External hard drive wont format because of various reasons.
This post summarizes some potential causes and several troubleshooting methods.
While youcant format external hard drive, try the methods given byMiniToolto solve the issue.
External hard drives are widely used for increasing storage space, transferring files, or storing data.
However, you sometimes cant format external hard drive smoothly.
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Why external hard drive wont format?
You may be curious about that.
Well, the section below collects some possible reasons.
it’s possible for you to take them as a reference.
Some possible reasons are listed as follows.
Once your external hard drive is write-protected, you cant format it successfully.
To format the drive smoothly, remove write protection by yourself.
For software-based write protection, you’re free to remove it by following the steps below.
Step 1:Hold theWindowsandRkeys simultaneously to open theRundialog window.
Step 2:Typecmdin theRunwindow and pressCtrl + Shift + Enterkeys to run Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 3:In the elevatedCommand Promptwindow, bang out the following commands and hitEnterafter each.
Step 4:Wait for the finish of the process.
After removing the write protection, format the external hard drive again to see if it works.
This free partition manager helps you perform a surface test within a few clicks.
tap the button below to download and install MiniTool Partition.
Then launch the tool to enter its main interface.
After that, follow the given steps to complete the operation.
Step 1:find out if the external hard drive appears in the disk map of MiniTool Partition Wizard.
If not, re-plug it again.
Step 2:After you find it, right-press it and choose theSurface Testoption in the context menu.
Step 3:In the pop-up window, click theStart Nowbutton to begin the process.
Step 4:Wait until the test process ends.
Then refer to thisbad sector repairguide to fix them.
If there are too many bad sectors, tryreplacing the hard drivewith a new one.
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If not, read this post now.
It offers two methods for making Samsung SSD clones.
To do that, do these things.
Step 1:Right-select theWindowsicon to open theStartmenu.
Step 2:Tap theDevice Manageroption from the menu.
Step 3:ExpandDisk drivesby double-clicking it.
Then right-press your external hard drive from the expanded list and click theUpdate driveroption.
Step 4:In the next window, clickSearch automatically for driversto update the driver automatically.
If you want to update the driver manually, tap onBrowse my computer for driversinstead.
Step 2:ClickWindows SecurityunderBest matchto open it.
Alternatively, click theOpenoption under the Windows Security app.
Step 3:In the elevated window, clickVirus & threat protection.
Step 4:Then clickScan optionsto continue.
Here, we chooseCustom scan.
Step 6:TapThis PCand the connected external hard drive, and then clickSelect Folder.
Step 7:Dont interrupt the scan process.
Instead, wait patiently until the process finishes.
For instance, it’s possible for you to format the external hard drive by force via Command Prompt.
Step 1:Run Command Prompt as administrator in the search box.
Step 2:In theCommand Promptwindow, key in the commands below and hitEnterafter each.
Step 3:Finally, typeexitand pressEnterto exit Diskpart.
Then verify if the external hard drive not formatted issue disappears.
Diskpart clean vs clean all: which one to select?
To make a wise choice, learn the difference first.
When they fail, try using MiniTool Partition Wizard.
As it is built into the operating system, you dont have to download and install it.
Instead, you just need to open it and then perform tasks by following the on-screen instructions.
Simply perform the desired operation based on your demands.
Step 1:OpenDisk Managementon your rig.
A simple way to do that is to right-hit theWindowsicon and click theDisk Managementoption.
Step 2:Right-choose the external hard drive and pick theFormatoption.
Then clickOKto save the changes.
Step 4:In the elevated warning window, clickYesto confirm the operation.
In this case, try using MiniTool Partition Wizard a comprehensivefree partition managerfor Windows PCs.
Within a few clicks, you’re able to finish the format operation.
In a word, it is time-saving and effective.
It can be used as aUSB drive formatter, SD card formatter,FAT32 formatter, and exFAT formatter.
Now, format the external hard drive with MiniTool Partition Wizard by using these steps.
If you dont have specific demands, follow the default tweaks.
After that, clickOKto save the changes you have made.
Step 3:Tap theApplybutton to carry out the operation.
High-level format vs low-level format: which to pick?
If you hesitate between the two formatting ways, find the difference in this post and make your decision.
What should I do if I cant format external hard drive?
Like others, you may raise such a question.
if you bump into this situation, dont panic!
This post lists some possible reasons and solutions to it.
you’ve got the option to try the fixes one by one until the issue is fixed.
you might share your experiences during the formatting process.
For issues related to formatting, we will try our best to help you solve them.
We would make a reply as soon as possible.
