---
title: "Formatting a USB Flash Drive on macOS"
canonical: "https://kb.uconn.edu/space/IKB/10781392941/Formatting%20a%20USB%20Flash%20Drive%20on%20macOS"
format: markdown
---
Students, faculty, and staff can format or completely erase the contents of a USB Flash Drive.

## Using the Disk Utility App

You can use macOS' Disk Utility app to format the drive.

1. Ensure that your USB flash drive is connected to your computer.
2. Use **Spotlight** (i.e., the **magnifying glass** in the upper right-hand corner) to search for **Disk Utility.**
3. Open **Disk Utility**.
4. The drive will be listed on the sidebar under **External. **Select the flash drive.
5. Click **Erase**.
6. Enter a new name for your flash drive partition.
7. Select **ExFAT. **
8. Click **Erase.**
9. When the process is complete, click **Done. **You will then be able to use your flash drive.

> ❌ DO NOT disconnect the Flash Drive from the computer until this process is complete. Always EJECT the drive before removing it. Failure to do so may lead to data corruption and/or render the drive unusable.

## Related Articles

> Macro (contentbylabel)

> Macro (details)
> 
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