Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format | 5 Solutions

It can be very frustrating when you encounter the error message “Windows could not complete the format”. This error can occur when formatting various storage devices, including hard drives, USB flash drives, memory cards, and external hard drives.

Below is the error message:

Formatting a hard drive is a critical operation, whether it’s for preparing a new hard drive, erasing data on a USB flash drive, or resolving issues with an existing disk.

If formatting fails, it’s essential to diagnose the reason and take steps to fix it.

Why Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format

Why was Windows unable to complete the format? This error usually appears due to various reasons, including bad sectors, virus infection, physical damage to the drive, etc.

In the following part, I will give you detailed information about the causes of this error.

#1. The Drive Has Bad Sectors

When the drive has a certain number of bad sectors, you will not be able to format it using Windows’ built-in tools. Bad sectors on the hard drive may be caused by poor hard drive quality, excessive defragmentation, or accidentally unplugging the USB drive.

#2. The Drive Is Infected with Viruses

When your drive is infected with viruses or malware, you will not be able to access the saved data and format the device in the normal way. In this case, you need to remove the virus first and then complete the formatting process.

#3. The Drive Is Empty

One reason why Windows was unable to format USB/SD is that there is no partition on the hard drive.

However, you will find that it has a drive letter. Therefore, you can see the removable disk in Disk Management and receive a formatting suggestion. Since formatting is based on partitions rather than unallocated space, Windows was unable to complete formatting.

#4. The Driver Is Outdated

Incorrect or outdated device drivers can interfere with the formatting process. Windows relies on drivers to communicate with storage devices. If the driver of the hard disk is outdated, it may cause errors during formatting.

#5. The Drive Is Physical Damage

Physical damage is another important reason why storage devices cannot be accessed, so the Windows system requires them to be formatted. A professional repair center can repair a damaged disk. Therefore, you can consider replacing another removable disk.

How to Fix Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format

Here, I will show you 5 practical ways to fix the error “Windows was unable to complete the format the drive”.

You can try scanning your computer for malware, creating a new partition, checking & fixing disk errors, updating the disk driver, and checking the drive for physical damage.

The detailed steps are shown below. You can have a try.

Method 1. Create New Partition

If there is no partition on the disk and only unallocated space is shown, you need to recreate partitions on it. Here, I will introduce three methods to create new partitions.

Option 1. Use MiniTool Partition Wizard

MiniTool Partition Wizard provides the Create Partition feature to enable you to create a new partition with specific unallocated space. Just need a few clicks.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1. In the main interface of MiniTool Partition Wizard, highlight the drive and choose the Create Partition function from the left action panel.

Step 2. In this interface, you need to confirm parameters such as Partition Label, Partition Type, Drive Letter, File System, Cluster Size, Partition Volume, Partition Location, and Partition Alignment. After completing the settings, click OK to return to the main interface.

Step 3. Now you can see that the new partition has been created, but this is just a preview. At this time, click the Apply button in the upper left corner to apply the changes.

Option 2. Use Disk Management

With the help of Disk Management, you can create a new volume with a few simple clicks.

Step 1. Open Disk Management. Then, right-click an unallocated space on the drive and choose New Simple Volume.

Step 2. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to specify the volume size, assign a drive letter, and format the partition to set the partition creation.

Step 3. Click Finish to complete the creation of a new partition.

Option 3. Use Command Prompt

Creating a partition using Diskpart is very simple. If you are a novice, you can follow the steps below to create a new partition.

Step 1. Press the Win + R key at the same time to open the Run window, and then type diskpart to open the Diskpart window.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, enter the following commands in order. Each should end up with the Enter key.

• list disk
• select disk x (x is the disk number)
• clean
• create partition primary
• format fs=fat32 quick or format fs=ntfs quick
• exit

Method 2. Scan Your Computer for Malware

If your computer is infected by malware or a virus, your Windows was unable to complete the format SD card. So, you can try to scan your computer for malware with Windows Defender or third-party malware removal tools.

To scan for malware with Windows Defender, you can follow the steps:

Step 1. Press the Windows + I key to open Settings.

Step 2. Go to Update & Security > Windows Security.

Step 3. Click Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Then choose Full scan and click Scan now to begin the process.

