4 Methods To USB Drive Recovery [2023]

Updated on Jun 14, 2024 | by Edwards

Quick Navigation:

Part 1. What Causes USB Flash Drive Corruption
Part 2. How to USB flash drive recovery without Software
Method 1. Perform USB Data Recovery Using Command Prompt
Method 2. Recover Lost Files from USB with Backup
Method 3. Use the Restore Previous Versions Feature
Part 3. How to USB drive recovery with Qiling Software
Your Effective USB Drive Recovery Software
FAQ for How to Recover Files from USB Flash Drive
How to recover deleted files from a flash drive without Software?
Where do deleted files from a USB drive go?
How to fix a damaged USB flash drive?
How to recover deleted files from usb flash drive on mac?

You can retrieve a USB drive by following the steps outlined on this page, which provides a comprehensive guide on how to recover USB files safely. Scroll down to learn how to recover your lost data.

Losing files on a USB drive can be frustrating, especially when it's due to unintentional deletion, formatting, malware, or disconnection during data transfer. If you've lost files on your USB drive, don't worry, as there are solutions available to recover your data.

Here are four techniques for regaining access to your files: for the easiest, download Qiling USB recovery for Mac or Windows PC, which will help you restore the files and get you back up and running in no time.

Part 1. What Causes USB Flash Drive Corruption

Data on a USB flash drive may be lost due to various issues, including physical damage, software corruption, power surges, malware, and human error, which can result in data loss from the drive.

Deleting files from a USB flash drive doesn't show up in the recycling or trash bin.
Files are being lost during transfer from a USB drive to another device due to unknown reasons.
Forgetting to unplug the USB drive after shutting down the computer led to the accidental deletion of some files.
When a virus or malware infects a USB flash drive, it can cause files to become hidden or deleted, rendering the drive unusable.
If the files on the USB drive become inaccessible for any reason, you can try to recover them by using a data recovery software. There are many free and paid options available, such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, and Disk Drill.

Part 2. How to USB flash drive recovery without Software

Losing files on a USB drive can be frustrating, but there are methods to recover them without using software.

Method 1. Perform USB Data Recovery Using Command Prompt

To recover data from a USB device using the Command Prompt, you can follow a more hands-on approach, but it has limitations, such as only working on hidden files.

To connect your USB drive to the PC, simply insert the USB drive into an available USB port on your computer. The port is usually located on the front or back of the computer, and it looks like a small rectangular slot.
Next, run the "Command Prompt" as an administrator.
In the "Command Prompt" screen, type the command `attrib b -h -r -s /s /d F:\*.*` and press Enter, replacing "F" with the actual drive letter of your USB flash drive. This command will remove the hidden, read-only, and system attributes from all files and folders on the drive.

You will be able to see hidden files on your USB drive after completing the steps.

Method 2. Recover Lost Files from USB with Backup

If you made a backup of the lost data, you can restore the information with a 100% success rate. To do this, locate the backup file, follow the instructions to restore it, and the data should be recovered.

To restore your USB backup data, start by locating the backup files on your computer or external storage device where you saved them.
Now, locate and select your lost data from the backup.
The data is being copied and saved to the USB drive. The process is complete.

Method 3. Use the Restore Previous Versions Feature

The Restore previous versions feature in Windows allows you to recover deleted files without third-party apps, but only if it was enabled before deletion.

Here's how to do it:

First, attach your "USB Drive" to the PC.
To access "This PC" on your computer, start by scrolling to the "Start Menu". In the search box, type "This PC" and then press the enter button.
Now, right-click on your "USB Drive" and tap on the "Properties" option.
Scroll to the "Previous Versions" tab and search for all available recovery options.

To restore your iPhone, select the version you want to restore from and tap on "Restore".

If you don't notice any previous versions, it indicates you won't be able to utilize this approach to USB drive recovery. In that case, we recommend moving on to the following part, which is guaranteed to function no matter what.

Part 3. How to USB drive recovery with Qiling Software

If you're looking for reliable software to recover data from a USB drive, eep Data Recovery is the ultimate solution. It can effectively retrieve all crucial files and folders from your USB hard disc drives, as well as undelete items from USB flash devices.Deep Data Recovery is the ultimate solution. It can effectively retrieve all crucial files and folders from your USB hard disc drives, as well as undelete items from USB flash devices.

This software can recover data from various devices, including pen drives, and other removable media drives, such as compact flash, secure digital cards, and flash memory, and even recover deleted files that were permanently deleted by hitting the Shift+Del keys or clearing the recycle bin.

Your Effective USB Drive Recovery Software

It can restore various types of files, including photos, documents, music, and videos, from a USB or pen drive, after they have been deleted, formatted, or lost due to a virus attack.
To ensure near-perfect USB drive data recovery, two scan modes are available: a Quick Scan for faster results and a Deep Scan for a more thorough recovery.
You can recover deleted files from a flash drive on Mac and Windows 11/10/7/8/XP with full compatibility.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Here are the simple steps to recover data from a USB drive:

Connect your USB drive to your computer and ensure it is recognized. Then, download and install Qiling undelete or unformat USB software on your computer.
Now launch the USB drive data recovery software.
Select the USB drive and tap on "Scan" to perform USB drive data recovery.

During scanning, the software identifies files, which are then organized by category on the left. If the desired files are found, the scan can be stopped. Users can preview and recover the files to their PC by clicking "Recover".

If you've lost essential files from a USB drive, don't panic - recovery is possible. We've outlined four methods, including using a professional-grade data recovery solution like Qiling, to help you get your files back. By following our instructions, you can save the day and recover your lost data.

FAQ for How to Recover Files from USB Flash Drive

How to recover deleted files from a flash drive without Software?

The Previous Versions feature in Windows allows you to recover deleted files from a flash drive without needing software, but only if you had activated it before losing the data. To do this, right-click on the USB flash drive, select Properties, and navigate to the Previous Versions tab.

Where do deleted files from a USB drive go?

Deleted files on a USB drive remain physically present on the device, taking up storage space, until they are overwritten. This means that using USB recovery software, deleted files can often be recovered, even after they have been deleted from the device.

How to fix a damaged USB flash drive?

Fixing a physically damaged USB flash drive is a challenging process that often requires removing the flash memory chip and placing it on a new circuit board, a task that may be best left to a professional data recovery center.

How to recover deleted files from usb flash drive on mac?

On a Mac, recovering deleted files from a USB flash drive is less straightforward than on a Windows PC. One option is to check the trash can for the deleted files. Alternatively, you can use Deep Data Recovery for Mac to recover lost and deleted files from the USB flash drive.

Connect the USB flash drive with your Mac.
Download and install the data recovery software on Mac.
launch the data recovery software and click "Next".
Select the USB flash drive to scan and click "Scan" in the next step.
After scanning, select the needed files from the scanning result window, click "Recover" to save them on your Mac, skipping saving on the USB flash drive.