How to Format a Computer

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

  1. Image titled Format a Computer Step 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.
  2. Image titled Format a Computer Step 2
    2
    Open your Windows Settings
    Windows Settings
    .     You'll find this gear icon on the Start menu.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Format a Computer Step 3
    3
    Click Update & Security. It's the icon of two curved arrows.
  4. Image titled Format a Computer Step 4
    4
    Click Recovery. It's in the left panel.
  5. Image titled Format a Computer Step 5
    5
    Click the Get started button under "Reset this PC." It's the first button at the top of the right panel.
  6. Image titled Format a Computer Step 6
    6
    Click Remove everything. It's the second option on the blue screen.
  7. Image titled Format a Computer Step 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. Image titled Format a Computer Step 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.[1]
  9. Image titled Format a Computer Step 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).
    • If you're using a laptop, make sure you plug it into a power source so the formatting is not interrupted.
  10. Image titled Format a Computer Step 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.
    11. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Windows 8.1

  1. Image titled Format a Computer Step 11
    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.
    • If your PC came with Windows 8 instead of Windows 8.1, formatting and resetting will revert you to Windows 8.[2] But don't worry—you'll be prompted to install a free upgrade to Windows 8.1 soon after installing.
  2. Image titled Format a Computer Step 12
    2
    Hold the mouse cursor at the bottom-right corner of the screen. This opens the Charms menu.
  3. Image titled Format a Computer Step 13
    3
    Click Settings
    Windows Settings
    .     It's the gear icon on the Charms menu.
  4. Image titled Format a Computer Step 14
    4
    Click Change PC Settings. It's at the bottom of the menu.
  5. Image titled Format a Computer Step 15
    5
    Click the Update and recovery tab. It's near the bottom of the left panel.
  6. Image titled Format a Computer Step 16
    6
    Click Recovery. It's in the right panel.
  7. Image titled Format a Computer Step 17
    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.
  8. Image titled Format a Computer Step 18
    8
    Click Next. This confirms that you want to delete all of your files, apps, and settings from this PC.
  9. Image titled Format a Computer Step 19
    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. Image titled Format a Computer Step 20
    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. Image titled Format a Computer Step 21
    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.
    12. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

macOS

  1. Image titled Format a Computer Step 22
    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.
  2. Image titled Format a Computer Step 23
    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.[3]
    • You can release your fingers from the keys once you see the Apple logo or a startup screen.
  3. Image titled Format a Computer Step 24
    3
    Select Disk Utility. It's the last option on the "macOS Utilities" window.
  4. Image titled Format a Computer Step 25
    4
    Click Continue. It's at the bottom-right corner.
  5. Image titled Format a Computer Step 26
    5
    Click the View menu. It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  6. Image titled Format a Computer Step 27
    6
    Click Show All Devices. This displays all disks connected to your Mac in the left panel.
  7. Image titled Format a Computer Step 28
    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. Image titled Format a Computer Step 29
    8
    Click the Erase button. It's near the top-center part of the window.
  9. Image titled Format a Computer Step 30
    9
    Select your formatting details.
    • 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.[4]
    • Scheme: Select Choose GUID Partition Map.
  10. Image titled Format a Computer Step 31
    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.
    • If you have additional hard drives, you can format them now using Disk Utility.
  11. Image titled Format a Computer Step 32
    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).
    12. Advertisement

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Why would I need to format it?
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    What can I do if I forget my password?
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    How do I format Windows 10?
    Community Answer
    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."
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Take a Screenshot in Microsoft WindowsHow to Take a Screenshot on a Windows PC: 8 Simple Tricks
Install FFmpeg on Windows
How to
Install FFmpeg on Windows
Enter BIOS
How to
Enter BIOS
Install Software Without Admin Privileges on Windows
How to
Install Software Without Admin Privileges on Windows
Run C Program in Command Prompt
How to
Run C Program in Command Prompt
Turn Off S Mode in Windows 11
How to
Turn Off S Mode in Windows 11
Zoom Out on a PC
How to
Zoom Out on a PC
Manually Reset Your Wireless Adapter in Windows4 Easy Ways to Manually Reset the Wi-Fi Adapter in Windows
Install Windows from Ubuntu
How to
Install Windows from Ubuntu
Check Mouse Sensitivity (Dpi) on PC or Mac
How to
Check Mouse Sensitivity (Dpi) on PC or Mac
Resolve No Sound on Windows Computer
How to
Resolve No Sound on Windows Computer
Check Your Windows Version
How to
Check Your Windows Version
Fix a Windows Computer that Hangs or FreezesHow to Stop Windows from Freezing: Easy Troubleshooting Guide
Block a Program with Windows Firewall
How to
Block a Program with Windows Firewall
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/reset-windows-10-pc
  2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17085/windows-8-restore-refresh-reset-pc
  3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
  4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496#which

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 1,714,153 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 25
Updated: December 14, 2022
Views: 1,714,153
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?
Advertisement