This wikiHow teaches you how to delete all files from a flash drive in Windows and macOS.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Windows
Step 1. Connect the flash drive to your PC
You can plug your flash drive into any working USB port on your computer.
Step 2. Double click on This PC
It's the computer icon on your desktop.
- If you don't see this icon, press ⊞ Win+E to open File Explorer, then double click This PC in the left sidebar.
Step 3. Right click on your flash drive
It's under the "Devices and drives" heading in the right panel. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 4. Click Format…
The Format window appears.
Step 5. Click Start
This is located at the bottom of the window. A confirmation message will appear informing you that all data on the drive will be erased.
Step 6. Click OK
Windows will now delete all data from your flash drive. Once the disk has been erased, you'll see a message saying "Format completed."
Step 7. Click OK
This closes the window.
Method 2 of 2: macOS
Step #1. Connect the flash drive to your Mac
You can plug your flash drive into any working USB port on your computer.
Step 2. Open Finder
It is located in the Dock.
Step 3. Open the Applications folder
click on Programs in the left sidebar, or double-click on Programs in the right pane.
Step 4. Double click on the Utilities folder
Step 5. Double click on Disk Utility
Step 6. Select your flash drive
This is located in the left panel.
Step 7. Click on the Clear tab
It is located at the top of the right panel.
Step 8. Select a format
The default format option OS X Extended (Journaled) should work for most people.
- If you want to delete all files and use the drive on a Windows PC, select MS-DOS (Fat).
Step 9. Click Clear…
It's in the lower right corner of the window. A confirmation message appears.
Step 10. Click Clear
This will delete all files from your flash drive.