Formatting a USB drive in Linux is a simple process that can be done using both graphical and command-line tools. Whether you need to prepare a USB drive for a specific file system or just erase data, Linux provides various methods to achieve this.

Method 1: Using GParted (Graphical Interface)

GParted is a powerful partition manager with an easy-to-use GUI.

1. Install GParted (if not already installed):

   sudo apt update && sudo apt install gparted

2. Open GParted and select your USB drive from the dropdown list.
3. Unmount the USB drive: Right-click on the partition and select Unmount.
4. Delete existing partitions (if necessary).
5. Create a new partition table (usually MS-DOS for general use).
6. Create a new partition and choose a file system (e.g., FAT32, EXT4, NTFS).
7. Apply the changes by clicking the green checkmark.

Method 2: Using Terminal Commands

For users comfortable with the terminal, the mkfs command is the fastest way to format a USB drive.

1. Find the USB device name:
     

   lsblk

   Identify your USB drive (e.g., /dev/sdb).

2. Unmount the USB drive:

   sudo umount /dev/sdb1

   

3. Format the drive:
   • For FAT32 (compatible with most systems):

     

     sudo mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdb1

   • For EXT4 (best for Linux use):

     sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1

   • For NTFS (Windows compatibility):

     sudo mkfs.ntfs /dev/sdb1

4. Safely remove the USB drive:

   sudo eject /dev/sdb