How to Factory Reset a WD or Seagate External Hard Drive (HDD or SSD)?

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External hard drives from WD (Western Digital) and Seagate are widely used for backup, data storage, and file transfers. However, there are times when you may need to factory reset your external drive - perhaps to fix performance issues, remove corrupted files, or prepare the drive for resale.

Factory resetting a hard drive erases all data and restores it to a fresh state, making it important to back up important files before proceeding. This guide covers everything you need to know about resetting WD and Seagate external hard drives on both Windows and Mac, along with troubleshooting tips for common issues.

Understand Factory Reset vs. Formatting

Before proceeding, it's essential to understand the difference between a factory reset and formatting:

Factory Reset:

• Restores the drive to its original state, as if it were brand new.
• Removes all partitions, data, and file system information.
• Often requires specialized tools from the manufacturer (WD Drive Utilities or Seagate SeaTools).
• Wipe all data permanently. It means no data is recoverable.

Formatting:

• Erases data but does not always remove partitions.
• Can be a quick or full format, depending on the method used.
• Allows you to change the file system (NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, APFS, etc.).
• Erase or formatted data can be recovered by data recovery software.

For most users, a full format is enough to erase a drive and prepare it for reuse. However, if you experience severe issues such as persistent corruption or firmware problems, a factory reset using manufacturer tools may be necessary. If you will sell, donate or dispose of your WD or Seagate drive, you need to factory reset the drive and wipe all data from it.

Before Factory Resetting Your WD/Seagate External HDD/SSD

1. Backup Your Data

Since resetting a hard drive completely erases all files, it is crucial to back up any important data. You can:

• Transfer data to a USB flash drive or another external hard drive.
• Transfer important files to cloud storage services like Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive.

Use backup software such as Donemax Disk Clone, Macrium Reflect or Time Machine (Mac).

2. Check the Drive Type and Format

• To view the File System (NTFS, exFAT, FAT32), open File Explorer on Windows, then right-click the disk and choose Properties.
• On Mac, open Disk Utility, select the drive, and check the Format in the right panel.

This step helps determine the correct format for resetting your drive.

3. Ensure Proper Connection

• Use a working USB or Thunderbolt cable to connect the external hard drive to your computer.
• If the drive is not detected, try another USB port or computer before proceeding.

How to Wipe and Factory Reset a WD or Seagate External Hard Drive on Windows/macOS?

Donemax Data Eraser is a 100% safe disk wipe program. It supports to securely and completely wipe data from any drive including WD HDD/SSD, Seagate HDD/SSD, etc. Once the drive is wiped by Donemax Data Eraser, all data (existing data, deleted/lost data included) stored on the drive is lost for good, cannot be recovered by any method.

Follow the steps below to factory reset and wipe the Western Digital/Seagate external HDD or SSD:

Step 1. Download and install Donemax Data Eraser on your computer, then connect your WD or Seagate external hard drive to your computer.

Step 2. Open Donemax Data Eraser, then choose Erase Hard Drive mode. Select the WD or Seagate external hard drive, click on Erase Now button.

Donemax Data Eraser will securely wipe all data from the WD or Seagate external hard drive. Once the process gets finished, all data such as existing data, deleted/formatted/lost data stored on the drive is lost for good, no trace left behind.

Methods to Format and Reset WD/Seagate Drive [Files May Be Recovered]

Method 1: Factory Reset WD or Seagate External Hard Drive on Windows

Windows users can reset a hard drive using Disk Management or Command Prompt (diskpart).

Option 1: Using Disk Management

Step 1. Open Disk Management: Press Win + X and select Disk Management.

Step 2. Locate the External Drive: Find your WD or Seagate drive in the list. Right-click it and select Format.

Step 3. Choose Format Options: Select NTFS (for Windows) or exFAT (for cross-platform use).

Enable Quick Format if you want a faster reset (uncheck for a deep wipe).

Step 4. Click OK to Start Formatting.

Step 5. Delete Partitions (If Needed): If formatting fails, choose Delete Volume from the menu when you right-click the drive.

Then, create a New Simple Volume on the drive.

Option 2: Using Command Prompt (diskpart)

For advanced users, diskpart allows a full reset via the command line:

Step 1. Press Win + X to launch the Command Prompt as Administrator (Admin).

Step 2. Press Enter after typing diskpart.

Step 3. To see all attached disks, type list disk and hit Enter.

Step 4. Determine the type and size of your external hard drive:

select disk X (Replace X with your disk number)

Step 5. Use the following commands to format the disk.

clean
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
assign letter=H
Exit

Your drive is now reset and ready to use.

Method 2: Factory Reset WD or Seagate External Hard Drive on Mac

Mac users can reset a hard drive using Disk Utility.

Using Disk Utility

Step 1. Open Disk Utility: Press Command + Space, type Disk Utility, and open it.

Step 2. Select the External Hard Drive: Click the WD or Seagate drive in the left panel.

Step 3. Click Erase at the top.

Step 4. Choose Format Options:

• APFS (for macOS High Sierra and later).
• Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (for older Macs).
• ExFAT (for Windows & Mac compatibility).

Step 5. Click "Erase" and Confirm.

Step 6. Wait for the process to complete, and your drive will be reset.

Method 3: Factory Reset Using WD and Seagate Tools

WD Drive Utilities (For WD External Drives):

Step 1. Download WD Drive Utilities from the WD Support Website.

