3 Ways to Format a Computer - wikiHow (2024)

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Written byNicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: September 26, 2023Fact Checked

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  • Windows 10
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This wikiHow teaches you how to completely erase everything on your computer, including the operating system, using Windows or macOS. Formatting your computer means erasing all the data on the hard drive(s) and then reinstalling Windows or macOS for a fresh start. This can be useful if your computer isn't working right or you plan to sell it and don't want to risk someone recovering your data. Fortunately, both Windows and macOS come with easy-to-use formatting tools that make the process pretty painless.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Windows 10

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  1. 1

    Back up your data. Although formatting your Windows 10 PC is super easy, the changes are permanent—you'll be deleting all of your apps, settings, and personal files and reinstalling Windows from scratch. Fortunately, it's also easy to back up the files you want to keep using tools that came with your PC. See How to Back Up Your Files in Windows 10 to learn how to create a backup to a DVD, CD, external hard drive, or the cloud.[1]

  2. 2

    Open your Windows Settings

    . You'll find this gear icon on the Start menu.

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  3. 3

    Click Update & Security. It's the icon of two curved arrows.[2]

  4. 4

    Click Recovery. It's in the left panel.[3]

  5. 5

    Click the Get started button under "Reset this PC." It's the first button at the top of the right panel.[4]

  6. 6

    Click Remove everything. It's the second option on the blue screen.

  7. 7

    Click Remove files and clean the drive. It's the second option. This option is the one you'll need to format the hard drive—the other option just erases and reinstalls the operating system without actually formatting the drive.

    • Cleaning the drive is important if you're planning to sell or give away this PC. That's because formatting the hard drive makes it hard for someone malicious to restore your deleted files. But if you want to keep the PC, you can click Just remove my files to skip formatting the drive.
    • Another more serious option for cleaning the hard drive is to use a third-party data-wiping tool like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke). If you use a drive-clearing program, you'll need to make sure you have a Windows 10 recovery drive or DVD so you can reinstall the operating system. See How to Clean a Hard Drive to learn more about this option.
  8. 8

    Click Next on the warning screen. If you see a message that says the PC was upgraded to Windows 10, it means that reinstalling Windows makes it so you cannot go back to the previous version of Windows.[5]

  9. 9

    Click Reset to format your PC. Depending on the size and speed of your hard drive, this part can take a while (anywhere from several minutes to several hours).[6]

    • If you're using a laptop, make sure you plug it into a power source so the formatting is not interrupted.
  10. 10

    Click Continue when the format is complete. Your PC is now formatted. If you'd like to reinstall Windows, follow the on-screen instructions to do so.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Windows 8.1

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  1. 1

    Back up your data. Since formatting your PC will erase all of your files and settings, you'll probably want to do a backup first. Check out How to Back Up a Windows Computer to learn how to quickly back up your PC before you proceed.[7]

    • If your PC came with Windows 8 instead of Windows 8.1, formatting and resetting will revert you to Windows 8.[8] But don't worry—you'll be prompted to install a free upgrade to Windows 8.1 soon after installing.
  2. 2

    Hold the mouse cursor at the bottom-right corner of the screen. This opens the Charms menu.

  3. 3

    Click Settings

    . It's the gear icon on the Charms menu.

  4. 4

    Click Change PC Settings. It's at the bottom of the menu.

  5. 5

    Click the Update and recovery tab. It's near the bottom of the left panel.

  6. 6

    Click Recovery. It's in the right panel.

  7. 7

    Click Get started under "Remove everything and reinstall Windows." It's in the middle of the right panel. Make sure you don't accidentally click "Get started" under a different option, as there are several.[9]

  8. 8

    Click Next. This confirms that you want to delete all of your files, apps, and settings from this PC.

  9. 9

    Select which drive(s) you want to format. If you only want to format the drive on which Windows 8 is installed, select Only the drive where Windows is installed. To format all drives on the computer, select All drives.

  10. 10

    Click Fully clean the drive. This option (the second one) ensures that the drive is completely formatted.

    • If you're planning to keep the PC and aren't worried about people accessing your deleted files, you can click Just remove my files. This won't format the drive, though.
    • A more serious option for cleaning the hard drive is to use a third-party data-wiping tool like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke). DBAN and similar tools make it impossible for anyone to find fragments of your deleted files, so this might be useful if you plan to sell or give away your PC. Just make sure you have recovery media so you can reinstall Windows afterward. See How to Clean a Hard Drive to learn more about this option.
  11. 11

    Click Reset to format your PC. Depending on the size and speed of your hard drive, this part can take a while (anywhere from several minutes to several hours).

