What do we have to do when Windows is unable to complete the format? Sometimes, when you try to perform the formatting process, an alert pops up on your screen saying ‘Windows was unable to complete the format’. However, this message can cause you to panic.
But don’t worry. Fixing this issue is easy-breezy! In this article, we are going to show you some practical ways to get rid of this error ‘Windows was unable to complete the format’ efficiently. So if you are unable to format, relax and follow this guide to complete the formats with ease now.
Some cases of not completing the format in your window
If you are using a Windows device, then formatting the USB, SD or SSD is a quick process that allows you to change the device file system and restore its full capacity. But sometimes, while formatting the process, an alert pops up on your screen saying Windows was unable to complete the format’. Below we have shown some cases of this process.
Case 1
Sometimes windows will ask you to format your USB flash drive. But when you connect your USB to the computer, it will show a message saying windows were unable to format the USB. So how to fix this problem?
Case 2
When you try to format your SD card, you will face problems like your windows are unable to format the SD card. So, What do you have to do to solve this issue?
You will get panic after seeing these types of messages on your computer screen. Firstly, stay calm and try to find the reasons for this error. It will make it easy for you to get rid of this issue.
Further, we are going to show you some methods to resolve the issues of flash drive formatting.
Steps to Fix Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format SD Card / USB Drive
Below we are going to show you some methods that will help you to solve this error efficiently. Follow these methods carefully to get rid of the problem with ease.
1. Using EaseUS Partition Master
EaseUS Partition Master is one of the best methods to fix the error of incomplete format that is caused by a file system error on a USB or SD card storage device.
If an alert pops up on your screen saying windows is unable to format the storage device due to file system error or shows RAW in disk management, then EaseUS can efficiently format it.
Below are the steps that you can follow to solve the file system errors on your storage device easily using this software.
Step 1:- Run the EaseUS Partition Master on your computer.
Step 2:- Now right-click on the storage device that you want to format and select the format button to start the formatting process.
Step 3:- Set the file system like NTFS, FAT32 or EXT3, partition label and Cluster size that you want to format. Click ok to start.
Step 4:- After clicking the ok button, a new window will appear on your screen with a warning sign. Click ok again to confirm.
Step 5:- On the top left corner of your screen, click the execute operation to review the changes. Now click Apply to format the partition on your device.
So here are the steps that you need to follow to fix the error using EaseUS Partition Master software. Follow the steps carefully to ease the formatting process.
2. AOMEI partition assistant tool
It is a formatting tool that helps you to manage partitions and complete the formatting process. However, AOMEI partition assistant works in different versions of windows involving 7, 8 and 10.
Moreover, you can move, copy or resize the partitions with the help of this formatting tool. Additionally, using this tool, you can migrate OS and convert MBR/GPT with no data loss.
Step 1:- Run the AOMEI partition assistant tool.
Step 2:- Choose your partition and right-click on it.
Step 3:- After right-clicking on the partition, a menu will dropdown. Now select advanced from the menu and then click check partition.
Step 4:- Click fix errors in this partition using chkdsk.exe and press the ok button.
So follow these steps carefully to complete the formatting task using the AOMEI partition assistant tool.
3. Using Diskpart command
You can use the Diskpart command to solve the error windows unable to format the storage device due to bad sector issues. However, if your computer is unable to format USB or SD using file explorer, then the Diskpart command is one of the easiest ways to complete the formatting process.
Below are the steps of fixing this error using the Diskpart command method.
Step1:- On the bottom left of your screen, right-click on the windows icon.
Step 2:- Now type the command prompt in the search bar.
Step 3:- Right-click on the command prompt.
Step 4:- Select run as administrator.
Step 5:- In the command prompt, write Diskpart and click the enter button.
Step 6:- You have to click enter when you type command lines in Diskpart to start formatting the hard drive.
Step 7:- When the Diskpart shows that it has successfully formatted the volume, type exit and click enter to close the program.
Follow these steps carefully to remove the error using the Diskpart command method.
4. Using the command prompt method
Command prompt in your window can help you to resolve your formatting issues. Below we have shown you the steps to format the storage device using the command prompt method.
Step 1:- First of all, from the windows menu, launch the command prompt.
Step 2:- Now type format C:/fs: NTFS and click the enter button.
Step 3:- Set the file system as NTFS and select the format drive C.
We choose this drive because it is problematic and does not have to be the case with you. However, you can change the drive into another letter that you want to format.
