If you need to perform SSD data recovery, our walkthrough will guide you through the process. Data recovery from an SSD is not always as straightforward as recovering files from a traditional HDD, because of how modern SSDs handle deleted data. But our in-house data recovery team has plenty of experience working with SSDs, so we’ve organized the most reliable approaches into a simple, practical guide that anyone can follow.
What Exactly Makes SSD Recovery Tricky?
TRIM is an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) command that helps your SSD manage data more efficiently. Unlike HDDs, SSDs do not retain data for a very long time after it is deleted. This is due to TRIM. Once a file is deleted, the SSD immediately marks the space as available for new data, and TRIM speeds up the erasure process.
Now, is this good for SSD data recovery? Not at all. When data is erased (after being issued by a TRIM command), that data is essentially gone for good, whereas if TRIM wasn’t enabled, it would only be erased when new data is ready to take its place.
This is why the chances of recovering data from an SSD depend heavily on what happened to the files, where the SSD is installed, whether TRIM was active, and what you did with the drive afterward.
What Are Your Chances of Recovering Data From an SSD?
The situation can vary considerably. Use this table below as a rough guide:
| Scenario | Recovery chances | What you should do |
| You deleted files from an internal SSD | Low to moderate | Stop using the computer as soon as possible. TRIM is commonly active on internal SSDs, so the longer the system remains in use, the greater the chance that the deleted data will be cleared. Try using data recovery software to scan the SSD. |
| You deleted files from an external SSD | Moderate to good (in some cases) | Stop writing to the drive and scan it. TRIM support on external SSDs depends on the operating system, connection type, and USB enclosure, so deleted data may still be recoverable using SSD data recovery software. |
| You formatted an SSD | Impossible to low | Formatting an SSD triggers TRIM. If TRIM reaches the SSD, recovery will become impossible. However, recovery can still be possible if TRIM was disabled; in that case, scan it with data recovery software. |
| The SSD became RAW, corrupted, or its partition disappeared | Often good if the problem is logical | Do not format or initialize the drive. If the SSD is still detected with the correct capacity, data recovery software may be able to recover files. |
| The SSD is detected, but Windows or macOS asks you to format it | Moderate to good | Do not accept the format prompt. Scan the existing drive first. |
| The SSD is not detected at all or shows the wrong capacity | Poor for DIY recovery | Software cannot help if the operating system cannot “communicate” with the SSD correctly. If the data is important, consider a professional recovery service. |
| The SSD has a hardware or controller failure | Poor for DIY recovery | Avoid repeated power cycles or repair attempts. SSD hardware recovery is considerably more complex than HDD recovery and usually requires specialist equipment. Consider a professional recovery service. |
As you can see, the chances of successful SSD data recovery can vary widely from one situation to another, but don’t let that discourage you. The only way to know for sure whether your data can still be recovered is to actually scan the drive and see what remains. That’s exactly what we’re going to do next.
How to Recover Files From an SSD
It’s easy to recover deleted files from an SSD drive nowadays because data recovery software is available at your fingertips. However, this is assuming you’ve got an SSD data recovery tool that’s both (a) easy to use, and (b) effective at recovering data in your specific situation.
For this walkthrough, we’ll use Disk Drill. It works well for both SATA and M.2 SSDs, including those using NVMe. Because it works directly with the drive, it can make use of file system records to locate deleted data. If the file system isn’t usable, it will instead identify data by its unique file signature, which gives you a good chance of recovery no matter the case.
We’ve split this into a three-step process that’s super simple to follow. This is how you perform SSD hard drive recovery using Disk Drill:
Step 1. Disconnect Drive and Connect Externally
Your first priority is to prevent any further activity on the SSD. If the lost files were on your system drive, shut the computer down as soon as possible and avoid booting from that SSD again.
If the SSD can be removed, connect it to another computer as a secondary drive. For an M.2 or SATA SSD, the easiest option is usually a compatible USB enclosure or adapter. This lets you access the SSD without running the OS installed on it and reduces the amount of activity on the drive.
If possible, mount or access the SSD in read-only mode while you work with it. This helps prevent accidental writes during recovery. (Keep in mind, however, that read-only access cannot reverse any TRIM commands that were already issued before the drive was disconnected.)
If the SSD is soldered to the motherboard (or removing it is impractical), leave it in place and continue with the next step.
