When you fail to format USB, SD card, or other storage devices using Windows File Explorer, the Diskpart formatting command can also help you complete the format.

Here are the steps in English:

Step 1. Right-click the Windows icon, type command prompt in Search, right-click Command Prompt, and select "Run as administrator".

Step 2. Type diskpart in Command Prompt and press Enter.

Step 3. Press Enter after typing each of the following command lines in DiskPart to quickly format the hard drive:

Translate the following commands into English:
• list disk
• select disk 2 (Replace 2 with the disk number you want to select)
• list volume
• select volume 10 (Replace 10 with the volume number of the device you want to format)
• format fs=ntfs quick (If you need to format a storage device to FAT32 or other file systems, replace NTFS with FAT32, exFAT, etc.)

Step 4. Type exit and press Enter to close the program when DiskPart reports that it has successfully formatted the volume.

Click the video below to learn more details about how to use CMD.

Method 3: Use Disk Management

Applies to: Solve the "Windows was unable to complete the format" error resulting from a RAW file system issue on USB, SD card, hard drive, etc.

When your storage device turns RAW and Windows fails to complete the format, you can attempt formatting using Windows Disk Management:

Step 1. Connect your device to your PC if you're formatting a removable device.

Step 2. Right-click on "This PC" and select "Manage," then choose "Disk Management."

Step 3. Locate and right-click on your USB flash drive or external hard drive, and then select "Format".

Step 4. Set the file system of your USB, SD card, or hard drive to NTFS or FAT32, check "Quick Format," then click "OK" to confirm.

Format USB to FAT32.

Method 4: Remove the virus.

Applies to: Resolving the "Windows was unable to complete the format" issue on a device that is locked due to a virus or malware infection.

If your device is locked or infected by viruses or unknown malware, your Windows computer will be unable to format your USB, SD card, or other storage devices. The best solution is to run antivirus software to clean the device and remove the lock.

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Step 1. Connect your external storage device, such as a USB or SD card, to your computer.

Step 2. Run a virus cleaner, malware removal tool, or antivirus software on your computer and choose the target device to eliminate any existing viruses or malware.

Step 3. After that, you can reformat the device using Windows File Explorer or any of the three formatting tools mentioned above.

You can also remove virus without antivirus by using Windows Defender and enabling the real-time virus protection feature. This helps protect your device and data from viruses and malware infections.

Method 5: Remove Write Protection from the Device

Applies to: Remove write protection and enable Windows to complete the format on USB, SD card, external hard drive, etc., devices.

If your target device is locked or write-protected by a password or third-party software, Windows cannot directly format your storage device. You'll need to unlock the device first, and then proceed with the formatting process:

< strong >First. Remove Device Write Protection< /strong >- 3 Ways

#1. Unlock USB/SD Card

Step 1. Connect your device to your PC.

Step 2. Slide the switch on your USB or SD card to the OFF position.

Then, try formatting the device on Windows using File Explorer or another device.

#2. Remove Write Protection from USB/SD

Here's a write protection removal tool called CleanGenius for you to use, which can directly remove the write protection from your device:

If you don't consider yourself a power computer user and you're not familiar with command lines, don't worry. There are graphical-based solutions to help you remove write-protection from your hard drives, USB drives, and even SD cards.

CleanGenius is one of these tools that helps you fix aforementioned issues on your drives without knowing a thing about command-line.

Here's a simple step-by-step guide on how to utilize this tool to address your concerns:

Step 1: DOWNLOAD and install the tool CleanGenius (free) on your computer.

Step 2: Run CleanGenius on your PC, select Optimization and choose the Write Protection mode.

Step 3: Select the device that is write-protected and click Disable to remove the protection.

Disable Write Protection from storage devices.

#3. Unlock device using a password or third-party software Translate to English: #3. Unlock the device using a password or third-party software

If your storage device is write-protected using a password or third-party software, you'll need to use the password or software again to unlock your SD, USB, etc., devices.

Next, format the device - Complete Windows Formatting

Now, you can reformat the device using Windows File Explorer, Disk Management, the Diskpart command, or tools like Partition Master.

Step 1. Connect the USB drive or SD card that you want to format to your computer, and then open Windows Explorer.

Step 2. Right-click on the connected device and select "Format."

Step 3. On the Format window, select the desired file system: NTFS for a hard drive partition, FAT32 for a 32GB SD/USB drive, and exFAT for a 64GB or larger SD/USB drive.

Step 4. Check "Quick format" and click "Start".

"Format SD card using File Explorer"

Method 6: Check and Fix Disk Errors That Prevent Windows from Completing the Format

Applies to: Resolve the "Windows unable to format" device error due to disk error.

Step 1. Open File Explorer, connect your device to the PC, and right-click on the problematic device. Select "Properties".

Step 2. Under the Tools tab, click the Check button under "Error checking".

Check and fix disk error on storage device

Step 3. Next, you can choose to Scan drive if desired, or Repair drive if errors are found.

Wait for the process to finish.

Step 4. Right-click on your device and finish formatting through Windows File Explorer.

Method 7: Repair Bad Sectors that Prevent Windows from Formatting the Storage Device

Applies to: Fixes and repairs soft bad sectors that prevent Windows from formatting the device.

When a storage device has a few soft bad sectors, the Windows formatting tool won't work. You can either use a utility like Partition Master with its File System Checker to fix the bad sectors, or first run a CMD command to repair the soft bad sectors and then proceed with the format.

Step 1. Run the CHKDSK command to fix soft bad sectors.

1. Type cmd in the Search box, right-click "Command Prompt," and choose "Run as administrator."

2. Type chkdsk E: /f /r /x and press Enter. (Replace E with the drive letter of your storage device.)

Step 2. Format the storage device to make it usable again

1. Open Windows File Explorer, locate and right-click on your hard drive. Translation: Open the Windows File Explorer, find and right-click on your hard drive.

2. Click “Format”, set the file system as NTFS, check “Quick Format” and click “Start”.

Bonus Tip: Recover Lost Data after Completing Windows Format

Applies to: Restore lost data from a failed storage device following the resolution of the "Windows cannot complete the format" error and formatting the device.

When you finish formatting the faulty storage device which Windows was unable to format, you may lose the saved data. The only thing that you can do is to turn to reliable data recovery software and restore precious data immediately.

Here, we recommend trying the tool Data Recovery Wizard. It supports scanning and restoring all your data in just three steps, as long as the device can be detected by a Windows computer:

Step 1. Run the tool, Data Recovery Wizard. Select the drive where you lost your files and initiate the scanning process. This software enables you to recover lost data from various devices, including HDD, SSD, USB drive, SD card, pen drive, camera, and so on.

This HTML code snippet represents an image with a caption "select a location to scan." The image has a height of 466 pixels, a width of 700 pixels, and its source is "/images/en/data-recovery/drw-pro/screenshots/recover-lost-data-step1.png." The class "img_box_pop pop_img" suggests it's part of a pop-up or highlighted image display. In English, the context implies that the image is likely from a data recovery software and guides users through the process of selecting a location to scan for lost data.

Step 2. Browse the full scan results. You can select the file type you need by clicking on the file type filter. The data recovery software supports over 1000 file types, including photos, videos, documents, emails, audio files, and many more.

Step 3. Select the files you wish to preview. Click "Recover" and specify a location to save the retrieved data.

Once your precious data is restored, you can save your data back onto the USB or SD card again.

Conclusion

This page provides solutions to the question "How do I fix 'Windows was unable to complete the format?'", offering 7 effective methods to resolve this issue on your USB, SD card, external or internal hard drive.

For a reliable and effective formatting software, Partition Master is recommended for you to try. It simplifies the process of formatting your device on a Windows PC. Should you have any advanced partitioning needs, it can assist with those as well.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting Hard Drive

If you have any further questions regarding formatting devices, consult the following FAQs for assistance:

