By understanding the difference between a high-level and a low-level format, and by using the right tools (DiskPart or HDD LLF Tool), you can resurrect seemingly dead USB drives and ensure your private data stays private. Just remember: with great power comes great responsibility—and a very long wait time for the progress bar to finish.

This method is universally compatible and the best first step. It writes zeros to the entire drive.

If you are selling or giving away a thumb drive, a high-level format isn't enough; data recovery software could easily pull your old files back. LLF ensures the data is unrecoverable.

To understand low-level formatting, you have to distinguish it from the standard format you perform in Windows or macOS: