{"id":48017,"date":"2023-06-07T21:32:48","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T21:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=48017"},"modified":"2025-01-24T11:47:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T11:47:48","slug":"how-to-safely-reformat-your-external-drive-without-losing-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/reformat-external-hard-drive-without-losing-data.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Safely Reformat Your External Drive without Losing Data"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Do you need to format an external hard drive without losing data? Maybe your hard drive is a disorganized mess, and you want to start from scratch, or perhaps it doesn\u2019t work well with your computer due to file system corruption.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x2705; No worries because we\u2019ve got your back! This guide is your ultimate road map to reformatting your external hard drive (be it a Seagate, a Western Digital, or any other brand) without losing your precious files.<\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_you_might_be_required_to_format_your_external_hard_drive\"><\/span>Why You Might Be Required to Format Your External Hard Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Formatting is a quick &amp; easy solution to many hard drive-related issues. Here are some of the most commonly encountered situations where formatting is required:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; <b>External hard drive errors<\/b>: You know those annoying pop-ups that keep telling you there\u2019s an error with your external HDD, such as the \u201cYou need to format the disk in drive X: before you can use it\u201d message? These are your HDD&#8217;s way of saying it&#8217;s time to take action. And often, a proper reformat is the best way to get rid of error messages.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f969; <b>Lack of a file system (raw external hard drive)<\/b>: When your computer says your <a href=\"\/howto\/raw-partition-recovery.html\">hard drive is \u201craw,\u201d<\/a> it means it can\u2019t recognize its file system (because the file system is unsupported or because there\u2019s no file system to begin with). A fresh format will create a file system that your operating system can recognize to make the drive usable.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f34e; <b>Incompatible file system<\/b>: Operating systems, such as Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, and various flavors of Linux speak different languages when communicating with storage devices. For example, Windows is fluent in NTFS, while macOS is a pro at APFS and HFS. If you\u2019re a Windows user and won\u2019t use your external hard drive with any other computer, then the NTFS file system is a good choice. But if you plan to use it with many different computers, then a universally understood file system like FAT32 or exFAT is a better choice. Formatting using the method described in this article lets you change the external hard drive format without losing data.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f9a0; <b>Viruses or malware infection<\/b>: Viruses or malware can make your files inaccessible or even harm your computer. If your external hard drive\u2019s caught a nasty digital bug, sometimes the only cure is a clean sweep. With proper data backup precautions, you can give it a clean start and eliminate all viruses and other kinds of malware in the process.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f4bb; <b>Reusing an old hard drive for a different purpose<\/b>: Your old hard drive can be reused for a different purpose in no time, and you don\u2019t even need to manually go through its contents to check if there\u2019s anything you might still need. By following the instructions provided in the next section of this article, you can create a complete backup of your old hard drive, ensuring every precious file is saved. Then, you\u2019re free to format the hard drive without losing data and repurpose it for whatever you decide.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"can_i_reformat_an_external_hard_drive_without_losing_data\"><\/span>Can I Reformat an External Hard Drive Without Losing Data?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Yes, you can reformat an external hard drive while keeping your data intact, but only if you take the right approach to the formatting process.<\/p>\r\n<p>&#x274c; <b>If you haven&#8217;t formatted your drive yet,<\/b> then you need to start by creating a complete backup of all important data. Then, you can format your drive with your desired settings and copy your files back from the backup.<\/p>\r\n<p>&#x1f9f9; <b>If you&#8217;ve already formatted your drive<\/b> and now want to reverse the data loss caused by it, then you need to consider the type of formatting that was performed:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Quick Format<\/b>: If you have performed a quick format, there&#8217;s still a chance to recover your files using <a href=\"\/hard-drive-data-recovery.html\">data recovery software<\/a>. However, successful recovery depends on several factors, such as whether you&#8217;ve written new data to the drive after formatting. Please refer to our guide on <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-formatted-hdd.html\">how to recover a formatted drive<\/a> for more information.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Full Format<\/b>: During a full format, your drive undergoes a complete overwrite of all sectors. Unfortunately, this means your data is permanently erased and cannot be recovered, even by<a href=\"\/howto\/best-data-recovery-services.html\"> professional data recovery services<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&#x1f504; <b>If you want to change the file system<\/b> but keep all files exactly where they are right now (like switching from FAT32 to NTFS in Windows), then this can be done without data loss using a special built-in file system convert command.<\/p>\r\n<p>Here&#8217;s a table that provides a quick overview of the available options:<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"table_wrapper table_heading\"><p><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Available Options<\/td>\r\n<td>Pros and Cons<\/td>\r\n<td>Solutions<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>I want to back up data first, then format the hard drive without losing data.<\/td>\r\n<td>&#x2795; Safe <br \/>\r\n&#x2796; Takes time<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#back-up-files\">Back up your files before formatting<\/a> and then format your external hard drive using <a href=\"#file-explorer\">File Explorer<\/a> or <a href=\"#disk-management\">Disk Management<\/a>. Finally, <a href=\"#recover-files\">recover files from your backup<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>I want to format the hard drive and then recover the data.<\/td>\r\n<td>&#x2795; Quick <br \/>\r\n&#x2796; Not safe<\/td>\r\n<td>Format your external hard drive using <a href=\"#file-explorer\">File Explorer<\/a> or <a href=\"#disk-management\">Disk Management<\/a> and then <a href=\"#recover-files\">use data recovery software to recover important files<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>I need to format an external hard drive from FAT32 to NTFS without losing data.