For example, if you want to format the drive J and the file system FAT32 that you want to have on the drive, then you have to enter format J:/fs: FAT32 as a command prompt.
5. Disk management
If your storage device has become raw and warns that it is unable to complete the formatting process, then disk management is the best method to complete the task.
Step 1:- If you want to format a removable device, then you have to connect the device with your computer.
Step 2:- Now right-click on this computer and select manage.
Step 3:- After selecting to manage, click on disk management.
Step 4:- Find your external storage device and right-click on it. Now choose the format.
Step 5:– Now set the file system of your storage device to several file systems such as NTFS or FAT32 and click format.
Step 6:- Click ok to confirm.
So follow these steps carefully to complete the formatting process easily using disk management.
6. Remove the virus
If your windows can’t format your storage device, then the virus or malware infection present in your storage is the reason behind it. So cleaning the software is one of the best ways to get rid of this issue.
Below are the steps to remove the error using this method.
Step 1:- Connect the external storage device to your computer.
Step 2:- Run antivirus software and choose the target device that you want to clear.
Step 3:- After cleaning up the device, use windows file explorer or the formatting tools to reformat the entire device again.
However, you can use windows defender or enable the real-time virus protection feature instead of antivirus to remove the virus. Moreover, a windows defender will also help to protect your data and external devices from malware infection or viruses.
7. Remove the protection
If your external storage device is protected with third-party software, then your windows can’t format your device. If you want to complete the formatting task, then you have to unlock your device.
Below we are going to show you the steps of getting rid of this issue by removing the protection.
Step 1:- Connect the external storage device to your computer.
Step 2:- You will find a switch on the side of your USB. Remove that switch to unlock your device. Now try to use file explorer to format the device.
There is a tool called the EaseUS tool that helps you to remove the write protection from your device. However, this tool has a kit that is helpful to solve the white protection issues on your device if you are not professional in computing management.
Moreover, the EaseUS tool is safe, light-weight and perfect for the formatting process. Below are the steps to understand how to resolve protection issues on your storage device.
Step 1:- Download and install the EaseUS tool on your computer.
Step 2:- Choose your device that you want to resolve and click disable to remove the protection from the storage device.
However, you have to reuse the password or the software to unlock the device if your device protects with third-party software.
Complete the formatting process
After unlocking your device, you can use file explorer, disk management, DiskPart command or EaseUS Partition Master to reformat the drive.
Step 1:- Connect the external storage device with your computer that you want to reformat.
Step 2:- Open windows file explorer.
Step 3:- Right-click on the external device and choose format.
Step 4:- Set your file system like NTFS, FAT32 or EXT3 on the format window.
Step 5:- Now tick the box of quick format and click on start to begin the formatting process.
So follow these steps carefully to solve the formatting issues by unlocking your device.
8. Fix disk errors
If your disk is having an error, then your window is unable to complete the format. So you have to fix your disk errors to complete the formatting process. Below are the steps to resolve this issue by using this method.
Step 1:- Firstly, connect the external storage device with your computer.
Step 2:- Right-click on the device that you want to format and choose properties.
Step 3:- You will find an error checking section under the tool tab. Now click the check button.
Step 4:- You can select to scan the drive to remove the error from your hard drive.
Step 5:- Right-click on the external device.
Step 6:- Now use file explorer to complete the formatting process.
So follow these steps carefully to resolve the format error by fixing disk errors.
9. Repair bad sector
If your storage device contains several bad sectors, then you can’t format it using the Windows formatting tool. However, you can run the CMD command or EaseUS Partition Master software with a file system checker to repair the bad sectors and complete the formatting process.
Here are the steps to remove the error by repairing the bad sectors on your external device.
Step1:- To fix soft sectors, run a CHKDSK.
Step 2:- On the search bar, type cmd.
Step 3:- Right-click on prompt command.
Step4:- Choose Run as administrator.
Step 5:- Now type chkdsk E: /f /r /x and click the enter button.
Step 6:- Find the device that you want to format and right-click on it.
Step 7:- Select the format to start the formatting process.
Step 8:- Now set the file system such as NTFS or FAT32. Check the quick format box and click enter to start.
So follow these carefully to remove the error windows was unable to complete the format by repairing the bad sectors of your device.
10. Format the media
It is one of the best methods to fix the issue, windows unable to complete the format. Below are the steps to resolve this problem by formatting the media.
