Format an NVMe SSD on Windows 11:
Disc Management makes formatting an NVMe SSD simple, just like it does for any other type of disc drive.
With some expertise, Command Prompt and Diskpart will help you finish the task quickly.
See all the formatting options for your NVMe SSD by reading our guide below. Disc Management makes formatting an NVMe SSD simple, just like it does for any other type of disc drive.
With some expertise, Command Prompt and Diskpart will help you finish the task quickly.
Non-volatile Memory Express, or NVMe for short, is typically connected via the M.2 slot. Compared to SATA SSDs, NVMe SSDs are much faster but have a shorter lifespan.
Can an NVMe SSD be formatted? Yes, you can, and it's advised that you do, mainly if you've already used it for another system or a different purpose. The formatting of an NVMe SSD is identical to that of other SSDs, as you will see underneath.
In Windows 11, How do I Format an NVMe SSD?
Since Format an NVMe SSD on Windows 11 will remove all of its data, it is best to back up any significant files and folders before doing so.
Use Disk Management
- From the list, choose Disc Management by performing a right-click on the Start button.
- To format the NVMe SSD, right-click on it and choose Format.
- You can choose the drive name and, if desired, the file system in the ensuing pop-up window. Click OK.
- If you prefer the system erase every piece of data from the drive, you can also uncheck the Perform a quick format box. It will, however, take longer to complete.
- In Windows 11, this is the simplest way to format an NVMe SSD, and the steps are the same in Windows 10.
- The highlighted guide will provide you with the necessary instructions to help you format a drive that is not visible.
Use Diskpart
- To launch Command Prompt with full privileges, click the Search bar, type cmd, and choose Run as administrator from the list of options.
- To open the application, type diskpart and hit Enter.
- To view all available drives, type list disc and hit Enter. Then, use the following command to choose the correct drive (substitute 0 for your actual drive number): Choose disc 0.
- To remove all the data from the drive, execute the clean command now.
- To create the drive's primary partition, type or paste the following command: create partition primary
- The partition can now be formatted using the NTFS file system by typing the following command: Format fs=ntfs
- You can also type assign and hit Enter to assign it a drive letter.
- It can take a little longer to format the NVMe SSD using Command Prompt and Diskpart, but the process is still the same.
Use Command Prompt
- Type cmd into the search bar, click, and choose Run as administrator from the list of options.
- Enter the following command, replacing "d" with the actual drive letter for your system, and hit Enter, presuming you already know the drive letter of the NVMe SSD: format d: /fs: NTFS.
Although Windows recognises the format command and can complete the process without additional tools, this is a much faster way to format the NVMe SSD. But occasionally, you might receive the Windows cannot format this drive error or run into other relevant problems.
Use a Third-Party Partitioning Tool
- As you've observed, Windows' built-in tools can be used to format an NVMe SSD. But, if you want to make things easier, you can also use disc management software from a third party.
- For instance, because it has all the disc management features, such as resizing, merging, splitting, moving, or extending partitions, AOMEI Partition Assistant is among the best disc management tools.
- With the help of this app, you can manage your hard drives, set up partitions, and allot space without risk of data loss.