Fix SanDisk Device Won't Format Error on Windows 11/10/8

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SanDisk is a well-known brand for SD cards, USB flash drives, and external SSDs. However, sometimes users encounter issues when trying to format their SanDisk devices on Windows 11, 10, or 8. Common error messages include:

• "Windows was unable to complete the format."
• "The disk is write-protected."
• "The format did not complete successfully."

These errors can be frustrating, especially when you need to erase data, change the file system, or fix a corrupt storage device. This article will explore the causes of the SanDisk formatting error and provide step-by-step solutions to fix it.

Possible Causes of SanDisk Won't Format Error

Before applying any fix, it's essential to understand why Windows refuses to format your SanDisk device. Here are some common reasons:

1. Write Protection Enabled – If the drive is write-protected, Windows will not allow formatting.
2. Corrupted File System – A damaged or incompatible file system can prevent formatting.
3. Bad Sectors – Physically damaged areas on the drive can cause formatting failures.
4. Virus or Malware – Malware infections can lock the drive, preventing modifications.
5. Interrupted Formatting Process – A previously failed or interrupted formatting attempt might cause errors.

Understanding the root cause will help in applying the right fix.

Preliminary Checks Before Fixing:

Before proceeding with advanced troubleshooting, perform these basic checks:

1. Try a Different USB Port or Card Reader

• Plug the SanDisk device into another USB port or use a different SD card reader.
• Check if another computer detects and formats the drive.

2. Restart Your Computer

• Restarting can resolve temporary system glitches.
• Try formatting again after a fresh boot.

3. Inspect the Drive for Physical Damage

• Look for visible signs of damage like cracks or loose connections.
• If the device is damaged, replacement might be necessary.

If the above steps don't work, proceed with the following fixes.

Methods to Fix SanDisk SD Card/USB Drive/SSD Won't Format Error

Method 1: Disable Write Protection on SanDisk Devices

If Windows says the disk is write-protected, follow these methods to disable it:

1. Check the Physical Write Protection Switch (For SD Cards)

• Many SD cards have a small switch on the side labeled 'Lock.'
• If the switch is in the locked position, slide it to unlock and try formatting again.

2. Remove Write Protection via Registry Editor

Step 1. Type regedit using Windows + R, then hit Enter.

Step 2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies on your computer.

Step 3. Select WriteProtect twice, then adjust the value from 1 to 0.

Step 4. Shut down Registry Editor and restart the computer.

3. Use Diskpart to Clear Write Protection

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 2. Type the below mentioned commands one by one:

diskpart
list disk
select disk X (replace X with your SanDisk drive number)
attributes disk clear readonly
Exit

Step 3. Try formatting the drive again.

Method 2: Format Using Disk Management

Step 1. Press Windows + X and select Disk Management.

Step 2. Locate your SanDisk device, right-click it, and select Format.

Step 3. Choose a file system (NTFS, exFAT, or FAT32) and click OK.

Step 4. If the Format option is grayed out, try deleting the partition and creating a new one:

• Right-click the drive and select Delete Volume.

• Right-click the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume.

• Follow the wizard to format the drive.

Method 3: Use Command Prompt (Diskpart)

When Windows Disk Management fails to format your SanDisk device, Diskpart is one of the most powerful built-in Windows tools that can forcefully clean, partition, and format your drive.

Understanding Diskpart

Diskpart is a command-line utility that provides more control over disk management than the graphical interface of Windows Disk Management. It allows users to:

• Remove stubborn partitions.
• Clean and rebuild a corrupted drive.
• Forcefully format a drive even when Windows fails.

If your SanDisk USB flash drive, SD card, or external SSD won't format using regular methods, Diskpart can often resolve the issue.

Step-by-Step Guide to Formatting a SanDisk Drive Using Diskpart

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator
• Launch Diskpart
• List Available Disks
• Select Your SanDisk Drive
• Clean the Drive
• Create a New Primary Partition
• Format the Drive
• Assign a Drive Letter
• Exit Diskpart
• Verify the Drive in File Explorer

Why Diskpart Works When Other Methods Fail

Diskpart is a powerful command-line utility that can resolve storage drive issues when standard formatting methods fail. Here's why it is more effective:

