How to format a flash drive in Linux

For most users, formatting a USB flash drive is not difficult, almost everyone knows how to do this in the Windows operating system. However, many, switching to Linux, have difficulty in completing the task. In this article we will tell you how to format a USB flash drive in Linux.

Method 1: Using standard Linux tools

If, for example, you need to format a USB flash drive in FAT32 in Linux, then you can easily use this method. Looking ahead, we note that for the average user it will be the simplest and fastest in execution. We proceed directly to the algorithm of actions.

1. Open the system file manager. For example, in Ubuntu it is Nautilus.
2. In the left side panel, find the name of your device (flash drive).
3. Click on it with RMB.
4. Select "Format" or Format in English localization.
5. In the window that appears, select a formatting method, directly the file system and specify a new device name.
6. Click the "Format" or Format button.

After that, formatting of the USB flash drive in Linux will begin. Depending on which method you choose, it can take a long time (in the case of full formatting) or quickly (in the case of surface formatting).

Method 2: Using the Gparted Program

If you do not know how to format a write-protected flash drive, then the Gparted program will help you. It has great functionality for working with disks, but first, let's look at how to install it. And this is done as simple as possible, you need to enter the following in the "Terminal":

After the installation process is complete, run Gparted. By the way, this can be done without leaving the “Terminal”, with the command:

The program is running, now it is necessary to select your USB flash drive. To do this, in the drop-down list located in the upper right part of the window, select its name. If you have only one hard drive installed, then it will be called "/ dev / sdb".

Before you will be displayed sections of the device. Before formatting, they must be unmounted. This is done as simple as possible: click on the PCM section and select "Unmount" or Unmount.

Now you can proceed to formatting the flash drive in Linux. To do this, click RMB again on the section, move the cursor to the "Format to" or Format to item and in the appeared submenu select the desired format, for example, FAT32. Having done this, click the checkmark button on the top panel of the program.

Method 3: Using Disk Utility

If you do not want to install additional programs for formatting flash drives in Linux, then you can use the pre-installed, which is called Disk Utility.

1. Run it through the operating system menu. Make this easier by entering the name of the program in the search.
2. In the window that opens, select the USB flash drive for formatting. Finding it is simple - it is indicated by the corresponding icon and is always at the end of the list.
3. Having selected a device for formatting, you need to click on the Format Volume button, which is located on the right side of the window.
4. A new window will appear in which you need to specify the file system in the Type drop-down list, and enter a new name for the flash drive in the Name field.
5. Finally, click the Format button.

A window will appear where you need to confirm your actions. By the way, if you were wondering how to format a write-protected flash drive, then this method is also great.

Method 4: Through the "Terminal"

If you prefer to work in the "Terminal", then you can format the USB flash drive in Linux through it. To do this, you must first find out the place where it is mounted. Run the command below to see the entire list of mapped drives to your computer:

In the output of the command, find your flash drive, it is easier to determine by size. Most likely, it has the name sdb1 or sdc1. After that, it must be unmounted. We will consider the situation when the flash drive has the name sdb1. In this case, do:

The flash drive is unmounted, so you can go directly to formatting. It is produced by using the mkfs command. The syntax she has is the following:

Accordingly, to format the USB flash drive in Linux, let's say, in the FAT32 format, you need to do:

After that, the formatting process will begin, after which the USB flash drive can be removed from the computer. So you learned four ways how to format flash devices in Linux.