After completing the virus scan, you can try to format the drive and see if the error still occurs.

Method 3. Check and Fix Disk Errors

File system errors or bad sectors on the drive can prevent the formatting process from completing. It can lead to Windows being unable to complete the format USB/SD. So, you should run the chkdsk command to fix these disk errors.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator again.

Step 2. Type chkdsk *: /f /r (* represents the drive letter) and press Enter.

Method 4. Update the Disk Driver

When Windows cannot format this drive, it may be caused by outdated or faulty disk drivers. In this case, you should try to update the disk driver.

Step 1. Press the Windows key + X and then select Device Manager.

Step 2. In the Device Manager window, expand the Disk drives category.

Step 3. Right-click on the drive that is experiencing the formatting issue and select Update driver.

Step 4. Then choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

Step 5. Follow the on-screen instructions. Windows will search for and install any available driver updates.

Method 5. Check Drive for Physical Damage

Check the storage device for visible physical damage. For hard drives, pay attention to cracks in the casing, bent interfaces, or signs of overheating. For USB flash drives, check for damaged USB plugs or cracked plastic casings.

If the drive is badly damaged and cannot be used, you should seek professional help to repair or replace the drive.

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How to Recover Lost Data When Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format

Have you lost important data when Windows was unable to complete the format USB drive, SD card, or hard drive? Don’t worry, the process of recovering lost data is not complicated.

What’s the best way to recover lost data quickly and effectively? MiniTool Partition Wizard is a great choice.

It can help you perform data recovery from formatted/unformatted partitions, RAW partition data recovery, recovery of deleted files, restoration of lost partitions, and more.

MiniTool Partition Wizard DemoClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Here is how to recover lost data with MiniTool Partition Wizard:

Step 1. Launch the MiniTool software to enter its main interface and click Data Recovery in the top toolbar.

Step 2. In the pop-up window, under the Logical Devices tab, select the hard drive where you are losing data and click Scan. In addition, you can also customize the scan settings.

Step 3. Then, wait for the scan to complete. If the desired data is found, you can click the Pause or Stop icon to get instant data recovery.

Step 4. After completing the scan, you can go to the Search box in the upper right corner and type the specific file name to quickly find the needed file.

Then, make sure to tick the checkboxes of the folders/files you want to recover and click Save. Here, you can also click the Preview button to preview the files/folders.

Step 5. In the pop-up window, select the location to save the selected files/folders and click OK to confirm this action.

Prevention Tips for Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format

To avoid Windows was unable to complete the format again, here are some prevention tips:

#1. Eject drives properly

Always use “Safely Remove Hardware” before disconnecting external drives to prevent file system corruption. Here’s how to do it:

1. Click the Show hidden icons arrow in the taskbar.
2. Find the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon.
3. Click it, select your external drive from the list, and wait for the Safe to Remove Hardware notification to appear before unplugging.

#2. Protect against malware

Install reliable antivirus software and keep its virus database up to date. Regularly scan storage devices to ensure they are free of viruses or malware.

Also, avoid using untrusted USB devices and refrain from opening files from unknown sources.

#3. Handle devices carefully

Prevent physical impact, pressure, or dropping of storage devices, as these may damage the storage media and affect the formatting process.

Also, keep the device clean to prevent dust, moisture, and other substances from entering the device, which could cause hardware failure.

#4. Avoid interrupting formatting

Before formatting, close all applications associated with the device to ensure it is not being used by other programs.

Also, during the formatting process, ensure that the computer will not be interrupted due to a low battery or sudden power outage. If formatting a removable storage device, it is recommended to use an external power supply.

#5. Regular maintenance

Perform regular inspection and maintenance of storage devices. You can use the Windows built-in disk checking tool, CHKDSK, to check for file system errors and bad sectors and repair them.

Additionally, keep your computer’s drivers up to date to ensure smooth communication between the device and the system, reducing the risk of formatting errors caused by driver issues.

Bottom Line

It is frustrating when Windows was unable to complete the format. By identifying the cause, whether physical damage, corruption, or malware, you can apply the appropriate fix.

If you have any questions or suggestions on how to use MiniTool Partition Wizard, please do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected].

Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format FAQ