1. How do I fix a hard drive that won't format? To fix a hard drive that won't format, follow these steps: 1. **Check Connections**: Ensure the hard drive is properly connected to your computer, either through an internal connection or an external USB port. 2. **Use Different Software**: Try using different formatting tools, such as the built-in Windows Disk Management utility or third-party software like tools Partition Master or MiniTool Partition Wizard. 3. **Boot into Safe Mode**: If the issue persists, restart your computer and boot into Safe Mode, then attempt to format the hard drive. 4. **Scan for Bad Sectors**: Run a disk utility tool (e.g., chkdsk in Windows or Disk Utility on macOS) to check for bad sectors and repair them if possible. 5. **Initialize the Drive**: In Windows Disk Management, right-click the unformatted drive and select "Initialize Disk." Choose the appropriate partition style (MBR or GPT). 6. **Format with Different File System**: Try formatting the drive with a different file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT). 7. **Command Prompt Formatting**: Use the Command Prompt to format the drive with the following command: `format X: /FS:FileSystem /Q`, replacing "X" with the drive letter and "FileSystem" with the desired file system (e.g., NTFS). 8. **Factory Reset**: If all else fails, you may need to use the manufacturer's provided software to perform a factory reset on the hard drive. 9. **Professional Help**: If the problem continues, consider consulting a professional data recovery service or contacting the hard drive manufacturer for further assistance.

First, you need to check the hard drive status: whether Windows can detect the hard drive.

If yes, apply tools Partition Master to directly format your hard drive with the provided steps in Method 1 on this page.

If not, or if your hard drive appears as unknown or unallocated, create a new partition on your hard drive and format the drive.

**2. Why can't I format my hard drive?**

As described on this page, when your hard drive gets locked, damaged, or contains file system error, bad sectors, or even virus-infected, you can't directly format it.

To address this issue, you can attempt the following three approaches:

1). Unlock hard drive using password or third-party software; 2). Format the hard drive to remove the password or encryption; 3). Use a professional data recovery tool to retrieve data from the locked hard drive; 4). Check if there's a built-in unlock feature in the hard drive's firmware or settings; 5). Contact the hard drive manufacturer for technical support or specialized unlocking services; 6). Utilize a disk utility from the operating system's installation media to attempt to unlock or repair the drive; 7). If the hard drive is physically damaged, consult a data recovery specialist for assistance.

2). Remove viruses and malware from the hard drive;

3). Format the hard drive using tools such as Partition Master, Diskpart, or the Disk Management formatting utility.

For more details, follow the methods provided on this page as a guide.

3. How do I fix my flash drive unable to format? To fix a flash drive that is unable to format, follow these steps: 1. **Try Different Formatting Tools:** - Use the built-in formatting tool on your operating system (Windows' "Format" utility or macOS' "Disk Utility"). - Try alternative tools like tools Partition Master Free or H2Testw. 2. **Check for Viruses/Malware:** - Use an antivirus software to scan and remove any potential threats. - Perform a full system scan and clean the infected files. 3. **chkdsk Command:** - Connect the flash drive to your computer and open Command Prompt as an administrator. - Type `chkdsk G: /f /r` (replace "G:" with your flash drive letter) and press Enter. - Let the process complete and try formatting again. 4. **Change File System:** - In the formatting utility, select a different file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32, exFAT). - Sometimes, changing the allocation unit size might also help. 5. **Format in Safe Mode:** - Boot your computer in Safe Mode and attempt to format the drive. 6. **Repair the Drive:** - In Disk Utility (macOS) or Windows' Disk Management, try repairing the drive. - If it's not recognized, choose "Create new volume" or "Initialize Disk." 7. **Factory Reset:** - Some flash drives have a hardware reset button or pinhole. Press it to reset the drive to its original state. 8. **Contact Manufacturer Support:** - If all else fails, contact the manufacturer's support for assistance or warranty replacement. Remember to backup any important data before attempting to format the drive.

When you're unable to format a flash drive, try the following steps:

Step 1. Connect the flash drive to the PC and unlock the USB if it's locked. Translation: Step 1. Connect the USB flash drive to the computer and unlock it if it's password protected.

Step 2: Run virus cleaner software to remove any hidden viruses or malware.

Step 3. Run Windows Disk Management or use tools like Partition Master

Step 4: Right-click on the USB flash drive and select "Format". Choose a new file system for the drive.

Step 5. Reset the file system for the flash drive and click "OK" to confirm.

After this, you can reuse the flash drive to transfer data and save files again.