Guides

How to Wipe a Hard Drive in Windows 10 (2026)

A 2023 study by Blancco Technology Group found that 42% of used drives sold on secondary markets still contained personally identifiable information — bank records, medical files, login credentials, and private photos. If you're selling, donating, or recycling a Windows 10 computer, simply deleting files or formatting the drive does not actually erase your data. You need to properly wipe it. This guide walks you through every reliable method available in Windows 10, from built-in tools to professional-grade software.

Key Takeaways:

  • Windows 10's "Reset this PC" with "Remove everything" and "Clean data" performs a single-pass overwrite — adequate for personal use on HDDs, but not a certified erasure method.
  • The diskpart clean all command writes zeros to every addressable sector on a secondary or external HDD, but cannot wipe the active OS drive.
  • Software-based overwriting does not fully sanitize SSDs due to wear leveling and over-provisioned areas — SSDs require firmware-level commands.
  • Free tools like DBAN and ShredOS can wipe drives by booting from USB, bypassing the need for a running OS.
  • One overwrite pass is sufficient for modern HDDs according to NIST SP 800-88 — multi-pass wiping is unnecessary with current drive technology.

Before You Begin

Wiping a drive is permanent. Before you start, work through this checklist:

  1. Back up everything you want to keep. Copy important files to an external drive, cloud storage, or another computer. Once a wipe begins, there is no undo.
  2. Identify which drive you're wiping. Open Disk Management (right-click the Start button > Disk Management) and note the disk number, size, and partitions of your target drive. Wiping the wrong disk is a common and catastrophic mistake.
  3. Determine if it's an HDD or SSD. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), click the Performance tab, and select your disk. Windows 10 labels it as either "HDD" or "SSD." This matters because HDDs and SSDs require different erasure approaches.
  4. Know if you're wiping the OS drive or a secondary drive. Your OS drive (usually C:) requires different methods than a secondary internal drive or external USB drive. You cannot overwrite your system drive while Windows is running from it.
  5. Have your Windows 10 product key or Microsoft account ready. If you're wiping the OS drive and plan to reuse the computer, you'll need to reinstall Windows afterward (unless you use Reset this PC, which handles reinstallation automatically).
  6. Plug in your laptop. A wipe that gets interrupted by a dead battery can leave the drive in an inconsistent state. Always connect to AC power.

Method 1: Reset This PC (OS Drive Wipe with Reinstall)

This is the simplest method for wiping your primary Windows 10 drive. It erases everything and reinstalls a clean copy of Windows 10 in one process. Best for: preparing your own computer for sale, donation, or a fresh start. (Running Windows 11 instead? See our Windows 11 wipe guide — the steps differ slightly.)

What it does: When you choose "Remove everything" with the "Clean data" option enabled, Windows writes zeros across the drive before reinstalling. This is a single-pass overwrite — sufficient for personal use on HDDs per NIST guidelines, but not a certified or auditable erasure method.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
  2. Navigate to Update & Security > Recovery.
  3. Under "Reset this PC," click Get started.
  4. Select Remove everything. (Do not choose "Keep my files" — that preserves personal data.)
  5. Click Change settings.
  6. Toggle Clean data to On. This is the critical step — without it, Windows only does a quick reset that leaves data recoverable.
  7. If prompted about drives, select All drives to wipe secondary drives attached to the system, or Only the drive where Windows is installed if you only want to wipe the OS partition.
  8. Click Confirm, then Next, then Reset.
  9. The process takes 1-4 hours depending on drive size and speed. The PC will restart multiple times and eventually land on the Windows 10 setup screen.

Limitations of Reset this PC:

  • Not certified to any data sanitization standard (NIST 800-88, IEEE 2883, etc.)
  • Does not provide a certificate of erasure or audit trail
  • On SSDs, the overwrite does not reach wear-leveled, over-provisioned, or remapped sectors
  • Cannot be verified after the fact — you're trusting that Windows completed the overwrite correctly

For most people wiping a personal computer with an HDD before selling it, Reset this PC with Clean data enabled is adequate. If you need certified erasure or are wiping an SSD, keep reading.

