How to format a USB flash drive?

Solution 1:

You can use Disks. It's installed by default and easy to use.

Disks application appears in Dash search

Click on the Dash icon
Search for "Disks"
Click on Disks

The application will show up:

choose device in Disks interface left bar

1st: Choose the USB flash drive
2nd: Click on the "gear" icon and choose "Format"

This little window will appear, just choose the option you want and click on Format:

Erase option, filesystem type option, and Name field shown in Format Volume dialog

Solution 2:

Use GParted

GParted screenshot

see the video

You can install it

from Ubuntu Software Center or
on the command-line:
```
sudo apt install gparted
```

Use the command line

see the video

To show the USB drive among all storage partitions and volumes on your computer use:
```
lsblk
```
You can also use:
```
df
```
Suppose it may be /dev/sdy1. Unmount it with:
```
sudo umount /dev/sdy1
```
To format drive with the FAT32 file system format:
```
sudo mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdy1
```
To set a file system label for your pen drive in the process:
```
sudo mkfs.vfat -F 32 -n 'name_for_your_pendrive' /dev/sdy1
```
You must include the -F 32 part to specify the FAT size, it is not 32 by default in ubuntu 19.10. For more info see man mkfs.fat.

Solution 3:

The Command-Line Way

In case you can't get your device formatted from the GUI, try this way.

Open the Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T)
List your block storage devices by issuing the command lsblk
Then identify your pen drive by it's SIZE. In my case its /dev/sdb
Erase everything in the pen drive (This step is Optional):
```
sudo dd status=progress if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=4k && sync  
```
Replace /dev/sdb with your corresponding device.

Type very carefully this name or your may end up erasing one of your other disks. This will take some time. (option status=progress is not mandatory but provide you some feedback)

It will pretend to be stuck. Just be patient.

for example:
```
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=4k && sync
dd: error writing '/dev/sdb': No space left on device

1984257+0 records in
1984256+0 records out
8127512576 bytes (8.1 GB) copied, 1236.37 s, 6.6 MB/s
```
Make a new partition table in the device:
```
sudo fdisk /dev/sdb
```
Then press letter o to create a new empty DOS partition table.
Make a new partition:
- Press letter n to add a new partition. You will be prompted for the size of the partition. Making a primary partition when prompted, if you are not sure.
- Then press letter w to write table to disk and exit.
Format your new partition.
- See your new partition label with the command lsblk
  In my case it is /dev/sdb1. Once again pay attention to this name as there will not be any protection to prevent you to erase an other disk.
- Issue the command below to format the new volume:
```
sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb1  
```
  Please replace /dev/sdb1 with your corresponding device.
- Eject the device:
```
sudo eject /dev/sdb
```