<\/td>\r\n<td>&#x2795; Quick <br \/>\r\n&#x2796; Not always available<\/td>\r\n<td>Use the <a href=\"#convert-command\">convert command<\/a> to change the external hard drive format without losing data.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p><\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_format_an_external_hard_drive_without_losing_data\"><\/span>How to Format an External Hard Drive Without Losing Data<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Now that you understand your options, we can finally dive into the meat of the matter: how to format a hard drive without losing data. Let&#8217;s get to it!<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_1_back_up_your_files_before_formatting\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Step 1.<\/span>  <span id=\"back-up-files\">Back Up Your Files Before Formatting<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>If you want to format a drive without losing data, the first step is to create a complete backup of all your important files.<\/p>\r\n<p>While you could simply copy selected files to another location, experience has taught us that whenever possible, it&#8217;s best to create a complete byte-to-byte backup of your drive.<\/p>\r\n<p>A byte-to-byte backup creates a perfect mirror image of your entire drive, capturing every single file\u2014including hidden files and even those that might be inaccessible due to corruption. It also works even with unsupported file systems (like an APFS drive on a Windows PC) or when your drive shows signs of corruption (formatting can <a href=\"\/howto\/repair-corrupted-external-hard-drive.html\">repair corrupted drives<\/a>) or <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-data-external-hard-disk-not-detected.html\">isn&#8217;t detected properly by your OS<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>There are many different tools that can help you create a byte-to-byte backup of your external hard drive. We recommend Disk Drill because it runs on both Windows and macOS, is highly intuitive to use, and creates reliable and comprehensive backups that you can recover using the same straightforward method Disk Drill employs for <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-files-external-hard-drive.html\">external hard drive data recovery<\/a> in general.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x270d;&#xfe0f; <b>Note<\/b>: Disk Drill\u2019s byte-to-byte backup feature is completely free, but you need a PRO or Enterprise license to recover an unlimited amount of data.<\/div>\r\n<p><b>To back up your files before formatting using Disk Drill<\/b>:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/download.html\">Download<\/a> Disk Drill from its official website and install it on your Windows PC. You can download Disk Drill for free and use its byte-to-byte backup feature without any limitations.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-46353 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/install-disk-drill-5.jpg\" alt=\"install disk drill\" width=\"1891\" height=\"1178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/install-disk-drill-5.jpg 1891w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/install-disk-drill-5-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/install-disk-drill-5-500x311.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/install-disk-drill-5-768x478.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/install-disk-drill-5-1536x957.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1891px) 100vw, 1891px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Launch Disk Drill and select the Drive Backup feature from the left pane.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48023 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-drive-backup-feature-select.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill drive backup feature select\" width=\"1356\" height=\"773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-drive-backup-feature-select.jpg 1356w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-drive-backup-feature-select-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-drive-backup-feature-select-500x285.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-drive-backup-feature-select-768x438.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1356px) 100vw, 1356px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose the external hard drive you want to backup and click the \u201cByte-to-byte Backup\u201d button. Disk Drill supports a wide range of file systems, including FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, NTFS5, HFS, HFS+, APFS, EXT2\/EXT3\/EXT4, ReFS, BTRFS, and even RAW disks.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48024 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/byte-to-byte-backup-disk-drill-ext-hard-drive.jpg\" alt=\"byte-to-byte backup disk drill ext hard drive\" width=\"1354\" height=\"774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/byte-to-byte-backup-disk-drill-ext-hard-drive.jpg 1354w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/byte-to-byte-backup-disk-drill-ext-hard-drive-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/byte-to-byte-backup-disk-drill-ext-hard-drive-500x286.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/byte-to-byte-backup-disk-drill-ext-hard-drive-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1354px) 100vw, 1354px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select a location for the backup image and confirm. Keep in mind that the backup image will be as large as your external hard drive.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48025 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-backup-location-external-drive.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill backup location external drive\" width=\"1358\" height=\"766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-backup-location-external-drive.jpg 1358w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-backup-location-external-drive-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-backup-location-external-drive-500x282.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-backup-location-external-drive-768x433.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1358px) 100vw, 1358px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Give Disk Drill all the time it needs to create the backup image.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_2_format_an_external_hard_drive_using_suitable_method\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Step 2.<\/span>  Format an External Hard Drive Using Suitable Method<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve backed up your external hard drive, it&#8217;s time to reformat the drive without losing data using one of the methods below.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; <b>Important<\/b>: Remember that formatting always results in data loss. However, if you&#8217;ve created a backup as described in <a href=\"#back-up-files\">Step 1<\/a>, your data will be safe. As an extra safety precaution (and to speed up the process), you can choose the Quick format option instead of the Full format option. That way, the external hard drive will be marked as empty but your files will technically remain in their original locations until they become overwritten by new data.