Method 2: Diskpart Clean All (Secondary and External Drives)

The diskpart utility is built into Windows 10 and can write zeros to every addressable sector on a drive. This method works for secondary internal drives and external USB drives — it cannot wipe the drive that Windows is currently running from.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Connect the drive you want to wipe (if it's external).
  2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: press Win + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
  3. Type diskpart and press Enter to launch the disk partitioning tool.
  4. Type list disk and press Enter. You'll see all connected disks listed with their sizes.
DISKPART> list disk

  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
  Disk 0    Online          476 GB  0 B           *
  Disk 1    Online          931 GB  0 B           *
  Disk 2    Online          465 GB  465 GB        *
  1. Identify the correct disk by its size. Double-check this against Disk Management. Selecting the wrong disk will destroy that drive's data with no recovery possible.
  2. Type select disk X (replacing X with the correct disk number) and press Enter.
DISKPART> select disk 2

Disk 2 is now the selected disk.
  1. Type clean all and press Enter.
DISKPART> clean all

DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk.
  1. Wait for the process to complete. This writes zeros to every sector and takes approximately 1-2 hours per terabyte on a SATA HDD. There is no progress bar — the cursor will just blink until it finishes. Do not close the window or disconnect the drive.
  2. Once complete, the drive will show as unallocated in Disk Management. You can now initialize and format it for reuse, or remove it for disposal.

Critical warning: Do NOT confuse clean with clean all. The clean command (without "all") only removes partition information — it does not overwrite any data, and everything remains recoverable with basic software. Always use clean all for secure erasure.

Bottom Line: For wiping a secondary HDD in Windows 10, diskpart clean all is the best free built-in option. It performs a verified single-pass zero-fill that meets NIST SP 800-88 Clear-level sanitization for HDDs. For SSDs, skip this method and use firmware-level commands or manufacturer tools — see our SSD secure erase guide.

Method 3: Cipher /w (Free Space Overwrite)

The cipher /w command is a targeted tool built into Windows 10 that overwrites free space on an NTFS volume. It does not wipe existing files — only the space marked as "free" where deleted files may still reside. This makes it useful in one specific scenario: you've already deleted sensitive files and want to make sure they can't be recovered, without wiping the entire drive.

When to Use Cipher /w

  • You've deleted confidential files from a drive you're still using
  • You want to clean up free space on your OS drive without reinstalling Windows
  • You need a quick supplemental wipe after moving files to a new computer

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Delete the files you want to permanently erase using normal deletion (Shift+Delete skips the Recycle Bin, or empty the Recycle Bin after deleting).
  2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Win + S > type cmd > right-click > Run as administrator).
  3. Type the following command, replacing C: with the drive letter you want to clean:
cipher /w:C:\

  1. Press Enter. The command performs three overwrite passes on the free space:

    • Pass 1: Writes 0x00 (zeros)
    • Pass 2: Writes 0xFF (ones)
    • Pass 3: Writes random data

  2. Wait for completion. The time depends on how much free space exists — it can take several hours on a large, mostly-empty drive.

Limitations:

  • Only overwrites free space — files that still exist on the drive are untouched
  • Does not work on FAT32, exFAT, or ReFS volumes — NTFS only
  • Not a full-disk wipe tool — do not rely on it as your sole sanitization method
  • Same SSD caveats apply: wear leveling means deleted data on SSDs may still exist in areas cipher cannot reach

Method 4: Third-Party Wipe Tools

Windows 10's built-in tools cover basic scenarios, but third-party software offers advantages that matter when security is a priority: certified erasure standards compliance, detailed verification reports, support for multiple overwrite patterns, and the ability to wipe any drive — including the OS drive — by booting from USB media.

Free Tools

DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) — The most well-known free wipe tool. Burns to a USB or CD, boots independently of any OS, and overwrites entire drives. Supports multiple wipe standards including DoD 5220.22-M and RCMP TSSIT OPS-II. Best for HDDs only. No longer actively developed but still functional. Does not support UEFI boot on some newer systems.

ShredOS — A modern, actively maintained alternative to DBAN built on the nwipe engine. Boots from USB, supports UEFI and legacy BIOS, and offers the same wipe patterns as DBAN. Best for users who encounter UEFI compatibility issues with DBAN. Open-source and free.

Eraser — A Windows-based tool that runs inside Windows 10. Schedules file-level and free-space overwrites. Good for ongoing sanitization of specific files and folders, but cannot wipe the OS drive it's running from. Supports multiple overwrite methods. Open-source and free.