• Removes Corrupted Partitions: If the drive has a corrupted or hidden partition, Disk Management might not recognize or modify it, but Diskpart's clean command can completely erase and reset the drive.
• Bypasses Write Protection Errors: Some write-protected drives can still be formatted using Diskpart's clean command, which removes all attributes blocking formatting.
• Fixes Formatting Errors: If previous formatting attempts failed due to file system corruption, Diskpart can forcefully format the drive and restore its functionality.
• Resolves "Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format" Error: Windows sometimes fails to format a drive due to unknown system errors. Diskpart provides a more direct and forceful approach, bypassing system limitations.
• Deletes Stubborn or Hidden Partitions: Some partitions, especially those created by Linux, macOS, or recovery tools, might not appear in Windows Disk Management. Diskpart can detect and forcefully delete these partitions.
• Overrides Damaged MBR (Master Boot Record): If a USB drive or SD card has an MBR corruption, it may not function properly. The clean command in Diskpart resets the MBR, allowing a fresh partition to be created.
• Handles RAW File System Issues: If the file system becomes RAW due to corruption, Windows might not format it. Diskpart can erase the RAW partition and create a new, usable file system (NTFS, exFAT, or FAT32).
• Works Even When the Drive is Not Visible in File Explorer: Sometimes, a damaged USB flash drive or SD card won't show up in File Explorer, but it can still be accessed and repaired through Diskpart.
• Allows Formatting of Large Drives in FAT32: Windows Disk Management doesn't allow formatting drives larger than 32GB in FAT32, but Diskpart can override this limitation and format large USB drives and SD cards in FAT32.
• Can Be Used to Convert File Systems: Diskpart enables users to convert drives from GPT to MBR (or vice versa), which is useful when dealing with compatibility issues on different operating systems.
• Effective for Bootable or Damaged Drives: If a USB drive was used to create a bootable OS installer, it may have a protected partition that prevents reformatting. Diskpart can erase these partitions completely.

With these capabilities, Diskpart is one of the most reliable tools for fixing storage drive issues that standard Windows utilities fail to resolve.

What to Do If Diskpart Fails to Format Your SanDisk Drive

If you receive errors like "Diskpart has encountered an error: The device is not ready" or "The disk is write-protected," try these fixes:

1. Run CHKDSK to Scan for Errors: Before retrying Diskpart, check for disk errors using:

   chkdsk X: /f /r /x

   (Replace X with your SanDisk drive letter.)

2. Disable Write Protection Manually: Try removing write protection using Registry Editor or Diskpart’s attributes command (as explained in Method 1).
3. Check for Bad Sectors: If the drive is physically damaged, Diskpart may not be able to format it.

   Consider using third-party tools like Donemax Data Recovery, HDDScan or Victoria to diagnose bad sectors.

4. Try Formatting on Another Computer: Sometimes, another PC or Linux/Mac system can format the drive when Windows fails.

If none of these solutions work, the drive may be physically damaged and need replacement.

Method 4: Check and Repair Bad Sectors

Bad sectors can prevent formatting. Use CHKDSK to scan and fix errors:

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 2. Type:

chkdsk X: /f /r /x

(Replace X with your SanDisk drive letter.)

Step 3. Wait for the scan to complete and try formatting again.

Method 5: Format Using Third-Party Software to Format SanDisk Device

If Windows tools fail, try third-party software. There are several softwares which you can use for this purpose.

• Donemax Data Recovery: A powerful data recovery program which can help in recovering lost data and force formatting any drive on Windows or macOS.
• Donemax Data Eraser: Wipe all data from the SanDisk device and format it.

For example, if you will sell or donate your SanDisk device (SD Card/USB Drive/External SSD), you can use Donemax Data Eraser to wipe and format the device.

Step 1. Download and install Donemax Data Eraser on your computer.

Step 2. Open Donemax Data Eraser, choose Erase Hard Drive mode. Then select the SanDisk device, click on Erase Now button.

It will wipe and format the SanDisk device. Once the process gets finished, all data stored on the SanDisk device is lost for good, can't be recovered by any method.

Method 6: Scan and Remove Malware

Some viruses prevent formatting. Scan your SanDisk device using:

• Windows Defender
• Malwarebytes
• Avast or Kaspersky

Steps to Scan Using Windows Defender

1. Select Virus & Threat Protection after launching Windows Security.
2. Choose your SanDisk drive and choose Quick scan or Custom scan.
3. Remove any detected threats and try formatting again.

Method 7: Try Formatting SanDisk on Another Computer or OS

• If Windows fails, connect the SanDisk device to a Mac or Linux system.
• Use Disk Utility on Mac or GParted on Linux to format the drive.

Steps for Formatting on Mac:

1. Open Disk Utility.
2. Select your SanDisk drive and click Erase.
3. Choose a file system and format the drive.

If the drive formats successfully on another OS, the issue may be with Windows settings.

When to Consider Replacing the SanDisk Drive

If none of the above solutions work, your SanDisk device might be physically damaged. Signs of failure include:

• Drive is not recognized on multiple devices.
• Formatting always fails with errors.
• Slow read/write speeds or frequent disconnections.

💡 Note: If you have lost data due to formatting your SanDisk device, you can use data recovery program - such as Donemax Data Recovery to unformat the SanDisk device & get all lost data back.

Conclusion

SanDisk formatting errors on Windows 11, 10, or 8 can result from write protection, file system corruption, bad sectors, or malware infections. The fixes include:

• Removing write protection via Diskpart or Registry Editor.
• Using Disk Management or Command Prompt to format.
• Running CHKDSK to repair bad sectors.
• Using third-party formatting tools if Windows fails.
• Scanning for malware to remove any threats.
• Trying another computer or operating system to format.

By following these methods, you can successfully format your SanDisk device and restore its functionality. If all else fails, consider replacing the drive to avoid further issues.