Format a USB Drive to NTFS on Windows 11 / 10 / 8 / 7

PAGE CONTENT:

USB flash drives are a reliable and portable storage solution used for everything from transferring files between computers to backing up essential data. By default, many USB drives come preformatted with FAT32 or exFAT, file systems that are broadly compatible across different operating systems. However, there are situations where formatting a USB drive to NTFS (New Technology File System) is necessary—particularly when dealing with large files, requiring advanced permissions, or seeking better performance on Windows systems.

In this comprehensive article, we will guide you through the steps to format a USB drive to NTFS on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 using several built-in methods and tools. Whether you're a beginner or a power user, this article will help you choose the best method for your needs.

What Is NTFS and Why Format to It?

Beginning with Windows NT, the default file system for Windows operating systems is NTFS. It offers significant advantages over older formats like FAT32 and even exFAT:

• Supports larger files: FAT32 has a file size limit of 4GB. NTFS supports much larger files—up to 16 TB (on Windows versions).
• Improved security: NTFS includes file and folder permissions, encryption (EFS), and disk quotas.
• Fault tolerance and recovery: NTFS uses journaling and error logging to recover data more easily.
• Compression and symbolic links: NTFS supports features absent in FAT32/exFAT, like compression and hard links.

If you're using your USB drive exclusively with Windows machines and need these features—especially for transferring large files or using it with VMs or bootable environments—NTFS is the recommended format.

Important Notes Before Formatting to NTFS

Before proceeding, there are several critical points to keep in mind:

1. All data on the drive will be deleted during formatting. Always back up important files before formatting.
2. NTFS has limited compatibility. macOS and Linux systems have read-only or partial support for NTFS unless third-party NTFS for Mac drivers are used.
3. The USB drive must not be write-protected. If it is, you'll need to remove write protection first.
4. The drive should be healthy. If it has bad sectors or is unreadable, formatting may fail, and you may need to repair the USB disk problem. before proceeding.

Method 1: Format USB to NTFS Using File Explorer

Using File Explorer is the simplest method for formatting a USB disk on Windows.

Steps:

1. Insert the USB drive into your PC. Locate the USB under This PC in File Explorer by pressing Win + E. Choose Format with a right-click on the USB disk.

2. Select the NTFS as the file system and enable Quick Format. Click Start, then OK to confirm.

Works On: Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7

Best For: Quick and basic formatting needs

Method 2: Format USB to NTFS Using Disk Management

Disk Management offers more control and can help resolve partition issues.

Steps:

1. Type diskmgmt.msc using Win + R, then hit Enter.

2. Locate your USB drive in the bottom panel. Right-click the partition and choose Format.

3. In the dialog box:
   • Select NTFS as the file system.
   • Check Perform a quick format (or uncheck if a full format is needed).
   • Click OK to confirm.

If there's no partition and the disk shows as unallocated:

• Right-click the disk, then New Simple Volume, and go through the wizard to format it as NTFS.

Works On: Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7

Best For: Handling partition issues and unallocated space

Method 3: Format USB to NTFS Using Command Prompt (DiskPart)

For advanced users, DiskPart offers full control over drives using the command line.

Steps:

1. Press Win + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

2. Type the following commands:

   diskpart
   list disk
   select disk 1
   list partition
   select partition 1
   format fs=ntfs quick
   exit

If the drive has no partition, use:

create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick

Works On: All Windows versions

Best For: Power users or when GUI tools fail

Method 4: Format USB to NTFS Using PowerShell

Windows PowerShell offers another command-line alternative.

Steps:

1. Select Windows PowerShell (Admin) by pressing Win + X.

2. Type the following command (Replace X with the actual drive letter):

   Format-Volume -DriveLetter X -FileSystem NTFS -NewFileSystemLabel "MyUSB"

Works On: Windows 11, 10

Best For: Scripting and automation

What to Do If You Can't Format USB to NTFS

Sometimes, despite using the correct methods, Windows fails to format a USB drive to NTFS. This can happen due to various reasons such as file system corruption, hardware issues, write protection, or system restrictions. Here's a breakdown of common problems and how to resolve each one effectively.

1. USB Drive Is Write-Protected

A write-protected USB cannot be formatted until the protection is removed. Some USB drives have a physical switch on the side that locks the drive—check and toggle this if present.