    • If you're using a laptop, make sure you plug it into a power source so the formatting is not interrupted.
    • Once the PC is formatted, it will reboot and prompt you to reinstall Windows. Follow the on-screen instructions if you'd like to do so.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

macOS

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  1. 1

    Back up your data. Formatting your Mac will erase all of your data, so make sure you've backed up everything you want to keep. See How to Back Up a Mac to learn how to save your files to Time Machine or iCloud.[10]

  2. 2

    Turn on your Mac and press Command+R. If your Mac is already turned on, reboot it and press this key combination as soon as it turns back on. This boots your Mac into Recovery Mode.[11]

    • You can release your fingers from the keys once you see the Apple logo or a startup screen.
  3. 3

    Select Disk Utility. It's the last option on the "macOS Utilities" window.[12]

  4. 4

    Click Continue. It's at the bottom-right corner.

  5. 5

    Click the View menu. It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

  6. 6

    Click Show All Devices. This displays all disks connected to your Mac in the left panel.[13]

  7. 7

    Select the disk you want to format. For example, if you want to format your primary drive on which macOS is installed, you'll select the first disk at the top of the list (under "Internal").

  8. 8

    Click the Erase button. It's near the top-center part of the window.

  9. 9

    Select your formatting details.[14]

    • Name: Enter a name to identify the hard drive.
    • Format: Unless you have a specific reason not to do so, leave the default format of your internal hard drive as APFS.[15]
    • Scheme: Select Choose GUID Partition Map.
  10. 10

    Click Erase to format the disk. You may be asked to verify your Apple ID or password. Once the disk is erased and formatted, you'll return to the Disk Utility list.[16]

    • If you have additional hard drives, you can format them now using Disk Utility.
  11. 11

    Close Disk Utility. You can do this by clicking the red circle at the top-left corner of the window.

    • If you want to reinstall macOS on this drive, just boot back into Recovery Mode by pressing Control + R at startup, and then select Reinstall macOS (to start from scratch) or Restore From Time Machine Backup (if you backed up the OS to Time Machine).
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  • Question

    Why would I need to format it?

    3 Ways to Format a Computer - wikiHow (40)

    Community Answer

    Formatting is a process which cleans all your previous data. If you wanted your computer to be wiped clean (for example, to sell), you would want to format it.

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

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    Not Helpful 1Helpful 15

  • Question

    What can I do if I forget my password?

    3 Ways to Format a Computer - wikiHow (41)

    Community Answer

    Use a password reset disk to edit and clear all passwords. Restart the system and log in with other users. The password isn't required - just your username.

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

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  • Question

    How do I format Windows 10?

    3 Ways to Format a Computer - wikiHow (42)

    Community Answer

    Go to "Settings" and select "Update & Security." Click "Recovery" in the left pane and click "Get Started" under "Reset this PC." Click either "Keep my files," "Remove everything," "Just remove my files," or "Remove files and clean the drive." Click "Next," then "Reset," and then "Continue."

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

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      References

      1. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/backup-and-restore-in-windows-352091d2-bb9d-3ea3-ed18-52ef2b88cbef#WindowsVersion=Windows_10
      2. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/give-your-pc-a-fresh-start-0ef73740-b927-549b-b7c9-e6f2b48d275e#ID0EBD=Windows_10
      3. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/give-your-pc-a-fresh-start-0ef73740-b927-549b-b7c9-e6f2b48d275e#ID0EBD=Windows_10
      4. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/give-your-pc-a-fresh-start-0ef73740-b927-549b-b7c9-e6f2b48d275e#ID0EBD=Windows_10
      5. https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/factory-reset-windows-10
      6. https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/factory-reset-windows-10
      7. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-refresh-reset-or-restore-your-windows-8-1-pc-51391d9a-eb0a-84a7-69e4-c2c1fbceb8dd
      8. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17085/windows-8-restore-refresh-reset-pc
      9. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-refresh-reset-or-restore-your-windows-8-1-pc-51391d9a-eb0a-84a7-69e4-c2c1fbceb8dd

      More References (7)

      About This Article

      3 Ways to Format a Computer - wikiHow (57)

      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 1,868,059 times.

      How helpful is this?

