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Clear-Disk

Cleans a disk by removing all partition information and un-initializing it, erasing all data on the disk.

Windows Server · Risk: Critical · Documentation Verified

Last verified: 2026-10-26

Microsoft Storage reference: Cleans a disk by removing all partition information and un-initializing it, erasing all data on the disk. The syntax and selected example below are adapted from the pinned Windows Server 2025 reference. Module availability, target configuration and delegated permissions determine whether it can run in your environment. Documentation and parameter text: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; formatting adapted by Cmdlet World. No execution testing is claimed.

Clear-Disk [-Number] <UInt32[]> [-RemoveData] [-RemoveOEM] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>]
 [-ThrottleLimit <Int32>] [-AsJob] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

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Required permissions

Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for Clear-Disk. Modifying administrative cmdlets may require elevation or delegated administration. This catalog does not assert that ordinary users can execute the command.

Supported environments

Windows / Storage · Windows Server 2025 documentation; feature/module prerequisites apply

Parameters

-AsJob: Runs the cmdlet as a background job. Use this parameter to run commands that take a long time to complete.
-CimSession: Runs the cmdlet in a remote session or on a remote computer. Enter a computer name or a session object, such as the output of a New-CimSession or Get-CimSession cmdlet. The default is the current session on the local computer.
-Confirm: Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
-FriendlyName: Specifies a friendly name of the disk to clear.
-InputObject (required): Specifies the input object that is used in a pipeline command.
-Number (required): Specifies the disk number of the disk on which to perform the clear operation. For a list of available disks, see the Get-Disk cmdlet.
-PassThru: Specifies that the cmdlet should output an object representing a disk. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.
-Path (required): Specifies the path of the disk to clear.
-RemoveData: Enables the removal of all of the data on the disk.
-RemoveOEM: Enables the removal of any OEM recovery partitions from the disk.
-ThrottleLimit: Specifies the maximum number of concurrent operations that can be established to run the cmdlet. If this parameter is omitted or a value of 0 is entered, then Windows PowerShell® calculates an optimum throttle limit for the cmdlet based on the number of CIM cmdlets that are running on the computer. The throttle limit applies only to the current cmdlet, not to the session or to the computer.
-UniqueId (required): Specifies the UniqueID of the disk to clear.
-WhatIf: Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Prerequisites

Windows with the Storage module and the Windows feature or management tools that provide it. Confirm target connectivity and version compatibility using the linked Microsoft reference.

Security considerations

This cmdlet changes system state. Review every target and parameter in the official reference, test outside production, and prepare an appropriate backup or rollback. Do not execute the example automatically.

Examples

Example 1: Clear a blank disk

Clear-Disk -Number 1

This example clears disk number one only if it does not contain both data or OEM partitions. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.

Sources

https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-powershell-docs/blob/b7645dd8c687139b28e845119da30ec670526507/docset/winserver2025-ps/Storage/Clear-Disk.md

https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/storage/clear-disk?view=windowsserver2025-ps

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