How to Format a Computer

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This wikiHow teaches you how to completely erase everything on your computer, including the operating system, using Windows or macOS. Formatting your computer means erasing all the data on the hard drive(s) and then reinstalling Windows or macOS for a fresh start. This can be useful if your computer isn't working right or you plan to sell it and don't want to risk someone recovering your data. Fortunately, both Windows and macOS come with easy-to-use formatting tools that make the process pretty painless.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Windows 10

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  1. Although formatting your Windows 10 PC is super easy, the changes are permanent—you'll be deleting all of your apps, settings, and personal files and reinstalling Windows from scratch. Fortunately, it's also easy to back up the files you want to keep using tools that came with your PC. See How to Back Up Your Files in Windows 10 to learn how to create a backup to a DVD, CD, external hard drive, or the cloud. [1]
  2. You'll find this gear icon on the Start menu.
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  3. It's the icon of two curved arrows. [2]
  4. It's in the left panel. [3]
  5. It's the first button at the top of the right panel. [4]
  6. It's the second option on the blue screen.
  7. It's the second option. This option is the one you'll need to format the hard drive—the other option just erases and reinstalls the operating system without actually formatting the drive.
    • Cleaning the drive is important if you're planning to sell or give away this PC. That's because formatting the hard drive makes it hard for someone malicious to restore your deleted files. But if you want to keep the PC, you can click Just remove my files to skip formatting the drive.
    • Another more serious option for cleaning the hard drive is to use a third-party data-wiping tool like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke). If you use a drive-clearing program, you'll need to make sure you have a Windows 10 recovery drive or DVD so you can reinstall the operating system. See How to Clean a Hard Drive to learn more about this option.
  8. If you see a message that says the PC was upgraded to Windows 10, it means that reinstalling Windows makes it so you cannot go back to the previous version of Windows. [5]
  9. Depending on the size and speed of your hard drive, this part can take a while (anywhere from several minutes to several hours). [6]
    • If you're using a laptop, make sure you plug it into a power source so the formatting is not interrupted.
  10. Your PC is now formatted. If you'd like to reinstall Windows, follow the on-screen instructions to do so.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Windows 8.1

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  1. Since formatting your PC will erase all of your files and settings, you'll probably want to do a backup first. Check out How to Back Up a Windows Computer to learn how to quickly back up your PC before you proceed. [7]
    • If your PC came with Windows 8 instead of Windows 8.1, formatting and resetting will revert you to Windows 8. [8] But don't worry—you'll be prompted to install a free upgrade to Windows 8.1 soon after installing.
  2. This opens the Charms menu.
  3. It's the gear icon on the Charms menu.
  4. It's at the bottom of the menu.
  5. It's near the bottom of the left panel.
  6. It's in the right panel.
  7. It's in the middle of the right panel. Make sure you don't accidentally click "Get started" under a different option, as there are several. [9]
  8. This confirms that you want to delete all of your files, apps, and settings from this PC.
  9. If you only want to format the drive on which Windows 8 is installed, select Only the drive where Windows is installed . To format all drives on the computer, select All drives .
  10. This option (the second one) ensures that the drive is completely formatted.
    • If you're planning to keep the PC and aren't worried about people accessing your deleted files, you can click Just remove my files . This won't format the drive, though.
    • A more serious option for cleaning the hard drive is to use a third-party data-wiping tool like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke). DBAN and similar tools make it impossible for anyone to find fragments of your deleted files, so this might be useful if you plan to sell or give away your PC. Just make sure you have recovery media so you can reinstall Windows afterward. See How to Clean a Hard Drive to learn more about this option.
  11. Depending on the size and speed of your hard drive, this part can take a while (anywhere from several minutes to several hours).
    • If you're using a laptop, make sure you plug it into a power source so the formatting is not interrupted.
    • Once the PC is formatted, it will reboot and prompt you to reinstall Windows. Follow the on-screen instructions if you'd like to do so.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

macOS

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  1. Formatting your Mac will erase all of your data, so make sure you've backed up everything you want to keep. See How to Back Up a Mac to learn how to save your files to Time Machine or iCloud. [10]
  2. If your Mac is already turned on, reboot it and press this key combination as soon as it turns back on. This boots your Mac into Recovery Mode. [11]
    • You can release your fingers from the keys once you see the Apple logo or a startup screen.
  3. It's the last option on the "macOS Utilities" window. [12]
  4. It's at the bottom-right corner.
  5. It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  6. This displays all disks connected to your Mac in the left panel. [13]
  7. For example, if you want to format your primary drive on which macOS is installed, you'll select the first disk at the top of the list (under "Internal").
  8. It's near the top-center part of the window.
  9. [14]
    • Name: Enter a name to identify the hard drive.
    • Format: Unless you have a specific reason not to do so, leave the default format of your internal hard drive as APFS . [15]
    • Scheme: Select Choose GUID Partition Map .
  10. You may be asked to verify your Apple ID or password. Once the disk is erased and formatted, you'll return to the Disk Utility list. [16]
    • If you have additional hard drives, you can format them now using Disk Utility.
  11. You can do this by clicking the red circle at the top-left corner of the window.
    • If you want to reinstall macOS on this drive, just boot back into Recovery Mode by pressing Control + R at startup, and then select Reinstall macOS (to start from scratch) or Restore From Time Machine Backup (if you backed up the OS to Time Machine).
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Why would I need to format it?
    Community Answer
    Formatting is a process which cleans all your previous data. If you wanted your computer to be wiped clean (for example, to sell), you would want to format it.
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    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 15
  • Question
    What can I do if I forget my password?
    Community Answer
    Use a password reset disk to edit and clear all passwords. Restart the system and log in with other users. The password isn't required - just your username.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 23
  • Question
    How do I format Windows 10?
    Community Answer
    Go to "Settings" and select "Update & Security." Click "Recovery" in the left pane and click "Get Started" under "Reset this PC." Click either "Keep my files," "Remove everything," "Just remove my files," or "Remove files and clean the drive." Click "Next," then "Reset," and then "Continue."
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/backup-and-restore-in-windows-352091d2-bb9d-3ea3-ed18-52ef2b88cbef#WindowsVersion=Windows_10
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/give-your-pc-a-fresh-start-0ef73740-b927-549b-b7c9-e6f2b48d275e#ID0EBD=Windows_10
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/give-your-pc-a-fresh-start-0ef73740-b927-549b-b7c9-e6f2b48d275e#ID0EBD=Windows_10
      4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/give-your-pc-a-fresh-start-0ef73740-b927-549b-b7c9-e6f2b48d275e#ID0EBD=Windows_10
      5. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/factory-reset-windows-10
      6. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/factory-reset-windows-10
      7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-refresh-reset-or-restore-your-windows-8-1-pc-51391d9a-eb0a-84a7-69e4-c2c1fbceb8dd
      8. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17085/windows-8-restore-refresh-reset-pc
      9. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-refresh-reset-or-restore-your-windows-8-1-pc-51391d9a-eb0a-84a7-69e4-c2c1fbceb8dd
      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/mac-backup
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/erase-and-reformat-a-storage-device-dskutl14079/mac
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/erase-and-reformat-a-storage-device-dskutl14079/mac
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496#which
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Back up your data.
      2. Open your Windows Settings.
      3. Click Update & Security .
      4. Click Recovery .
      5. Click Get Started under "Reset this PC."
      6. Click Remove everything .
      7. Click Remove files and clean the drive .
      8. Click Next . 9. Click Reset .

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Pratap Keshari Naik

        Mar 12, 2017

        "I can now format my computer without help of an expert. "
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