Step 2. Install and Open the Software.

Step 3. Select your external drive from the list.

Step 4. Click Erase Drive and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 5. Once completed, reformat the drive using Windows or Mac.

Seagate SeaTools (For Seagate External Drives):

Step 1. Download SeaTools from the Seagate Support Website.

Step 2. Install and open the software.

Step 3. Select your drive and choose Full Erase.

Step 4. Wait for the reset to complete.

Step 5. Reformat the drive as needed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues When Resetting WD/Seagate Drive

Even after following the reset methods, you may encounter issues such as the drive not being recognized, the formatting option being unavailable, or the reset failing. Below are common problems and their solutions.

1. External Drive Not Recognized

If your WD or Seagate external hard drive does not appear in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), follow these troubleshooting steps:

Windows Fixes:

Check Physical Connections:

• Unplug the drive and reconnect it.
• Try a different USB port (preferably a USB 3.0 or USB-C port).
• Use a different USB cable, especially if using an older or damaged one.

Check Disk Management:

• Choose Disk Management by pressing Win + X.
• Check the list for the external drive.
• In the event that the drive is visible but lacks a drive letter:
  • Right-click it and select Change Drive Letter and Paths...
  • Click Add, choose a letter (e.g., "E"), and press OK.

Update USB Drivers:

• Press Win + X, select Device Manager.
• Increase the number of Universal Serial Bus controllers.
• To update the driver, right-click USB Mass Storage Device and choose Update.
• Select "Search automatically for drivers."

Enable Drive in BIOS (For Advanced Users):

• Restart your computer and enter BIOS/UEFI (F2, F12, or Del key during startup).
• To see whether the external hard drive is detected, go under Storage Configuration.
• If disabled, enable the USB ports and save changes.

Mac Fixes:

Check Finder Settings:

• Open Finder.
• Click Finder > Settings.
• Under the General tab, check External Disks.

Use Disk Utility:

• Open Disk Utility (Command + Space, type Disk Utility, press Enter).
• Locate the external drive on the left panel.
• If the drive appears but is grayed out, click Mount.

Reset NVRAM (For Macs with Intel Chips):

• Turn off your Mac.
• Press Command + Option + P + R and hold for 20 seconds while turning it on.

2. "Format Option Not Available" Error

Sometimes, Windows or Mac won't let you format the drive. This happens if the drive has corrupted partitions or an unsupported file system.

Windows Fix:

Use DiskPart to Force Format

• Press Win + X to launch the Command Prompt (Admin).
• Press Enter after typing diskpart.
• To view all linked disks, run list disk.
• Determine the external drive's size.
• Try opening the drive in File Explorer.

Mac Fix:

Erase & Reset via Terminal (If Disk Utility Fails)

• Open Terminal (Command + Space, type Terminal).
• Type diskutil list and note your external drive’s identifier (e.g., disk2).
• Run the following command to erase and reset the drive:

  diskutil eraseDisk APFS ExternalDriveName disk2

  (Replace "disk2" with your actual drive identifier.)

• Check if the drive is now usable.

3. Reset Fails or Freezes

If formatting or factory resetting gets stuck, the drive may have bad sectors or firmware issues.

Windows Fix:

Run a CHKDSK (Check Disk) Scan

• Open Command Prompt (Admin).
• Type:

  chkdsk /f X:

• If prompted, type Y and restart your computer.
• Once the scan is complete, retry formatting.

Use a Third-Party Formatting Tool

If diskpart fails, try third-party disk utilities. These tools allow force formatting, even when Windows fails.

Mac Fix:

Run First Aid in Disk Utility

• Go to Disk Utility.
• Select the external drive and click First Aid.
• Let it scan and repair errors.
• If the drive still won’t reset, try using the Erase feature again.

Check for Drive Firmware Updates (Seagate/WD)

• Some hard drives have firmware issues that prevent formatting.
• Visit:
  • WD Firmware Update
  • Seagate Firmware Update
• Download and apply the latest firmware for your drive model.

4. External Drive Has Slow Performance After Reset

If the drive is slow even after a reset, it may have bad sectors or fragmentation issues.

Fix for Windows Users:

Defragment the Drive (HDD Only, Not SSDs)

• Select Properties by right-clicking the external device in File Explorer.
• Select Optimize from the Tools tab.
• Select the drive and click Optimize again.

Run a Surface Test (Check for Bad Sectors)

• Download CrystalDiskInfo (free tool).
• Open it and check drive health status.
• If it shows Caution or Bad, the drive may be failing.

Fix for Mac Users:

Use Disk Utility's "Erase" with Secure Options

• Open Disk Utility.
• Click Erase → Security Options.
• Select Zero Out Data (writes over bad sectors).

Conclusion

Factory resetting a WD or Seagate external hard drive is essential for resolving issues, removing data securely, or preparing the drive for a new user. Whether you use Windows, Mac, or manufacturer tools, always back up your data before proceeding.

Summary of Reset Methods:

• Donemax Data Eraser - Wipe and reset WD/Seagate external HDD/SSD.
• Disk Management/Disk Utility – Quick and easy reset.
• Command Prompt (diskpart) – Advanced method for stubborn issues.
• WD Drive Utilities/Seagate SeaTools – Manufacturer-specific solutions.

If problems persist, consider checking the drive's warranty or replacing it if it shows signs of hardware failure.