Last updated: April 4, 2024
The USB key is the most popular exchange medium and recognized by many devices on the market. It is used in particular as audio and video storage and is even used to update certain firmware (video projectors for example).
If you have chosen a new key to better manage your file system, now is the time to select the right formatting software for keep your storage space organized and optimized. While many basic operating systems like Windows 10 have decent disk management tools, you want to have something really pro and precise.
FunInformatique offers you a brief overview of best usb media formatting programs, their features and the free editions available.
HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool – the Swiss army knife
Developed by Hewlett-Packard, a major IT player for decades, HP USB Disk StorageTool is a complete utility dedicated to USB keys. It supports all formats used on Microsoft operating systems, since Windows XP up to Windows 11. These formats are FAT (16 bits), FAT32 and NTFS.
It has all the tools to exploit all the possibilities of a USB key, namely:
- The creation of a bootable drive.
- USB drive formatting.
- A low-level formatting and full cleaning option.
It should be noted that it does not require any installation on the computer and can therefore be run anywhere. However, it is only available in English.
Download HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool
JetFlash Online Recovery: the best online flash drive tools
The USB JetFlash is developed by Transcend. This company assembles hard drives, particularly in SSD technology (Solid State Disk – high-performance hard drives well known to gamers), memory cards, DRAM modules and flash drives. JetFllash online recovery compatible with Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 10 et Windows 11.
However, it is proprietary software. It works specifically for Transcend brand products.
This "disk surgery" utility is lightweight and runs quickly. The disk repair process is simple and intuitive and involves three phases, which include isolating and recovering bad sectors. Attention, any formatting leads to a loss of data if they have not been saved.
Download JetFlash Online Recovery
HDD Low-Level Format Tool (Great for USB Drives!)
HDDGURU is a website with specialized content on system administration management tools. The authors notably offer low-level formatting software, which works on all computers under Windows (workstations and servers).
What is low-level formatting? Also called low level format, it physically initializes a hard drive. This type of formatting creates sectors and tracks within the disk. This is an operation that is generally performed by the manufacturer of the hard disk or for its products. Low-level formatting is also a method of repairing bad sectors, which eventually render your drive unusable.
You can run this formatting tool on many brands of hard drives and USB drives. This includes major manufacturers such as Maxtor, Hitachi, Seagate, Samsung, Toshiba, Fujitsu, IBM, Quantum and Western Digital. Because it is low level, it is ideal for completely erasing USB drives and re-addressing.
The low-level hard drive format tool is suitable for all flash media and USB drives. It is very suitable for many hard drives, thanks to its express formatting option, especially in small and medium-sized businesses.
Download HDD Low-Level Format Tool
Kingston USB Format Utility: Reliable Tools for Your Kingston USB Flash Drive!
Known historically as a manufacturer of hard drives, Kingston turned to USB keys. These are all preformatted in FAT32. Kingston recommends that you use the brand's formatting tools to work with their USB drives.
Kingston Format Utility is an old tool, which works under Windows 7, Windows XP and Windows 10 and 11. It is only compatible with certain models and only works on the DTHX30/XX series of Kingston USB products. If this corresponds to your key model, do not hesitate and use it with your eyes closed.
IM-Magic Partition Resizer: partition your USB drive in just a few clicks!
Startup multi-boot enthusiasts are familiar with partitioning. For the mobile administrator, the USB key becomes a real Swiss army knife to intervene on any workstation!
IM-Magic partition resizer is developed by Keloweisi publisher. It is a software available in freeware or in paid version by premium download.
You can very easily expand, shrink, move and merge partitions without destroying data. It supports the following formats: FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, exFAT and Ext (compatible Windows 7,10, 11, Unix/Linux and Mac). The interface is quite self-explanatory and the steps are summarized at the bottom of your screen.