How to Fix Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format – Windows was unable to complete the format! This is the most common issue that every SD Card or Pendrive user faces. In this error, it’s pretty hard to fix the issue because 99% of SD Card or Pendrive issues get fixed by just Formatting the device, but in Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format error, all ways of Formatting get disabled.
How to Fix Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format
So if you’re facing the same issue and want to get rid of it, then go through this guide and techbugfix.com will show you the best 6 methods that would work out for you in fixing the issue.
Before directly going on fixing methods, first, we’ll see common causes that lead to this error because sometimes fixing these causes also helps in fixing the error.
Causes of Error [Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format]
![Causes of Error [Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format]](https://techbugfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Causes-of-Error-Windows-Was-Unable-to-Complete-the-Format-1.jpg)
1. Bad Sector
Bad sectors are the leading reason behind most errors in SD Card or Pendrive. All the NAND devices which include SD Card and Pendrive have Sectors, and these sectors store all the data. So when some of these Sectors get corrupted, the entire device leads to an error like this.
Now to fix the Bad Sectors there are two methods, one automatic and the other manual. I would suggest you do both one by one.
2. Virus Attacks
The virus is the second most common villain behind this error in SD Card or Pendrive. It could enter the storage drive during Transferring of Files or downloading malicious content. So it can be easily fixed by Scanning the drive using any Antivirus, Free or Paid. You can even use Windows defender to remove viruses from Pendrive or SD Card.
3. Sudden System Shut Down
Always remember not to shut down the computer when connected to any external device whether to SD Card or Pendrive or even when any task is running. Make sure to close all the tasks and plug out all the external devices before shutting down the computer.
4. Physical Damage
The drive gets corrupted due to physical damage as well. And when theirs is physical damage, it is almost impossible to repair the drive. The only this you could do is Recover its data, that too with the help of a Data Recovery Expert.
👉 Also Read: How to Fix The Disk is Write Protected
Now, these are the most common causes behind Windows being unable to complete the format error. So let’s see those 6 methods to fix this issue.
How to Fix Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format?

How to Fix Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format?
Total Time: 12 minutes
Fix Bad Sector using Error Check Too

To repair bad sectors using the error-checking tool, just
➼Plugin SD Card or Pendrive into your Computer
➼Go to This PC or MY COMPUTER
➼Right-click on your Corrupted drive e.g. H drive
➼Go to the Properties option at the bottom
➼There you’ll see various Tabs including TOOLS, just click on it
➼Now under the error checking option, there’s a CHECK button, click on it
➼Then select the option Repair Drive
And that’s it, you’re done. It will take some time to fix all the bad sectors of the drive.
Fix Bad Sector using Command Prompt

The bad sector can also be repaired using Command Prompt just
Search for CMD from Windows Search
Then right-click on CMD or Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
Then type the command, CHKDSH H (Drive Letter): /f /r
Then hit enter
It will take some to scan and repair all the bad sectors of your corrupted drive.
Format from Disk management

To try formatting from disk management,
➼Search for Create and Format Hard Disk partition from the windows search bar.
➼Then you’ll see a list of drives including your drive
➼Just right-click on the corrupted drive
➼Then click on the Format option
Leave everything default and click on Format. It will take some time to format and repair the SD Card or Pendrive.
Format using Command Prompt

To try formatting using CMD,
➼Search for CMD from Windows Search
➼Then right-click on CMD or Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
➼Then type the command, diskpart, and hit Enter
➼Then type list disk and press Enter. Now you’ll see a list of all the storage devices like one Internal and others are external
➼Type Select Disk 1 if the corrupted drive is Disk 1 and hit Enter
➼Then type list partition and hit Enter. Now it will list all the partitions of the corrupted storage device.
➼Type Select Partition 1 and Hit Enter
➼Now at last type formatting command, Format fs=ntfs and Hit Enter. As soon as you hit Enter button it will start formatting the drive and after formatting, your device will be repaired.
Format using MiniTool Partition Wizard