<\/div>\r\n<h4 id=\"file-explorer\"><b>Using File Explorer<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p>File Explorer is the default file manager in Windows 10 and Windows 11, and it makes it possible to format any external hard drive that has a drive letter assigned to it in a few simple steps:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Launch File Explorer and select &#8220;This PC&#8221; from the left pane.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click your external hard drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose the &#8220;Format&#8221; option.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48026 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-this-pc.jpg\" alt=\"format ext drive this pc\" width=\"1243\" height=\"732\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-this-pc.jpg 1243w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-this-pc-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-this-pc-500x294.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-this-pc-768x452.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1243px) 100vw, 1243px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Remember to check the &#8220;Quick Format&#8221; box.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48027 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-quick-format.jpg\" alt=\"format ext drive quick format\" width=\"1248\" height=\"731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-quick-format.jpg 1248w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-quick-format-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-quick-format-500x293.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/format-ext-drive-quick-format-768x450.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1248px) 100vw, 1248px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the desired file system and click &#8220;Start&#8221; to begin.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x270d;&#xfe0f; <b>Note<\/b>: You can format an internal\/external SSD\/HDD from Windows only if it isn\u2019t used for the operating system itself. If it is, then formatting must be performed from a Windows installation USB drive or DVD.<\/div>\r\n<h4 id=\"disk-management\"><b>Using Disk Management<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p>Raw external hard drives and those that for some reason don\u2019t have a drive letter assigned to them are not displayed in File Explorer. Such drives need to be formatted using the Disk Management tool. Like this:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Press the Win + X keys and select &#8220;Disk Management&#8221; from the menu.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-45653 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Winkey-X-Disk-Management.jpg\" alt=\"Winkey-X Disk Management\" width=\"1065\" height=\"627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Winkey-X-Disk-Management.jpg 1065w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Winkey-X-Disk-Management-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Winkey-X-Disk-Management-500x294.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Winkey-X-Disk-Management-768x452.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1065px) 100vw, 1065px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click your external hard drive and choose the &#8220;Format&#8221; option.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48029 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive.jpg\" alt=\"disk management format external drive\" width=\"975\" height=\"623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive.jpg 975w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive-500x319.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive-768x491.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Make sure the &#8220;Perform a quick format&#8221; option is checked.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48030 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive-quick-format.jpg\" alt=\"disk management format external drive quick format\" width=\"979\" height=\"626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive-quick-format.jpg 979w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive-quick-format-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive-quick-format-500x320.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-management-format-external-drive-quick-format-768x491.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 979px) 100vw, 979px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose your desired file system and click &#8220;OK.&#8221;<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Wait for the formatting process to finish.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h4 id=\"convert-command\"><b>Using CMD Convert Command<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p>The Convert command in Windows can change the file system of a volume from FAT or FAT32 to NTFS without formatting the volume or losing data. Here\u2019s how to use it:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Press the Windows + X keys and select &#8220;Terminal (Admin)&#8221; from the menu.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Type the following command to convert a FAT or FAT32 drive to NTFS: convert x: \/fs:ntfs (replace &#8216;x:&#8217; with the letter of your external hard drive)<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48031 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/convert-command-cmd.jpg\" alt=\"convert command cmd\" width=\"1072\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/convert-command-cmd.jpg 1072w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/convert-command-cmd-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/convert-command-cmd-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/convert-command-cmd-768x430.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1072px) 100vw, 1072px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Press Enter to start the conversion process.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x270d;&#xfe0f; <b>Note<\/b>: Direct conversion from NTFS to FAT32 or exFAT is not possible. You&#8217;ll need to format the drive instead. Use these commands in Command Prompt (Admin): format x: \/fs:fat32 for FAT32 or format x: \/fs:exfat for exFAT.<\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_3_recover_files_from_your_backup\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Step 3.<\/span>  <span id=\"recover-files\">Recover Files from Your Backup<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Now that your external hard drive is formatted, it\u2019s time to put the byte-to-byte backup we created earlier to good use. We\u2019ll be using Disk Drill, the same tool that has helped us back up our external hard drive into an image.<\/p>\r\n<p>With Disk Drill, it\u2019s possible to easily mount the image as a virtual drive and then scan it for all existing, hidden and deleted files using a combination of the tool\u2019s file system and file signature (around 400 signatures are supported) recovery algorithms.