IMPORTANT:
Western Digital Virtual CD-Rom (VCD) cannot be removed with a low-level format.
View the Use of Third-Party Software or Websites disclaimer.Western Digital Support cannot help with third-party software or hardware.
Use one of these options to erase and low-level format a drive.
- Answer ID 50650: Secure Erase and Sanitize a Drive with Western Digital Dashboard
- Acronis True Image for Western Digital DriveCleanser
- Apple Article: Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac
- Answer ID 24816: Erase and Format a Drive with Third-Party Software
- Windows 10 and 11 Disk Management (not a true low-level format)
- WD Drive Utility for External Drives (not a true low-level format)
Acronis True Image for Western Digital DriveCleanser
DriveCleanser in Acronis can be used to low-level format and erase a drive.
Critical: The process is Data Destructive and cannot be undone. |
- Download and install Acronis True Image for Western Digital
- Select Tools
Select Acronis DriveCleanser.
- Select Source Selection.
Highlight and verify the drive to be erased.
Select Next.
- Select Algorithm Selection.
Select Fast.
Click Next.
If the information on the drive is of a sensitive nature or there is a concern about the data being recovered later, select U.S. Standard, DoD 5220.22-M. The Fast option takes less time, while the U.S Standard takes longer due to the procedure being more intense.
- Select Finish.
Verify the correct drive is selected.
Check the box next to Wipe the selected paritions irreversibly. Click Proceed.
- Wait for the process to complete 100%.
It can take a few minutes or hours based on the size of the drive and format type.
WD Drive Utility for External Drives (Not a true low-level format)
WD Drive Utilities can be used to format a drive on Windows and macOS.
IMPORTANT:This is not a true low-level format.
Critical: The process is Data Destructive and cannot be undone. |
- Direct Attached Storage (DAS) Drives: My Book, My Book for Mac, My Book Duo, My Book Pro, WD Drive, WD Drive Plus, WD easystore Desktop, WD easystore Portable, My Passport works with USB-C, My Passport, My Passport for Mac, My Passport Ultra, My Passport Ultra for Mac, My Passport Ultra (USB-C), My Passport Ultra for Mac (USB-C), My Passport Go, My Passport Air, My Passport Ultra Metal, WD Elements SE, WD Backup Drive Desktop
- Drives not listed are above not supported.
- Drive Diagnoses S.M.A.R.T. test does not support SSD.
- Attach a Supported WD Drive message.
Need more help?
Answer ID 6265: Attach a Supported WD Drive Message in WD Security & WD Drive Utilities
- Download and Install WD Drive Utilities for Windows or macOS.
Need more help?
$EN_ANSWER_ID_50396 - Click Drive Erase.
- Read the warning message.
Check the I Understand box.
Click Erase Drive.
Windows 10 and 11 Disk Management (not a true low-level format)
Windows Disk Management can be used to format a drive.
IMPORTANT:This is not a true low-level format.
Critical: The process is Data Destructive and cannot be undone. |
- Type Disk Management in the search bar.
Click Create and format hard disk partitions.
- Select the drive to erase.
Right-click the bar.
Click Delete Volume.
- Format the drive.
Need more help?
Answer ID 8200: Steps to Format a Drive for Use with Windows or macOS