dvd+rw-format

dvd+rw-format [options] <device>

-blank[=full|fast]
    Blank disc contents. fast (default) skips VAS; full erases completely.

-format[=full|minimal]
    Format disc for recording. Automatic on first use; full rewrites descriptor.

-capacity
    Query and print disc capacity in sectors/MB.

-force
    Override safety checks for risky operations.

-gui
    Emit progress/status lines for GUI frontends.

-lead-out
    Write lead-out to finalize disc (close session).

-prealloc[=<MB>]
    Preallocate space before burn; default uses full capacity.

-quiet
    Minimal output; suppress non-errors.

-use-capacity=<sectors>
    Limit usable capacity to specified sectors.

dvd+rw-format is a command-line tool from the dvd+rw-tools package for formatting and blanking DVD+RW, DVD+R, and DVD+R9 (double-layer) discs.

It prepares optical media for recording with Linux tools like growisofs(1), handling low-level formatting. For DVD+RW, it overwrites the disc with a new medium descriptor, enabling full capacity, random-access overwrites, and compatibility with software. DVD+R requires conversion to sequential or overwrite modes; DVD+R9 supports layer-break settings.

Media detection is automatic. Operations like blanking erase data (fast skips VAS, full erases everything). Formatting is often automatic but can be forced. Capacity queries help plan burns. Requires root and correct device (e.g., /dev/sr0 via lsscsi or lsblk).

Supports MMC-compliant drives; results vary by firmware.

Destroys all data irreversibly. Verify device with lsblk. Root required. Unsupported on DVD-R/DVD-RW. Drive/firmware compatibility issues possible; test media first.

dvd+rw-format /dev/sr0
Auto-detect, format if needed.

dvd+rw-format -blank=full -force /dev/sr0
Fully erase disc.

dvd+rw-format -capacity /dev/sr0
Check available space.

DVD+RW (rewritable), DVD+R (sequential/overwrite), DVD+R9 (DL). Blank DVD+R acts as +RW-like.

Created by Andy Polyakov in dvd+rw-tools (2002). Enhanced for DVD+R9 support (2004). Maintained until ~2016; stable for modern kernels/drives.

dvd+rw-mediainfo(1), growisofs(1), dvd+rw-booktype(1), cdrdao(1)