      Co-authors: 26

      Updated: September 26, 2023

      Views:1,868,059

      Categories: Windows

      Article SummaryX

      1.Back up your data.
      2.Open your Windows Settings.
      3.Click Update & Security.
      4.Click Recovery.
      5.Click Get Started under "Reset this PC."
      6.Click Remove everything.
      7.Click Remove files and clean the drive.
      8.Click Next. 9.Click Reset.

      Did this summary help you?

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      3 Ways to Format a Computer - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      What are the three formatting processes? ›

      The Formatting Process: A Closer Look 🔍
      • Partitioning: The disk is divided into sections, marking the beginning and end for the operating system to access.
      • File System Application: A file system is applied to organize the disk's contents.
      • Data Erasure: All existing data is erased, and the disk is ready for new data.
      Feb 7, 2024

      What are the different types of formatting in computer? ›

      There are two types of formatting: high-level and low-level. High-level formatting involves writing the file system to the disk so the data can be organized and understood by software reading from it and writing to it. Low-level formatting is when the tracks and sectors are outlined on the disk.

      How do you format a computer? ›

      How to Format a Computer
      1. Back Up Your Hard Drive.
      2. Choose Your Preferred Installation Method.
      3. Insert the Disk into the CD Drive.
      4. Wait for the Disk to Load.
      5. Let the Computer Complete the Installation.
      6. Restart the Computer.
      7. Install a Fresh System.
      8. Completing the Reformat Process.
      Sep 19, 2022

      What are 3 formatting styles? ›

      There are several formatting styles, but the three most common are the American Psychological Association (APA), the Modern Language Association (MLA), and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). Different academic disciplines typically use different styles.

      What are the three 3 levels of formatting? ›

      Three Levels of Formatting
      • Character Formatting.
      • Paragraph Formatting.
      • Section Formatting.

      What are the 4 types of file formatting? ›

      In this guide, we'll explore some of the different types of files for the 4 primary file types: document, image, video, and audio. If you're having trouble optimizing your website or your email marketing campaign with the right types of file formats, here's everything you need to know.

      What are the two ways of formatting? ›

      In Microsoft Word, there are basically two types of formatting - character formatting and paragraph formatting. Character formatting applies formatting to individual characters while Paragraph formatting applies formatting to individual paragraphs.

      What are formatting options? ›

      Formatting Options allow users to quickly format different parts of the document (headings, subheadings, lists, normal text, quotes) instead of applying several formatting options individually each time.

      How do I format my computer data? ›

      PC Instructions

      Use the start menu to search for and open the disk management utility – “Create and format hard disk partitions”. Complete the following steps in Disk Management: Select the drive you wish to format from the list. Right click on the drive and select Format.

      How to completely format a laptop? ›

      Formatting Your Laptop

      To format your Windows 10 laptop, go to 'Reset this PC' in the 'Recovery' section under 'Update & Security' and click 'Get Started'. Next, select 'Remove Everything' option and finally 'Remove files and clean the drive'. The laptop will automatically restart and the formatting process will begin.

      How to format a PC from BIOS? ›

      To perform system recovery from the BIOS:
      1. Power on or restart the workstation.
      2. Enter the BIOS by tapping either the right or left bottom of the screen.
      3. Tap Advanced, and then tap Special Configuration.
      4. Tap Factory Recovery.
      5. Select Enabled from drop-down menu.
      6. Tap Home.
      7. Tap Save and Exit.

      What are the three types of formatting in computer? ›

      The three types of formatting styles are character formatting, paragraph formatting and page formatting.

      What are the 3 steps on which computer works? ›

      The three stages of computing are input, processing and output. A computer works through these stages by 'running' a program. A program is a set of step-by-step instructions which tells the computer exactly what to do with input in order to produce the required output.

      How do I Format my computer and delete everything? ›

      Factory reset on Windows
      1. Click Start, then Settings.
      2. Click Update & Security.
      3. Click Recovery. Under “Reset This PC,” click Get Started.
      4. Click Remove everything. Junk files and malware might remain if you choose “Keep my files.”
      Aug 12, 2023

      What are the 3 data formats? ›

      Data formats can be categorized into three main types: structured data, semi-structured data, and unstructured data.

      What is the process of formatting? ›

      Disk formatting is the process of preparing a data storage device such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive, floppy disk, memory card or USB flash drive for initial use. In some cases, the formatting operation may also create one or more new file systems.

      What are the 3 types of format commands that can be used to format data? ›

      The 4 types of FORMAT commands includes:
      • Format-Wide.
      • Format-List.
      • Format-Table.
      • Format-Custom.

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