# The Complete Guide to Formatting Files and Storage Drives Formatting is getting a storage device or a document ready for use. What is often called 'formatting' is really the process of discarding all the information about the file system from a drive and preparing it to hold data from an operating system. Formatting is often done on hard drives, SSDs, memory cards, and USB drives, but can also result in loss of data if important files are not backed up. # What is the meaning of Formatting? **[Formatting a drive](https://notchox.com/resources/what-happens-during-formatting/)** involves assigning a file system to structure and organise the files, or changing it from the previous one. Some of the most common file systems are NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, and APFS. Formatting can make a drive usable, but you might lose access to files previously stored on it. # Why would people format a drive Drives can be formatted for a variety of reasons, including to use a new storage device, to change the file system of an existing drive, to resolve some file system issues, or to reinstall an operating system. Knowing about what is formatting can help you decide which to use and prevent you from losing valuable data. # When a computer's hard drive is formatted, what happens to the files Depending on the type of formatting that is done, existing files can become inaccessible. Normally a quick format will only wipe away file system data and not overwrite the entire drive. This can result in data being recoverable until more data is written to the storage space. **Is it possible to retrieve files that have been formatted?** Once it is determined that important files have been lost following reformatting, immediately cease access to the disk or tape that was used. Overuse may result in loss of previously stored data, and retrieval may be complicated. In some cases, backups or data recovery software can be useful to find and recover files that can still be recovered. **How to Format a Drive Safely** Always back up important files before formatting a hard drive, SSD, USB drive or memory card! Ensure that you have chosen the right storage medium and know what data you might lose. Basic understanding of formatting and its operation can help avert unintentional loss of data. # Recover Data After Formatting It is important to know what formatting is before erasing or preparing a storage device. Formatting can be beneficial for setting up drives, but can also render existing files unusable. **[Notchox](https://notchox.com/ )** provides data recovery software for Windows and macOS for Windows and Mac, and when important data is lost and there is no backup, it can scan the storage devices for recoverable files.