<\/p>\r\n<p>You can then filter out the scan results (or search for specific files using the search bar) and preview individual files to quickly find exactly what you\u2019re looking for and recover it to the formatted external hard drive. Here\u2019s how it works:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Start Disk Drill on your Windows PC. If you haven&#8217;t installed it yet, you can <a href=\"\/download.html\">download<\/a> it from its official website.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click on the &#8220;Attach disk image&#8221; button and locate the backup image you&#8217;ve created to reformat an external hard drive without losing data.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48032 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-5-attach-disk-image-windows-11.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill 5 attach disk image windows 11\" width=\"1346\" height=\"769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-5-attach-disk-image-windows-11.jpg 1346w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-5-attach-disk-image-windows-11-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-5-attach-disk-image-windows-11-500x286.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-5-attach-disk-image-windows-11-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1346px) 100vw, 1346px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the newly mounted virtual drive and click the &#8220;Search for lost data&#8221; button to scan it. Disk Drill will start scanning your backup image for both deleted and existing files.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48033 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/search-for-lost-data-disk-drill-external-hard-drive-image.jpg\" alt=\"search for lost data disk drill external hard drive image\" width=\"1351\" height=\"771\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/search-for-lost-data-disk-drill-external-hard-drive-image.jpg 1351w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/search-for-lost-data-disk-drill-external-hard-drive-image-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/search-for-lost-data-disk-drill-external-hard-drive-image-500x285.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/search-for-lost-data-disk-drill-external-hard-drive-image-768x438.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1351px) 100vw, 1351px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the &#8220;Review found items&#8221; button to see a list of found files. You can preview these files before recovery, filter them by type, or use the search bar to locate something specific. Since we\u2019re interested only in the files we\u2019ve backed up, our focus is the Existing folder..<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48035 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-hard-drive-review-found-items-scan-1.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill ext hard drive review found items scan\" width=\"1359\" height=\"777\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-hard-drive-review-found-items-scan-1.jpg 1359w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-hard-drive-review-found-items-scan-1-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-hard-drive-review-found-items-scan-1-500x286.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-hard-drive-review-found-items-scan-1-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1359px) 100vw, 1359px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the checkbox next to each file you want to recover to your freshly formatted external hard drive. Better yet, click the top checkbox to select all files at once.\u00a0<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48037 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-drive-image-files-selected.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill ext drive image files selected\" width=\"1348\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-drive-image-files-selected.jpg 1348w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-drive-image-files-selected-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-drive-image-files-selected-500x285.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-ext-drive-image-files-selected-768x438.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1348px) 100vw, 1348px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the &#8220;Recover&#8221; button and select a destination for the recovered files. Make sure to select your external hard drive.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48036 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-recover-files-to-ext-drive.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill recover files to ext drive\" width=\"1342\" height=\"779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-recover-files-to-ext-drive.jpg 1342w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-recover-files-to-ext-drive-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-recover-files-to-ext-drive-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/disk-drill-recover-files-to-ext-drive-768x446.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1342px) 100vw, 1342px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Open File Explorer and check if the selected files have been successfully recovered.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Congratulations! You&#8217;ve successfully managed to <a href=\"\/help\/external-hard-drive-recovery.html\">recover data from your external hard drive<\/a> backup, thus completing the formatting process without losing a single important file.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<div><section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading1\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-1\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is_it_possible_to_recover_data_after_accidentally_formatting_the_drive\"><\/span>Is it possible to recover data after accidentally formatting the drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Yes, but only if you performed a quick format and haven&#8217;t written new data to the drive. For the best chances of recovery, stop using the drive immediately and use data recovery software like Disk Drill as soon as you can.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading2\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-2\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"can_i_convert_the_file_system_type_without_fully_erasing_the_drive\"><\/span>Can I convert the file system type without fully erasing the drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Windows provides a <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/previous-versions\/windows\/it-pro\/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012\/cc730863(v=ws.11)\">built-in tool to convert<\/a> FAT\/FAT32 to NTFS without data loss. To use it, open Command Prompt as administrator, enter &#8220;convert x: \/fs:ntfs&#8221; (replace &#8216;x:&#8217; with the letter of your external hard drive), and press Enter.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading3\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-3\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_format_a_c_drive_without_losing_data\"><\/span>How to format a C drive without losing data?