In case all the above methods fail to fix the issue, then you can go for Formatting with MiniTool,
➼Download and Install MIniTool Partition Wizard and Launch it
➼Then you’ll see a list of disks, such as Disk 2 or 3 as your External Corrupted disk
➼Then right-click on your Drive and Click on Format
➼Select File System NTFS and leave others Default
➼Now click on Apply button located on the bottom left
➼Then one last time confirm with YES and then formatting will be started.
And after formatting with MiniTool, your corrupted SD Card or Pendrive will be repaired.
Supply:
- Internet
Tools:
- Your Windows PC
Materials: Software
FAQ
What if it does not get Formatted even after MiniTool or with any other method?
If it does not get Formatted using any other method, then I can assure you that it cannot be formatted or repaired. Why? Because all the NAND devices come with a certain limit of READ and WRITE Function which means you can Format NAND devices up to a certain limit for example 10K Times.
If that limit is reached, then all the charges inside the SD Card or Pendrive break which results in READ ONLY mode of your Pendrive. So make sure to buy branded Storage Devices as they come with higher limits of READ and WRITE FUNCTION.
How do I fix Windows that was unable to complete the format SD card?
When Windows fails to complete the format SD card, you have three options: use partition management software, built-in Windows Disk Management, or Command Prompt.
How do you format a memory card which cannot be formatted?
When Windows Explorer cannot format a memory card, use partition management software, a specialized disk formatting tool:
Step 1: Launch Partition Master, right-click the memory card partition to be formatted, and select “Format.”
Step 2: In the new window, configure the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3), and Cluster size for the to-be-formatted partition, then click “OK.”
Step 3: A warning window will appear; click “OK” to proceed.
Step 4: In the top-left corner, click the “Execute Operation” button to review the changes, then click “Apply” to begin formatting the partition on your SD card or other memory cards.
How do I force an SD card to format?
Step 1: Insert your SD card into a card reader and connect it to your computer.
Step 2: Navigate to “My Computer,” then to “Devices with Removable Storage.” Right-click the SD card and select “Format.”
Step 3. Select the “Quick” option from the drop-down bar next to “Format Type,” which allows you to format the card without removing any of the files on it. Select the “Full” option to erase all of the files on the SD card while formatting.
Step 4: Click “OK” to begin the SD card formatting process.
What does unable to complete the format?
What is preventing you from completing the format? How do you fix the error message: Windows was unable to complete the format SD card when you try to format your SD card or USB flash drive on your computer? The format can be completed with the help of the Windows Disk Management tool.
Step 1: Select Disk Management from the Start menu.
Step 2: Select the drive where Windows was unable to complete the format error message appears. Then, right-click it and select “Format.”
How do I fix a hard drive that won’t format?
The first step is to determine whether Windows can detect the hard drive.
If so, use EaseUS Partition Master to directly format your hard drive using the steps outlined in Method 1 on this page.
If not, or if your hard drive displays as unknown or unallocated, create a new partition and reformat the drive.
Why can’t I format my hard drive?
As described on this page, you cannot directly format your hard drive if it becomes locked, damaged, contains file system errors, bad sectors, or is infected with a virus.
You can try one of three solutions to this problem:
1) Use a password or third-party software to unlock the hard drive;
2) Remove viruses and malware from the hard drive.
3). Format the hard drive with EaseUS Partition Master, Diskpart, or Disk Management.
For more information, use the methods provided on this page as a guide.
How do I fix my flash drive unable to format?
If you are unable to format a flash drive, try the steps below:
Step 1: Connect the flash drive to the PC and, if necessary, unlock the USB.
Step 2: Use virus removal software to remove any hidden viruses or malware.
Step 3: Launch EaseUS Partition Master or Windows Disk Management.
Step 4: Select “Format” from the menu that appears when you right-click the USB flash drive. Set the drive’s file system to a new one.
Step 5: Reset the file system on the flash drive and confirm by clicking “OK.”
Following that, you can reuse the flash drive to transfer data and save files.
How can I use an SD card without formatting?
You can use an SD card without formatting by performing one of the following procedures:
1) Try General Troubleshooting first.
2) To repair an unformatted card, run CHKDSK.
3) Connect to your PC using a card reader.
Conclusion
There are numerous reasons for receiving the error message; Windows was unable to complete the format. It is also not easy to resolve the problem. However, you can make your life easier by retrieving the data and creating backups so that even if you are unable to retrieve the device, you will have your data. That is more significant.
So that’s it for today, I hope this article helped you in solving the Windows was unable to complete the format error.