The causes for this problem vary and it can even include physical damage to the disk. If you can normally access files on the drive, the problem shouldn’t be physical and it should be resolved by one of the methods we have prepared below. Good luck!
What Causes the Windows was Unable to Complete the Format Error?
The error is caused by a variety of different reasons and the whole troubleshooting process depends on how the problem actually started to occur in the first place. Here is the list:
Solution 1: Using Disk Management
The first solution on our list is more of a workaround you can use if a simple bug is preventing you from formatting the drive you want using the disk list in This PC. This method involves using Disk Management, a helpful utility preinstalled into Windows which deals with everything disk-related. Follow the instructions below!
Solution 2: Using DISKPART
DISKPART is an amazing utility you can access using Command Prompt and you can use it to easily manage your partitions and volumes. This time, we will use it to make the drive your want to format active and then we will format it using the same utility. Users who haven’t been able to format their drives using This PC or Disk Management have reported that this method yielded success! Note: If you are unsure about which drive number belongs to your USB device, the easiest way to do so is to check its size at the right pane. Additionally, it’s the same number which appears in the “Where do you want to install Windows?” window where the error originally occurs.
Solution 3: Changing Write Protection
Several users have reported experiencing the problem because write protection has been turned on for their drive. This is usually the case for SD cards and USB drives. The problem can be resolved by removing the write protection physically. Look for the lock on the drive and switch to unlocked mode. If you are unable to flip the switch or if there is none, you can use the software approach and edit the registry in order to remove the write protection.
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