Remove Write Protection via Command Prompt:

1. As an administrator, launch the Command Prompt.
2. Execute the subsequent DiskPart commands:

   diskpart
   list disk
   select disk X
   attributes disk clear readonly
   exit

3. Try formatting again using File Explorer or Disk Management.

If the drive is still write-protected, the controller firmware may be damaged, and the drive could be permanently locked.

2. "Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format" Error

This error often appears when the file system is corrupted or the drive has bad sectors.

Fix It Using Disk Management:

1. Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) should be open.
2. Choose Delete Volume from the menu when you right-click the USB partition.

3. Pick New Simple Volume from the menu when you right-click the unallocated space.

4. Follow the wizard to create and format the drive as NTFS.

Fix It Using DiskPart:

If Disk Management fails:

1. Launch Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Use DiskPart to clean the drive:

   diskpart
   list disk
   select disk X
   clean
   create partition primary
   format fs=ntfs quick
   exit

The clean command removes all partitions and file system traces, allowing a fresh NTFS format.

3. USB Drive Shows 0 Bytes or Unallocated

This usually indicates the USB is in RAW state or its partition table is corrupted.

Steps to Fix:

• Open Disk Management.
• If it shows Unallocated, right-click and choose New Simple Volume.
• Format it as NTFS.

If it shows 0 bytes or RAW:

• Try DiskPart's clean and create partition steps.
• To rebuild the partition table, use a third-party partition manager.

4. USB Drive Has Bad Sectors or Is Physically Damaged

Bad sectors on a USB drive can prevent formatting. You can run a surface test or repair bad sectors using built-in or third-party tools.

Run CHKDSK to Fix File System Errors:

1. As an administrator, launch the Command Prompt.
2. Type the below command:

   chkdsk X: /f /r /x

   • /f fixes errors
   • /r locates bad sectors and recovers readable data
   • /x forces the volume to dismount first

If CHKDSK can't repair the drive, consider using tools like HDD Low Level Format Tool or check if the USB is under warranty for replacement.

5. Use Professional USB Repair Tools

If none of the above methods work, these tools can help:

• HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool: Known to fix problematic drives others can't format.
• AOMEI Partition Assistant: Allows formatting, partition repair, and recovery.
• MiniTool Partition Wizard: Provides surface tests, format options, and bootable recovery media.

6. Try a Different Computer or USB Port

Sometimes, the issue lies with the USB port or drivers. Try the USB drive on:

• Another USB port (preferably USB 2.0 if using older hardware).
• A different computer to rule out OS or driver conflicts.

Format and Wipe NTFS Dive with Data Erasure Tool (Optional)

If Windows' built-in tools fail or you want a more user-friendly interface and advanced features, third-party software can help. For example, if you want to format the USB drive and ensure the data on the drive is gone forever, you can try the data erasure tool Donemax Data Eraser.

The software can not only format the USB drive, but also ensure the data is gone for good and no recovery method can get back the wiped data. It's useful when you need to sell or donate an old USB drive.

Here are the steps to wipe the USB drive data permanently with Donemax Data Eraser:

Step 1. Connect the USB drive to the computer. Download and install the data wiping tool. Launch the software and choose Erase Hard Drive. Select the USB drive and click Erase Now button.

Step 2. To wipe the data from the drive permanently, you need to select a data wiping algorithm from the drop-down list.

Step 3. At last, start to wipe the data from the USB drive and format it. It will take a while and just wait patiently.

Once the wiping process is finished, the drive is formatted and also the data is wiped permanently. You can feel free to give it away or resell it.

Conclusion

Formatting a USB drive to NTFS on Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7 is straightforward if you follow the right steps and choose the method best suited to your experience level. From File Explorer to DiskPart, each method serves different purposes—from quick formatting to advanced repair.

If your drive is healthy and intended for Windows use, NTFS is the optimal file system offering robustness, security, and support for large files. Just remember to back up your data and check compatibility before formatting.

By understanding the options available and how to troubleshoot common issues, you can ensure your USB drive performs reliably and efficiently for years to come. If the USB drive will be given to another hand, ensure to wipe data from the USB drive and keep your privacy safe.