How to Format an SSD

Format your SSD for Windows 10, macOS, or both

By
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Writer
  • Shoreline Community College
Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles .
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Updated on July 14, 2021
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
Ryan Perian headshot
Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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What to Know

  • In Windows: Open Disk Management, right-click the SSD, and select Format.
  • In macOS: Open Disk Utility, select the SSD and click Erase.
  • If your drive is pre-formatted NTFS, Macs can read but not write to it unless you reformat it.

This article explains how to format an SSD, including instructions for formatting an SSD on Windows 10 and formatting an SSD on macOS.

How Do I Format an SSD in Windows 10?

There are two ways to format an SSD on Windows 10. The easiest is to right-click the drive in File Manager and select Format. However, this isn’t an option if the drive hasn’t been formatted yet, as it won’t show up in File Explorer. In that case, you need to format the drive using Disk Management.

If you already see your SSD in File Explorer and you still want to format it, right-click it, select Format, and skip to step 4.

Here’s how to format an SSD on Windows 10 using Disk Management:

  1. Install your new internal SSD, or connect your new external SSD via USB.

  2. Type diskmgmt.msc in the taskbar search box, press Enter, then select Create and format hard disk partitions.

    Create and format hard disk partitions highlighted in Windows taskbar search.

  3. Right-click the drive you want to format, and click Format.

    Format highlighted in Disk management.

    If the drive doesn't appear, or you don't see the Format option, that means it hasn’t been partitioned yet. In that case, partition your new drive before returning to these instructions.

  4. Next to Volume Label, enter a name for the drive.

    Volume label SSD highlighted in the windows 10 format menu.

  5. In the file system box, select NTFS.

    NTFS highlighted in the windows 10 formatting options.

    NTFS is the best option for Windows PCs. If you need to use your drive on both Windows and macOS, choose exFat.

  6. In the allocation unit size box, select Default.

    Default highlighted in Windows 10 formatting options.

  7. Remove the checkmark from Perform a quick format, and click OK.

    Perform a quick format highlighted in Windows 10 formatting options.

  8. Make sure you’ve selected the correct drive, and click OK.

    OK highlighted in the Windows 10 formatting warning message box.

    This is your last chance to make sure you don’t format the wrong drive.

  9. Windows will format your SSD.

How Do I Format an SSD in macOS?

You format SSD drives on macOS through the Disk Utility app. If you have a new internal SSD or an SSD that wasn’t explicitly formatted for macOS, then you’ll want to format it.

Here’s how to format an SSD on macOS:

  1. Install your new internal SSD, or connect your new external SSD via USB.

  2. Open Disk Utility, and click the SSD you want to format.

    New Volume highlighted in Disk Utility on Mac.

    Access Disk Utility by searching with Spotlight, or navigate to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.

  3. Click Erase.

    Erase highlighted in macOS Disk Utility.

  4. Enter a name for the drive.

    Name: SSD highlighted in macOS formatting options.

  5. Select a file system.

    macOS file systems options highlighted in formatting options.

    If you don't know which to choose, use one of these:

    • AFPS: Use this if you have a post-2017 Mac and won’t share the drive with a Windows machine
    • Mac OS Extended (Journaled): Use this if you have a pre-2017 Mac and won’t share the drive with a Windows machine
    • exFAT: Use this if you need to share the drive with a Windows machine.

  6. Click Erase.

    Erase highlighted in macOS formatting options.

  7. Wait for the process to finish, then click Done.

Do You Need to Format a New SSD?

Whether or not you need to format a new SSD depends on a handful of factors. If the drive isn’t formatted at all, then you need to format it. If the drive is formatted with the file system you want, then formatting is optional. If it’s formatted but it has the wrong file system, then you need to format it.

Internal SSDs are typically unformatted, while external SSDs are usually already formatted when you buy them. However, the drive may not be formatted with the correct file system. If you only use Macs and buy an SSD that’s formatted for use with Windows, you’ll want to format it with the AFPS file structure, even if it’s already pre-formatted.

FAQ
  • How do I format an SSD with an OS on it?

    If your SSD has a copy of a Windows OS version on it, you will format it as described above, which is a process that will wipe out the disk's entire contents, including the OS. However, if you're trying to reformat the drive on which you're running your computer's OS, you'll receive an error that reads, "You cannot format this volume. It contains the version of Windows you are using. Formatting this volume could cause your computer to stop working."

  • How do I format an SSD in Windows 7?

    Formatting an SSD uses the same process in Windows 7, 8, and 10 (described above). First, open Disk Management, right-click the SSD, and select Format, then follow the prompts.

  • How do I format an SSD from BIOS?

    If you want to securely erase an SSD and are concerned that formatting the SSD will still leave behind data fragments, you may have an option to erase the SSD from the BIOS securely. However, this option isn't standard; the secure erase option is typically on less common motherboards or dedicated gaming machines. If your computer supports this option, you'd enter your BIOS or UEFI settings, select your drive, then look for and select a Secure Erase option and follow the prompts.

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