Paid / Certified Tools

BitRaser Drive Eraser — A commercial solution that boots from USB and wipes drives independently of the OS. Supports 24+ international erasure standards including NIST 800-88 and IEEE 2883. Produces tamper-proof certificates of erasure — critical for regulatory compliance (HIPAA, GDPR, SOX). Priced from $39 per license for home users. The best option when you need verifiable, auditable proof of data destruction.

KillDisk — Available in both a free version (single-pass zero-fill) and paid Professional/Enterprise editions with certified erasure, multiple overwrite patterns, and reporting. The free version handles basic HDD wiping. The paid tiers add compliance-grade features. Boots from USB or runs within Windows.

EaseUS BitWiper — A straightforward Windows-based wipe tool that can erase partitions, drives, and free space. User-friendly interface makes it accessible for non-technical users. Paid versions offer additional overwrite methods and batch wiping.

For a detailed breakdown of all your options, see our best data erasure software roundup.

HDD vs. SSD: Why the Wipe Method Matters

This distinction is critical and too often overlooked. HDDs and SSDs store data in fundamentally different ways, and methods that work perfectly on one can fail on the other.

HDDs (Traditional Hard Drives)

HDDs store data magnetically on spinning platters, and software writes go exactly where you direct them. Every method in this guide — Reset this PC, diskpart clean all, cipher /w, DBAN, and other overwrite tools — works reliably on HDDs. A single overwrite pass renders data unrecoverable using any known technique, per NIST SP 800-88.

SSDs (Solid State Drives)

SSDs use flash memory managed by a controller that decides where data is physically written. This introduces several areas that software-based overwrites cannot reach:

  • Wear leveling moves data between cells to distribute write cycles evenly. Old copies of data may persist in cells that are no longer in active use.
  • Over-provisioning reserves 7-28% of the drive's capacity for internal management. This space is invisible to the operating system and cannot be overwritten through normal commands.
  • Remapped sectors contain data that has been moved away from failing cells. The original data in the bad cell remains.
  • TRIM marks blocks for garbage collection but does not immediately zero them.

For SSDs, the only reliable sanitization methods are firmware-level commands: ATA Secure Erase, NVMe Sanitize, or NVMe Format with cryptographic erase. These commands instruct the drive's own controller to purge all storage, including areas hidden from the OS. Check our SSD secure erase guide for step-by-step instructions using manufacturer tools and command-line utilities.

If your Windows 10 PC has an SSD (which is likely if it was manufactured after 2018), do not rely solely on diskpart clean all or Reset this PC for secure erasure. These methods are better than nothing, but they leave data in areas software cannot reach.

Recommended Tools

Tool Type Best For Price
BitRaser Drive Eraser Bootable USB Certified erasure with audit trail From $39
KillDisk Free Bootable USB / Windows Basic HDD zero-fill wiping Free
DBAN Bootable USB Whole-disk HDD wipe (legacy systems) Free
ShredOS Bootable USB Whole-disk HDD wipe (modern UEFI systems) Free
Eraser Windows app File-level and free-space sanitization Free
EaseUS BitWiper Windows app User-friendly partition/drive wiping Free / Paid

For wiping an HDD before selling or recycling a Windows 10 PC, DBAN or ShredOS are the best free options — they boot from USB and wipe the entire drive regardless of the installed OS. If you need a certificate of erasure for compliance, BitRaser Drive Eraser is the standard choice across enterprise and regulated environments.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing formatting with wiping. A quick format in Windows 10 takes seconds and does not erase data — it only resets the file system table. Even a full format, while it does write zeros, is not a recognized sanitization method. Do not assume a formatted drive is safe to hand over. Read more about why in our article on how formatting does not erase data.

Using diskpart clean instead of diskpart clean all. The clean command without "all" only removes partition metadata. Every byte of actual data remains on the disk, fully recoverable in minutes with free software. Always type the full clean all command.

Wiping an SSD with overwrite-only methods. Running diskpart clean all or DBAN on an SSD overwrites the addressable sectors but misses wear-leveled blocks, over-provisioned space, and remapped areas. SSDs need firmware-level erase commands. Using overwrite tools on SSDs also burns through write cycles unnecessarily.

Selecting the wrong disk in diskpart. This destroys data on a drive you didn't intend to wipe. Always verify the disk number by cross-referencing the size shown in list disk with what you see in Disk Management. If you're unsure, disconnect all drives except the target before proceeding.

