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 USB drive recovery. Scroll down to learn how to safely recover your USB files.

Have you ever accidentally deleted files on your USB drive, perhaps while transferring data or due to formatting, malware, or other issues? Don't worry, you're not alone - it's easy to lose files unintentionally. If you've lost files on your USB drive, there are solutions available to help you recover them.

Here are four techniques for regaining access to your files: 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 reasons, including physical damage, formatting, virus attacks, power surges, and human error, which can result in data loss due to accidental deletion, overwriting, or corruption of files.

Deleting files from a USB flash drive cannot be easily recovered from the recycling or trash bin.
Files are lost during transfer from a USB drive to another device due to unknown reasons, leading to frustration and data loss.
The computer user forgot to unplug the USB drive after closing down the computer, which 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.
If the files on the USB drive become inaccessible for any reason, it may be due to a physical issue such as a faulty USB drive, a corrupted file system, or a software issue such as a virus or malware infection. In such cases, the USB drive may not be recognized by the computer, or the files may appear as empty or corrupted.

Part 2. How to USB flash drive recovery without Software

Losing files on a USB drive can be a frustrating experience, but there are ways to recover them without relying on software.

Method 1. Perform USB Data Recovery Using Command Prompt

The first method to recover data from a USB device is using the Command Prompt, which requires a hands-on approach and only works on hidden files, posing a limitation.

I'll wait while you do that. Once you've connected it, open a File Explorer window and navigate to the drive where your USB drive is located.
Next, run the "Command Prompt" as an administrator.
Once the "Command Prompt" screen opens, type the command "attrib b -h -r -s /s /d F:\*.*" (where F is your USB flash drive) and hit "Enter" to remove the hidden, read-only, and system attributes from all files and folders on the drive.

To see hidden files on your "USB" drive, first go to the device itself and press the power button. Then, navigate to the settings menu, and select the option to view hidden files.

Method 2. Recover Lost Files from USB with Backup

1. Connect your device to the computer using a USB cable. 2.

Locate your USB backup data on your computer or external storage device.
Now, locate and select your lost data from the backup.
To summarize, copy and save the data to the "USB Drive".

Method 3. Use the Restore Previous Versions Feature

The Restore previous versions feature in modern Windows operating systems allows you to recover deleted files without third-party applications, but only if you enabled it before deleting the files.

Here's how to do it:

First, attach your "USB Drive" to the PC.
To access the "This PC" folder, start by scrolling to the "Start Menu" and typing "This PC" in the search box, then hit the enter button.
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 finish the process, select the version you want to restore 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 the best USB drive recovery software, the ultimate solution is eep Data Recovery, which can recover all crucial files and folders from your USB hard disc drives as well as undelete items from USB flash devices.Deep Data Recovery, which can recover 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. It can also help recover deleted files, even those permanently deleted, from devices like music players, pocket PCs, and more.

Your Effective USB Drive Recovery Software

(Trust Score 4.7 by 2693 Users)

It can easily restore lost files from a USB/pen drive due to deletion, formatting, virus attacks, or other data loss scenarios, including photos, documents, music, and videos.
To ensure near-perfect USB drive data recovery, two scan modes are available: Quick Scan and Deep Scan. These modes allow users to choose the level of thoroughness in their search for recoverable data, catering to different needs and preferences.
Fully compatible with Mac and Windows 11/10/7/8/XP, this tool can recover deleted files from a flash drive.

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

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

To recover data from a corrupted USB drive, connect it to your computer and ensure it's recognized. Then, download and install Qiling undelete or unformat USB software on your computer.
Now launch the USB drive data recovery software.
To recover data from a USB drive, select the drive and tap on "Scan" to initiate the recovery process.

The software scans for files and organizes them into categories on the left side. If the desired files are found, the scanning process can be stopped and the files can be previewed and recovered to the PC by clicking "Recover".

Just because you've lost essential files doesn't mean you can't recover them. We've outlined four methods for a USB drive recovery, including a professional-grade data recovery solution called Qiling, and it's now up to you to follow our instructions and save the day.

FAQ for How to Recover Files from USB Flash Drive

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

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

Where do deleted files from a USB drive go?

When you delete a file from a USB drive, the file itself doesn't actually disappear - it's still physically present on the device. Instead, the storage space it occupied is simply labeled as empty. This means that, unless new data has been written over it, you can potentially recover the deleted file using USB recovery software.

How to fix a damaged USB flash drive?

It's difficult to repair a physically damaged USB flash drive, often requiring removal of the flash memory chip and reinstallation on a new circuit board. If unsure, it's recommended to take the drive 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 not as straightforward as on a Windows PC. However, two methods can be used to retrieve lost data: checking the Trash can for the deleted files, or utilizing a data recovery software like Deep Data Recovery for Mac to recover 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" to proceed.
After scanning, select the found files and click "Recover" to save them on your Mac. Do not save them on the USB flash drive.