Formats one or more existing volumes or a new volume on an existing partition.
Windows Server · Risk: Critical · Documentation Verified
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Microsoft Storage reference: Formats one or more existing volumes or a new volume on an existing partition. 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.
Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for Format-Volume. 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
-AllocationUnitSize
Specifies the allocation unit size to use when formatting the volume.
-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.
-Compress
Enables compression on all files and folders created on the specified NTFS volume.
-Confirm
Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
-DevDrive
Formats the volume as a dev drive. A dev drive is optimized for performance of developer scenarios and gives administators control over what minifilters are attached to the volume.
-DisableHeatGathering
Indicates that the cmdlet does not gather file activity on the specified tiered volume. You can override file placement based on the desired storage tier. This parameter is only valid for tiered volumes.
-DriveLetter (required)
Specifies the drive letter of the volume to format.
-FileSystem
Specifies the file system with which to format the volume. The acceptable values for this parameter are:NTFS, ReFS, exFAT, FAT32, and FAT.
-FileSystemLabel (required)
Specifies the label to use for the volume.
-Force
Specifies the override switch.
-Full
Performs a full format. A full format writes to every sector of the disk, takes much longer to perform than the default (quick) format, and is not recommended on storage that is thinly provisioned.
-InputObject (required)
Specifies the input object that is used in a pipeline command.
-IsDAX
Formats a volume as a DirectAccess (DAX) volume. DAX provides applications with direct access and byte-addressability options via memory mapping on storage class memory (SCM) devices, such as NVDIMM-N. If you do not specify the *IsDAX* parameter, the cmdlet defaults to a regular, non-DAX volume.
-NewFileSystemLabel
Specifies a new label to use for the volume.
-ObjectId (required)
Specifies the ID of the volume to format.
-Partition
Specifies the partition object on which to create the new volume. Enter a Partition CIM object, which is exposed by the Get-Partition and New-Partition cmdlets.
-Path (required)
Specifies the path of the volume to format.
-SetIntegrityStreams
Enables integrity streams on the volume to be formatted.
-ShortFileNameSupport
Specifies that support for short file names should be enabled on this volume.
-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.
-UseLargeFRS
Specifies that large File Record Segment (FRS) should be used.
-WhatIf
Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run. NOTE: The WhatIf switch does not work with this cmdlet.
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: Quick format
Format-Volume -DriveLetter D
This example performs a format of the D volume. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.