A pendrive is another name for a USB flash drive. Formatting it in Windows 10 creates a new file system on the selected volume and erases the files currently stored there, so back up anything you need first.
Format the USB flash drive
- Connect the USB drive.
- Open File Explorer and select This PC.
- Verify the USB drive’s letter and capacity.
- Right-click the drive and choose Format.
- Select the file system and available format options.
- Choose Start and confirm the erase warning.
Which file system should you choose?
exFAT is a practical choice when the drive needs to store large files and work with modern Windows and Mac computers. NTFS is useful for Windows-focused use and Windows file-system features. FAT32 works with many older devices but has a 4 GB maximum size for an individual file.
Formatting is not a backup
Formatting destroys the existing file-system structure. Confirm that copied files actually open from your backup before formatting an important drive.
If formatting fails
The drive may be write-protected, damaged, or in use. Disk Management can provide additional partition controls, but carefully identify the removable disk before deleting or recreating volumes.
Windows 10 normal support ended October 14, 2025.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
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