How to Wipe a Hard Dive in Windows 10

This wikiHow will teach you how to use the Windows 10 tools to remove all data from your hard drive.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Resetting your PC

  1. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 1
    1
    Plug your computer into a power supply. If you’re using a laptop, you’ll want to make sure you don’t run out of battery power during this process.
  2. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 2
    2
    Right-click the
    Image titled Windowsstart.png
    button.     It’s usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen. Use this method to delete all of your data off of the PC and install a fresh version of Windows.
  3. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 3
    3
    Click Settings. It’s toward the bottom of the menu.
  4. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 4
    4
    Click Security & updates. It’s the icon with two curved arrows.
  5. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 5
    5
    Click Recovery. It’s in the left column.
  6. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 6
    6
    Click Get started under “Reset this PC.” It’s the first button in the main panel.
  7. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 7
    7
    Click Restore factory settings. This will erase the contents of the hard drive and then reinstall the factory version of Windows.
  8. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 8
    8
    Click Remove files and clean the drive. This formats the drive so that it will be more difficult for someone to recover your deleted data.
  9. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 9
    9
    Click Reset. Your hard drive will now begin to format and then Windows will be reinstalled. This process may take several hours.

Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Formatting a Hard Drive

  1. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 10
    1
    Right-click the
    Image titled Windowsstart.png
    button.     It’s usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen. Use this method to wipe the data off of a different hard drive than the primary one, such as an external drive.
  2. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 11
    2
    Click File Explorer. It’s toward the bottom of the menu. This opens your computer’s file browser.
  3. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 12
    3
    Click This PC. It’s in the left column. A list of folders and hard drives connected to the PC will appear.
  4. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 13
    4
    Right-click the drive you want to format.
  5. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 14
    5
    Click Format.
  6. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 15
    6
    Choose whether to quick format. You can save time by checking the box next to “Quick Format,” but this option makes it easier for someone to restore your deleted data with the right software.[1]
  7. Image titled Wipe Hard Drive on Windows Step 16
    7
    Click Start. The data on the hard drive will now be deleted.

You Might Also Like

Check if Your Firewall Is Blocking Something
How to
Check if Your Firewall Is Blocking Something
Enable Image Preview to Display Pictures in a Folder (Windows 10)
How to
Enable Image Preview to Display Pictures in a Folder (Windows 10)
Install Windows 10
How to
Install Windows 10
Turn Off Windows Defender in Windows 10
How to
Turn Off Windows Defender in Windows 10
Set Up a Second Monitor with Windows 10
How to
Set Up a Second Monitor with Windows 10
Clear Temp Files in Windows 10
How to
Clear Temp Files in Windows 10
Eject the CD Tray for Windows 10
How to
Eject the CD Tray for Windows 10
Find the Largest Files in Windows 10
How to
Find the Largest Files in Windows 10
Log in As an Administrator in Windows 10
How to
Log in As an Administrator in Windows 10
Delete User Accounts in Windows 10
How to
Delete User Accounts in Windows 10
Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10
How to
Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10
Block Coreldraw from the Internet
How to
Block Coreldraw from the Internet
Enable Active Directory in Windows 10
How to
Enable Active Directory in Windows 10
Adjust Screen Brightness in Windows 10
How to
Adjust Screen Brightness in Windows 10

References

  1. ↑ https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001774.htm

About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Nicole Levine, MFA
Tech Specialist
This article was written by Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 11,078 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 4
Updated: September 30, 2020
Views: 11,078
Categories: Windows 10