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>If your C drive is your system drive (it is by default), then you need to backup your files, applications, and settings before you can format it without data loss. The <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/create-and-format-a-hard-disk-partition-bbb8e185-1bda-ecd1-3465-c9728f7d7d2e\">formatting itself must be done from your Windows installation media<\/a> and be followed up by the reinstallation of the operating system (or the installation of a different OS).<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading4\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-4\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_format_an_external_hard_drive_for_ps4ps5_without_losing_data\"><\/span>How to format an external hard drive for PS4\/PS5 without losing data?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-4\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>To format an external drive for PS4\/PS5 without losing data, first copy your files to another drive. Then, you can connect the drive you want to format to your PS4\/PS5, navigate to the USB Storage Device (PS4) or Storage (PS5) section in Settings, and choose the Format as USB Extended Storage option.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading5\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-5\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_format_ssd_without_losing_data\"><\/span>How to format SSD without losing data?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-5\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>The process for formatting an SSD without losing data is essentially the same as for a regular HDD:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The safest method is to back up your data before formatting.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Alternatively, you can do a quick format and then use data recovery software to retrieve your files (TRIM must be disabled beforehand).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Lastly, you may be able to convert the SSD without formatting, depending on the current and target file systems.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading6\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-6\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_format_an_external_hard_drive_without_losing_data_on_mac\"><\/span>How to format an external hard drive without losing data on Mac?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-6\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>To format an external hard drive without losing data on a Mac, do the following:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Create a byte-to-byte backup using a tool like Disk Drill.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Format the external hard drive using Disk Utility.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Recover important files from the byte-to-byte backup.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading7\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-7\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-7\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"does_formatting_an_external_hard_drive_delete_everything\"><\/span>Does formatting an external hard drive delete everything?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-7\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading7\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Formatting an external hard drive can potentially delete everything on the drive, depending on the formatting method you choose. Quick formatting hides the files without actually deleting them, making it possible to recover the files using data recovery software. Full formatting, on the other hand, overwrites the data and makes it impossible to recover.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 01px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading8\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-8\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-8\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_format_an_external_hard_drive_without_losing_data_on_windows_10\"><\/span>How to format an external hard drive without losing data on Windows 10?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-8\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading8\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>To format an external hard drive without losing data on Windows 10, first create a backup of your files using Disk Drill. Next, format the external hard drive using File Explorer or Disk Management with the desired file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32, exFAT). Once the formatting is complete, restore your files from the backup.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>The takeaway is that you don\u2019t have to lose your precious data when reformatting your external hard drive. As long as you choose the right approach based on your specific needs and follow our step-by-step instructions, you should be able to navigate your next reformatting journey with confidence.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Do you need to format an external hard drive without losing data? Maybe your hard drive is a disorganized mess, and you want to start from scratch, or perhaps it doesn\u2019t work well with your computer due to file system&#8230;","protected":false},"author":7868,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2640],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-48017","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-windows-tips-troubleshooting"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Format an External Drive without Losing Data (2025)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to reformat your external hard drive safely without losing your valuable data with our step-by-step guide.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/reformat-external-hard-drive-without-losing-data.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Format an External Drive without Losing Data (2025)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to reformat your external hard drive safely without losing your valuable data with our step-by-step guide.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/reformat-external-hard-drive-without-losing-data.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Data recovery tips. 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His approach involves personally testing each product according to strict editorial standards before writing detailed reviews, guides, and articles. David brings firsthand experience with Mac, Windows, and iOS platforms to his work. With over six years in the field, David\u2019s writing helps readers get the most out of their tech products. His content is straightforward, making complex topics easy to understand, even for non-technical users. As Content Team Lead at CleverFiles, he specializes in making data recovery topics accessible. Education: David Morelo holds a Bachelor's degree in English for Education. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys spending time with his family, biking, and sharing memorable moments with friends. Experience: David Morelo is a writer who shares his expertise on various reputable technology platforms. You can check out his portfolio at davidmorelo.com. He is also the author at Maketecheasier, where he delves into technical topics. 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