How to Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac

An easy guide to empty your USB flash drive


This wikiHow teaches you how to remove all of the files from a flash drive in Windows and macOS.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Windows

  1. 1
    Plug the flash drive into your PC. You can connect your flash drive to any working USB port on your computer.
  2. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 2
    2
    Double-click This PC. It’s the computer icon on your desktop.
    • If you don’t see this icon, press ⊞ Win+E to open the File Explorer, then double-click This PC in the left sidebar.
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  3. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 3
    3
    Right-click your flash drive. It’s under the “Devices and drives” header in the right panel. A drop-down menu will appear.
  4. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 4
    4
    Click Format…. The Format window will appear.
  5. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 5
    5
    Click Start. It’s at the bottom of the window. A confirmation message will appear, letting you know that all data on the drive will be erased.
  6. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 6
    6
    Click OK. Windows will now remove all of the data from your flash drive. You’ll see a message that says “Format Complete” once the drive is cleared.
  7. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 7
    7
    Click OK. This closes the window.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

macOS

  1. 1
    Plug the flash drive into your Mac. You can connect your flash drive to any working USB port on your computer.
  2. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 9
    2
    Open Finder
    Mac Finder
    .     It’s on the Dock.
  3. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 10
    3
    Open the Applications folder. Click Applications in the left sidebar, or double-click Applications in the right panel.
  4. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 11
    4
    Double-click the Utilities folder.
  5. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 12
    5
    Double-click Disk Utility.
  6. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 13
    6
    Select your flash drive. It’s in the left panel.[1]
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    7
    Click the Erase tab. It’s at the top of the right panel.
  8. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 15
    8
    Select a format. The default formatting option is OS X Extended (Journaled) should work for most people.[2]
    • If you want to erase all of the files and use the drive on a Windows PC, select MS-DOS (Fat) instead.
  9. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 16
    9
    Click Erase…. It’s at the bottom-right corner of the window. A confirmation message will appear.[3]
  10. Image titled Clear a Flash Drive on PC or Mac Step 17
    10
    Click Erase. This removes all of the files from your flash drive.
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/storage/how-format-usb-stick-on-mac-3434423/
  2. ↑ https://www.lifewire.com/format-mac-drive-using-disk-utility-os-x-el-capitan-later-2260751
  3. ↑ https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/storage/how-format-usb-stick-on-mac-3434423/

About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Nicole Levine, MFA
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 101,096 times.
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Co-authors: 2
Updated: August 23, 2022
Views: 101,096
Categories: Basic Computer Skills | Computers and Electronics
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