Format1:- Visit disk management.
Step 1:– Visit my computer and click on manage then disk management.
Step 2:- Now right-click on the disk that you want to format.
Step 3:- Set the file system like NTFS or FAT32 and click the start button to complete the formatting process.
Format 2:- Delete volume and create a new one.
If the disk management method does not work in formatting the device, then you can use this way to do so.
Step 1:- Delete your previous volume.
Step 2:- Now create the new folder.
Format 3:- Change the drive path.
If both the above methods do not work, then you can change the letter or path of the drive to format the storage device.
11. Create a new volume for your flash drive
Sometimes your flash drive turns into a raw file and can’t format by your window. Therefore, to fix the formatting issue, you can create a new volume for the flash drive.
Here are the steps of resolving this error by creating a new volume for your storage drive.
Step 1:- Under disk management, right-click on the drive that you want to format.
Step 2:- Now select a new simple volume.
Step 3:- In the new simple volume wizard, click on the format of this volume with the following settings.
Now relax and wait until the formatting process completes. So follow these steps carefully to solve the formatting errors, creating a new volume in the storage drive.
What are the reasons for the formatting error?
As we have shown you different solutions, so reasons will also be different. However, there are many reasons for preventing windows from completing the process of format on your device. Below we have shown you the list of the reasons that help you to understand why windows could not complete the formatting task.
1. Bad sectors on USB or SD
If your storage device contains a certain number of bad sectors, then you can’t format it with the help of Windows built-in tools. So you can launch error checking to complete the formatting process. Moreover, you can also use a repair tool to remove the error on USB or SD devices.
2. File system error in your device
Windows won’t be able to format your storage device using disk management when it contains an unsupported file system such as Linux Ext2/3/4 or displays as RAW on your screen.
If you want to fix this error, then you need a third-party formatting tool for help.
3. A virus in your storage device
You can’t format the storage device if it infects by a virus or malware. If you want to complete the formatting process, then you have to remove the virus from your storage device.
4. The storage device protects with third-party software.
If your storage device protects with third-party software, then you can’t complete the formatting process. However, you have to remove that software and then start formatting your USB or SD storage device.
5. Physical damage
If your storage is physically damaged, then it is impossible to complete the formatting task. You have to take your device to the local repair centre and if it does not get repaired, then purchasing a new device is the best option left.
How to recover lost data after completing the formatting process?
You may lose some data from your computer when your formatting task is successful. So you can use reliable data recovery software to restore the lost data.
However, you can use the EaseUS data recovery wizard to scan and restore all your data in three simple steps. Below we have shown the steps.
Step 1:- Launch the EaseUS data recovery wizard on the external storage device to perform the data recovery process.
Step 2:- Now click scan to start the recovery process.
Step 3:- Select the lost files.
Step 4:- Double click on the file to preview the content in it.
Step 5:- Now click recover after selecting the file.
Step 6:- To save the file, choose a location on another device.
However, you can re-save your data back to the external device again after restoring your data.
Some questions about windows were unable to complete the format.
Here are some questions that come to our mind about formatting your storage device.
1. How to fix a hard drive?
If your window can detect the hard drive, then you can apply the EaseUS partition master to directly format your hard drive.
On the other hand, if the window can’t detect the hard drive, then you can create a new partition on the hard drive and reformat it.
2. Why is it uneasy to format a storage device?
If your hard drive is locked with third-party software or contains file system error, bad sectors, virus or malware infection, then you can’t format it directly.
However, you can give a try to these three ways to solve this issue.
- Clean up your device.
- Use EaseUS partition master, Diskpart command or disk management formatting tool to format your storage device.
We have shown you the complete details of every method above in this article.
3. How to fix unable to format flash drive errors?
Try the following steps carefully to resolve this issue.
- Firstly, connect the flash drive with your computer.
- Run the antivirus to remove the virus from your USB.
- Use EaseUS partition master or disk management tool to format your USB.
- Right-click on the storage device.
- Click format.
- Set a new file system like NTFS or FAT32.
- Lastly, click the ok button to confirm the formatting process.
Final thoughts
We hope that you get the answer to your question, how to fix Windows was unable to complete the format form this article. These methods are going to resolve this issue on your USB, SD or any other storage device efficiently.
However, EaseUS partition master is the best, reliable and effective formatting software that makes everything easy for you to format the device. So start following these steps carefully to resolve the incomplete format error.
