Using the *Disks* utility

Choose **Applications** ▸ **Utilities** ▸ **Disks** to start the *Disks* utility.

A list of all the storage devices on the computer appears in the left pane
of the window.

Plug in the USB stick that you want to reset.

A new device appears in the list of storage devices. This new device
corresponds to the USB stick that you plugged in. Click on it.

In the right pane of the window, verify that the device corresponds to the USB stick that you want to reset, its brand, its size, etc.

To reset the USB stick, click on the [[!img lib/view-more.png alt="Drive Options" class="symbolic" link="no"]] button in the title bar and choose **Format Disk** to erase all the existing partitions on the device.

In the **Format Disk** dialog:

If you want to overwrite all data on the device, choose **Overwrite existing data with zeroes** in the **Erase** menu.

<p>Overwriting existing data does not erase all data on flash
memories, such as USB sticks and SSDs (Solid-State Drives).</p>

<p>See the [[limitations of file deletion|doc/encryption_and_privacy/secure_deletion#spare]].</p>

</div>

Choose **Compatible with all systems and devices (MBR/DOS)** in the **Partitioning** menu.

Click **Format**.

In the confirmation dialog, click **Format** to confirm.

To make sure that all the changes are written to the USB stick, click on the

[[!img lib/media-eject.png alt="Eject" class="symbolic" link="no"]]

button in the title bar.

Resetting a Tails USB stick from itself

If Tails is your only Linux system, you can generally reset a Tails USB stick directly from that USB stick while running Tails.