Interrupting the wipe process. Closing the Command Prompt window, disconnecting an external drive, or losing power during a wipe can leave the drive in a partially sanitized state — some sectors wiped, others still containing data. Always let the process run to completion on AC power.

Skipping verification. After wiping, there's no built-in way in Windows 10 to confirm the wipe was successful. Certified tools like BitRaser verify automatically and produce a report. If you used a free method, you can spot-check by running a data recovery tool against the wiped drive — it should find nothing meaningful.

Forgetting about other storage. Your Windows 10 PC may have multiple drives, SD card slots, or recovery partitions. Check Disk Management for every storage device before handing the computer off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Windows 10 Reset this PC securely wipe a hard drive?

When you select "Remove everything" and enable "Clean data," Windows 10 writes zeros across the drive. This provides reasonable security for personal use on HDDs. However, it is not certified to any erasure standard and may not satisfy regulatory requirements like HIPAA or GDPR. For SSDs, it does not address data in wear-leveled or over-provisioned areas.

How long does it take to wipe a hard drive in Windows 10?

A standard wipe with "Clean data" or diskpart clean all typically takes 1-4 hours for a 1 TB HDD, depending on drive speed and connection type (SATA vs USB). A quick reset without data cleaning takes 20-45 minutes. SSD firmware-level sanitize commands complete in seconds to minutes since they operate differently from sector-by-sector overwriting.

Can I wipe my C: drive while Windows 10 is running?

You cannot overwrite the active OS partition with diskpart or cipher while Windows is running from it. Use "Reset this PC" through Settings > Update & Security > Recovery to wipe the OS drive. Alternatively, boot from a USB drive running DBAN, ShredOS, or Windows installation media and wipe the drive externally.

Is one overwrite pass enough to securely erase an HDD?

Yes. According to NIST SP 800-88, a single overwrite pass is sufficient for modern hard drives. The notion that you need 3, 7, or 35 passes comes from research on older drive technologies with much lower storage densities. One full pass with zeros or random data makes recovery infeasible with any currently known technique.

Does diskpart clean all work on SSDs?

It writes zeros to every addressable sector, but SSDs have areas that software overwrites cannot reach — including over-provisioned space, wear-leveled blocks, and spare sectors. For SSDs, use the manufacturer's secure erase tool or an NVMe Sanitize command. See our SSD secure erase guide for proper methods.

What is the difference between diskpart clean and clean all?

The clean command only removes partition and volume information from the drive — it does not overwrite actual data, leaving everything recoverable with basic recovery software. The clean all command writes zeros to every sector on the disk, performing a true data wipe for HDDs. Always use clean all when your goal is data erasure.

Will wiping my hard drive remove Windows 10?

Yes. Using diskpart clean all, DBAN, or any third-party wipe tool on your OS drive will completely remove Windows 10 and all data. You will need to reinstall the operating system afterward. The "Reset this PC" method also removes your installation but reinstalls a clean copy of Windows 10 automatically.

Can data be recovered after using cipher /w in Windows 10?

Cipher /w overwrites only the free space on an NTFS volume — it does not touch files that still exist. After deleting files and running cipher /w, recovery of those deleted files becomes extremely unlikely on HDDs. However, cipher /w is not a full-disk wipe tool and should not replace a complete drive sanitization.

Is formatting the same as wiping a hard drive?

No. A quick format only resets the file system table and marks space as available — all data remains physically on the disk and is easily recoverable with free tools. Even a full format, which writes zeros in Windows 10, does not produce a certificate of erasure or meet recognized sanitization standards. For secure erasure, use a dedicated wipe method.

Do I need to wipe a hard drive before recycling a Windows 10 PC?

Yes. Studies consistently find that a significant percentage of second-hand drives contain recoverable personal data. Before recycling, donating, or selling a Windows 10 computer, wipe every drive using one of the methods described above. For drives containing sensitive or regulated data, use certified erasure software that provides a verifiable audit trail.

The Bottom Line

Windows 10 gives you several built-in options for wiping a hard drive — Reset this PC for the OS drive, diskpart clean all for secondary drives, and cipher /w for free space cleanup. These work well for HDDs in personal-use scenarios. If you have an SSD, need a certificate of erasure, or must meet compliance standards, use a dedicated tool like BitRaser or boot from DBAN. For a full walkthrough of every approach across all platforms, see our complete guide to wiping a hard drive.

Last updated: February 2026. We regularly review and update our guides to ensure accuracy.

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