How to Format an SSD Memory Drive (with Pictures)

2025 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-24 13:28

Formatting an SSD is useful when you need to sell the device, recycle it or replace it with a new, more performing one. You can format an SSD memory drive in both Windows and Mac.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Format an SSD in Windows

Step 1. Check that the SSD to be formatted is installed on the computer or properly connected to it via the appropriate USB cable (in the case of an external drive)

Step 2. Go to the "Start" menu and click on the "Control Panel" item

Step 3. Click on the "System and Security" link, then click on the "Administrative Tools" item

Step 4. Launch the "Computer Management" application

Step 5. Click on the "Disk Management" option displayed within the left pane of the "Computer Management" window

Step 6. Click on the SSD name displayed in the list of all disks connected to your computer

Step 7. Select the SSD with the right mouse button and choose the "Format" option

Step 8. Select your preferred formatting settings for "File system" and "Allocation unit size" (both are represented by two drop-down menus)

Step 9. Select the "Quick Format" checkbox, then click the "OK" button

The operating system will format the SSD as indicated.

Method 2 of 2: Format an SSD Drive on Mac

Step 1. Check that the SSD to be formatted is installed on the computer or properly connected to it via the appropriate USB cable (in the case of an external drive)

Step 2. Open a Finder window to check if the SSD is listed in the list of devices connected to the Mac

Step 3. Click on the "Applications" folder, then click on the "Utilities" icon

Step 4. Launch the "Disk Utility" app

Step 5. Click on the name of the SSD to be formatted listed in the left panel of the "Disk Utility" window

Step 6. Click on the "Initialize" tab, then take note of the value displayed next to the "Partition Map" item located at the bottom of the window

Step 7. Check that the wording displayed next to "Partition Map" is either "Master Boot Record" or "Apple Partition Map", then click on the "Partition" tab

If the indication displayed next to "Partition Map" is "GUID Partition Map", select the "Extended OS X (Journaled)" option from the "Format" menu, click the "Initialize" button and jump directly to step number 13

Step 8. Select the number of partitions you want from the "Partition scheme" drop-down menu

Step 9. Name the partition or SSD in the "Name" field displayed in the "Partition Information" section, then choose the "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" file system from the "Format" menu

Step 10. Click on the SSD name shown in the center of the window, then click on the "Options" button

Step 11. Choose the "Map GUID Partition" option and click the "OK" button

Step 12. Click the "Apply" button, then click the "Partition" item to confirm that you want to format the SSD according to your chosen settings

Step 13. Wait for the "Disk Utility" program to format the SSD

At the end of this step, the name of the SSD will be displayed in the Finder window.

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How to Format an SSD Memory Drive (with Pictures)

Table of contents:

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Format an SSD in Windows

Step 1. Check that the SSD to be formatted is installed on the computer or properly connected to it via the appropriate USB cable (in the case of an external drive)

Step 2. Go to the "Start" menu and click on the "Control Panel" item

Step 3. Click on the "System and Security" link, then click on the "Administrative Tools" item

Step 4. Launch the "Computer Management" application

Step 5. Click on the "Disk Management" option displayed within the left pane of the "Computer Management" window

Step 6. Click on the SSD name displayed in the list of all disks connected to your computer

Step 7. Select the SSD with the right mouse button and choose the "Format" option

Step 8. Select your preferred formatting settings for "File system" and "Allocation unit size" (both are represented by two drop-down menus)

Step 9. Select the "Quick Format" checkbox, then click the "OK" button

Method 2 of 2: Format an SSD Drive on Mac

Step 1. Check that the SSD to be formatted is installed on the computer or properly connected to it via the appropriate USB cable (in the case of an external drive)

Step 2. Open a Finder window to check if the SSD is listed in the list of devices connected to the Mac

Step 3. Click on the "Applications" folder, then click on the "Utilities" icon

Step 4. Launch the "Disk Utility" app

Step 5. Click on the name of the SSD to be formatted listed in the left panel of the "Disk Utility" window

Step 6. Click on the "Initialize" tab, then take note of the value displayed next to the "Partition Map" item located at the bottom of the window

Step 7. Check that the wording displayed next to "Partition Map" is either "Master Boot Record" or "Apple Partition Map", then click on the "Partition" tab

If the indication displayed next to "Partition Map" is "GUID Partition Map", select the "Extended OS X (Journaled)" option from the "Format" menu, click the "Initialize" button and jump directly to step number 13

Step 8. Select the number of partitions you want from the "Partition scheme" drop-down menu

Step 9. Name the partition or SSD in the "Name" field displayed in the "Partition Information" section, then choose the "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" file system from the "Format" menu

Step 10. Click on the SSD name shown in the center of the window, then click on the "Options" button

Step 11. Choose the "Map GUID Partition" option and click the "OK" button

Step 12. Click the "Apply" button, then click the "Partition" item to confirm that you want to format the SSD according to your chosen settings

Step 13. Wait for the "Disk Utility" program to format the SSD

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