Are you sure that the USB drive has been fully deleted such that no data can be recovered? Then proceed to this article by following this comprehensive guide to permanently delete data from a USB drive in Windows 11, 10, 81, 8.1, etc. You’ll discover how to safely and completely delete a USB drive on a Windows operating system using effective techniques.
Why Is It Necessary to Erase or Clean a USB Drive?
Why is it necessary to erase or delete a USB drive? Most people ask this question frequently, but do you know why? Definitely, the cause may vary, but we’ll outline a few potential explanations that are probably-
- Clear out all of the current info.
- Return the USB to its initial sizes and condition.
- Reset the USB for sale.
- Delete the USB entirely for future use.
In general, the main goal is to ensure that the old data cannot be recovered when it is transferred to another person or when the hardware is disposed of. Simple formats aren’t very helpful, thus using expert solutions is necessary to make sure that outdated data can’t be recovered.
How Do I Permanently Delete Data from A USB Drive in Windows 11? – 3 Outstanding Techniques
We’ll go over the top 3 and most dependable ways to erase a USB disk in Windows 11 and other editions. These three approaches will be:
- Utilize the Built-in Format Tool
- Use Data Erasure Software
- Make use of CMD Clean/Clean All Command
While all three of the above-mentioned techniques are effective, we advise choosing option 2, or “Use Data Eraser Tool,” if you want to rapidly, safely, and effectively delete your USB drive. For Windows 11/10 and previous Windows OS, this is the most effective, safe, and dependable method for wiping off USB drives. To get the best methods for effectively wiping out your USB drives, if you use Windows, complete all three steps.
Option 1: Delete the USB Drive Data Using the Built-in Format Tool
A built-in format tool makes it simple to delete a USB disk. Follow the instructions below to complete the procedure. This approach can be used to save new files, change the file system, and format a USB to its full size.
Keep in mind that you may easily delete USB devices using the built-in format in your Windows system if you choose to utilize them for new reasons.
To carry out the procedure, follow the instructions listed below.
#1- Make sure the USB drive is detectable in File Explorer after connecting it to your Windows PC. To select the Format, right-click the drive now.
#2- Choose the File System that best suits your needs and uncheck Quick Format, which only removes the files without wiping them entirely. It indicates that you can swiftly recover more data.
#3- To begin formatting, press the Start. Then, wait for the procedure to finish.
If you do not need to lose any important data that is saved on your USB drive, always take it back.
Option 2- Permanently Delete Data from A USB Drive in Windows 11 with Certified Data Eraser Tool
Data Wipe Tool can be used to permanently delete data from a USB drive in Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. This technique can also be used to wipe everything out, reset the USB, and erase it to unallocated. But, you must use a trustworthy Data Erasing Tool if you wish to completely delete your USB drive and render it unrecoverable. We strongly advise utilizing the CubexSoft Data Erasure Tool for this procedure.
With its numerous disk wipe algorithms and modern disk wipe capabilities, it is among the most dependable and powerful applications. This software’s wipe partition and wipe disk functions make it ideal for users who wish to remove data from their devices. Furthermore, this utility is completely safe to use and better protected due to its sophisticated and many disk wipe algorithms.
When it comes to the main functions, the software can easily wipe partitions, data, and system volume all at once. With the help of this program, shared data and private folders that are further irretrievably lost can be quickly deleted. It may be used on all Win OS/Mac OS computers and offers partitioning and data wiping on a variety of storage devices.
In addition to this, the program provides a variety of disk wipe algorithms that enable anyone to easily perform disk wipes and preserve their privacy.
To completely clean your USB drive on your Windows 11, we advise you to download this app from its official website.
Option 3: To Delete a USB Drive, Run CMD Clean/Clean All Command Lines
You can use the Run CMD Clean/Clean All command approach to delete USB devices if you’re a technically proficient Windows user and don’t want to install any third-party software. As we go over the specifics, make sure you have a backup of your drive and always check the disk listing to avoid accidentally erasing another drive. Additionally, to utilize this program and run the command, you will need an administrator account.
Clean/Clean All Command
Understanding the distinction between the Clean and Clean commands is crucial before moving on to more specific steps.
You must use the Clean command if you just want to wipe your USB drive and the data is still recoverable, and it Clean All command if you want to delete the USB drive completely and the data cannot be recovered.
It follows that the Clean All command must be used if you wish to guarantee that no tool can recover the data. It’ll make sure that every partition in that storage is removed.
To use the Run CMD Clean/Clean All command lines approach, follow the steps.
#1- Type the command prompt in the search field after clicking the Windows+S keys. From the search result, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as Administrator. For the same, you can use PowerShell or Windows Terminal.
#2- After completing each line, type the following command and hit Enter.
- DiskPart
- List disk
- Choose the disk (it needs to be the USB drive number)
- Clean everything
Examining the storage size is a simple method of defining which disk you wish to format. Check it against File Explorer to prevent confusion.
#3- At this point, give the delete or erase procedure a few seconds to finish. You’ll see the notification that DiskPart was successful in cleaning the drive. Enter quit now to see if your USB disk has been fully deleted.
Use the Clean/Clean All command with caution; always choose the appropriate command based on your needs.
Last Verdict
You must be well-versed in all three of the procedures for permanently wiping off USB devices in Windows 11 and other versions if you’re still reading this tutorial. There is no doubt that the best approach to erasing a USB drive will differ from person to person, thus we’ll always advise you to select the method that best suits your needs. But, we advise you to use option two and install the Data Wipe Software to directly clean your USB drive if you want the simplest, fastest, and safest procedure.
