format

Windows CMD · System · available in the simulator

What it does

Formats a drive (changes the file system).

Syntax

format volumen [/fs:sistema] [/v:etiqueta] [/q] [/x]

Options and parameters

• /FS:TIPO

  file system type (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT)

• /Q

  Quick format; does not scan for bad sectors.

  format E: /q
• /V:ETIQ

  assigns volume label

• /FS

  Specifies the file system: NTFS, FAT32, exFAT.

  format E: /fs:exfat
• /V

  Specifies the volume label.

• /A

  Specifies the allocation unit size.

• /C

  For NTFS, compresses files created on the new volume by default.

• /X

  Forces the volume to dismount before formatting.

• /P

  Zeroes every sector on the volume the specified number of times.

Usage examples

• format D: /FS:NTFS
• format D: /Q
• format D: /FS:FAT32 /V:USB
• format E: /fs:exfat
• format E: /q

Related commands

• chkdsk
• chkntfs
• convert
• date
• defrag
• diskpart