How to Perform WD SSD Secure Erase Easily on Windows 10/11

Need to Secure Erase SSD on Windows 10

For different reasons, you may want to perform a WD SSD Secure Erase. For example, you want to sell/give away your old PC, or the drive inside. You need to securely erase your SSD or hard drive so that the next person can't access your files. Your drive may have sensitive files on it that contain everything from passwords to photos to financial information that a nefarious person could use to steal your identity.

Best Method to Secure Erase SSD on Windows 10

If you simply delete the files on your hard drive, this does not make it disappear completely. The operating system will simply delete the pointers to each deleted file, leaving all the bits in place until the drive needs that space to store new data and overwrite it. But this can take years, or, if you have a lot of free space, it will never happen.

As a result, many users want to find a reliable way to erase data from their hard drives before discarding or transferring their computers or hard drives. In this article, we will use Western Digital as an example to teach you how to perform a WD Blue SSD secure erase.

To facilitate you to erase all the data on your hard disk quickly and safely, it is recommended that you seek the help of third-party software. AOMEI Backupper Pro is erasing software designed for all Windows PCs, including Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP. It has the following special features:

AOMEI Backupper

Easy Reliable WD SSD Erase Tool

• It helps you to erase selected partitions or unallocated space to free up space, and the erased data will not be recoverable.

• It supports wiping USB drives, hard drives, and SD cards. All brands of disks are supported, including Western Digital, Samsung, SanDisk, etc.

• You can enjoy multiple secure wiping methods such as DoD 52220.22-M (with 7 passes) or Gutmann (with 35 passes).

• In addition to the erase function, it also provides you with backup, restore, clone, sync, etc. You can backup important files before erasing the WD SSD.

Download Demo
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

100% Secure

Steps to Secure Erase WD SSD via Powerful Software

Here, I will show how to perform WD SSD secure erase by AOMEI Backupper. Download this software above and launch it. Deleted data is not recoverable, you can backup your files first to protect the important data you don't want to lose.

1. Make sure that the WD SSD you want to erase is connected to your computer and can be detected.
2. Launch AOMEI Backupper on your computer. Click "Tools" on the left panel and select "Disk Wipe" on the right side.

2. Then you will be asked to select the type of erase you want. If you want to erase everything from your Western Digital SSD, select "Wipe Disk" to delete all partitions and erase all sectors on the disk.

3. Select the hard drive you want to wipe data and click Next to continue.

4. On the Wiping Method page, choose Fill sectors with Zero. Then click Start to begin the zero-filling process.

5. You will then be taken to the erase process page. If you want to stop the process, you can click Cancel in the right corner. When the operation is complete, click Finish.

Note✍:
◉ If you want to erase the current system disk or the C drive where Windows is installed, the software will reboot to WinPE to operate. You will not be able to enter the system after completion.
◉ This function does not support wiping dynamic disks.

Perform WD SSD Secure Erase by WD SSD Dashboard

For WD SSD secure erase, you can also do it by using the WD SSD Dashboard. Follow these instructions carefully to avoid errors or data loss：

Notes:✎...

Before that, please visit the WD SSD Dashboard website and download the software. Then, install the software on your Windows PC.

Step 1: Install and Open the WD SSD Dashboard

• Once the WD SSD Dashboard is installed, open the application.
• If you have multiple drives connected, make sure the WD SSD you want to erase is selected.

Step 2: Verify Your SSD Health and Back-Up

• In the WD SSD Dashboard, go to the Drive Health section to ensure your drive is functioning normally. If your SSD is showing signs of physical failure, it might not be able to go through the Secure Erase process.
• Double-check that all important data has been backed up.

Step 3: Enable Secure Erase

• On the main screen of the WD SSD Dashboard, locate the Erase tab. Select the Secure Erase option.
• You may be asked to confirm the action before proceeding. This step is crucial, as once the process begins, your data will be permanently wiped.

Step 4: Begin the Secure Erase Process

• Click Erase Now, and the software will begin the Secure Erase process.
• The process can take several minutes to complete depending on the size and type of SSD.

Step 5: Wait for Completion

• The software will notify you once the process is finished. At this point, your SSD has been securely erased and reset to its factory state.

What is Secure Erase and Why Do It?

What is Secure Erase?

Secure Erase is a built-in feature supported by most modern SSDs, including WD SSDs, that allows you to completely erase all data from the drive. This feature utilizes the controller inside the SSD to remove data in a way that standard deletion methods can’t. It ensures that even with advanced data recovery tools, the data cannot be recovered.

When you perform a Secure Erase, it essentially resets the SSD to its factory state, erasing all information, including the files, operating system, and any residual data that might have been left behind after regular deletion.

Why Perform a Secure Erase on Your WD SSD?

Data Security: When selling or donating your SSD, it's crucial to make sure that your personal or sensitive data is irrecoverable.

Troubleshooting: If your SSD is running slow or showing signs of failure, a Secure Erase can refresh the drive and potentially restore performance.

Recycling: Before disposing of your SSD, a Secure Erase ensures you're not leaving behind anything sensitive or important.

Conclusion

This article provides you with detailed instructions on how to perform a WD SSD secure erase, so if you need to, just follow the steps directly. This reliable software will ensure that the erased data will not be recovered.

You can also use this software to migrate data or systems on WD SSDs. If you are migrating a system, it is guaranteed that you will be able to boot successfully from the cloned disk and you will not encounter any problems.