Step 2. Disable TRIM
Now we want to disable TRIM to make sure it doesn’t run while we’re trying to recover the data. Although the likelihood of TRIM being able to run over the USB protocol is unlikely, it’s a good idea to try it anyway.
TRIM can be disabled by running just one command:
fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 1
You’ll need to use a terminal application for this. Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Terminal are all great options. Here’s how you can disable TRIM:
- Right-click Start and click Terminal (Admin).
- Run the command.
fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 1
macOS does include the trimforce utility, but it is intended primarily to control TRIM on third-party AHCI SSDs and requires a restart to apply changes. It does not provide a dependable way to disable TRIM on every Mac SSD, particularly Apple-supplied internal storage.
Step 3. Recover Files from SSD
Now it’s time to get data off the SSD drive. As long as the drive is detected in Disk Management on Windows or Disk Utility on macOS and shows roughly the correct storage capacity, you can scan it with data recovery software even if the file system itself is damaged or the drive no longer opens normally. With software like Disk Drill, data recovery just takes a few clicks.
I was editing last night and everything was fine. I tried to finish this morning and all my files were corrupted on the SSD. Thank god for Disk Drill. SAVED MY BUTT
— Ian (@ianmahan03) January 29, 2024
Here’s how to recover data from an SSD using Disk Drill:
- Download and install Disk Drill.
- Select the SSD and click Search for lost data. If Disk Drill asks which scan type you want to use, choose Universal Scan. It combines multiple recovery methods in a single scan.
- Click Review found items at any point during the scan. Alternatively, you can click one of the colored file type icons to filter the results, or click Recover all to restore everything at once.
- Preview and select the files you want to recover from the SSD.
A successful preview is the best indication that a file has survived intact. If a photo, video, or document opens correctly in the preview and its contents look normal, there’s a solid chance it will be recovered successfully. You can also check the Recovery Chances column, which estimates how likely each file is to be recovered based on its current condition.
(However, don’t assume that a file is unrecoverable just because you don’t see a preview of it. In some cases, the problem is simply that your OS doesn’t have a compatible viewer or codec installed for that file type. If the file is important, select it for recovery anyway and check the recovered copy afterward.) - When you’re ready to proceed, click Recover.
- Select a recovery location on a separate drive. Do not restore the files to the same SSD you’re recovering from, since writing new data to it can overwrite other recoverable files. (Disk Drill will mark the affected drive with a warning to help prevent you from accidentally choosing it as the destination.)
Click Next.
DIY Solid-State Drive Data Recovery vs. Professional Services
For many common SSD data loss scenarios, DIY recovery with reputable data recovery software is enough. This is especially true when SSD files were accidentally deleted, a partition was lost, the file system became corrupted, or the SSD was formatted but is still detected correctly by the computer.
It’s also important to set realistic expectations. If a recovery scan cannot find the files because TRIM has already cleared the underlying blocks, or because new data has overwritten them, a professional recovery lab usually won’t be able to bring them back either. (Once the original data no longer physically exists on the SSD, there is nothing left for software or specialized hardware to recover.)
Professional SSD recovery makes more sense when the problem is hardware-related rather than purely logical. SSDs can fail because of controller damage, electrical faults, firmware problems, or physical damage. In these situations, specialized equipment and experience may allow a recovery lab to access data that regular recovery software cannot reach.
Use the table below as a rough guide to decide whether it makes more sense to try DIY SSD recovery or go straight to a professional data recovery service:
| Situation | DIY Recovery | Professional Service |
| Accidentally deleted files | ✅ Start here | Usually unnecessary |
| Emptied Recycle Bin or Trash | ✅ Start here | Usually unnecessary unless the drive also has hardware problems |
| Accidentally formatted SSD | ✅ Start here | Consider if software cannot access the drive |
| Lost or corrupted partition | ✅ Good first option | Consider if the SSD behaves abnormally |
| SSD appears as RAW but shows the correct capacity | ✅ Start with software | Consider if the drive becomes unstable |
| Deleted data was overwritten by new files | Usually unrecoverable | A lab cannot recover data that no longer physically exists |
| SSD disconnects, freezes, or repeatedly disappears | ⚠️ Avoid repeated scans | ✅ Recommended |
| SSD is not detected or shows the wrong capacity | Software cannot help | ✅ Recommended |
| Controller, firmware, or NAND failure | Not practical for DIY recovery | ✅ Recommended |
| SSD has physical or electrical damage | Do not keep powering it on | ✅ Recommended |
A good rule of thumb is simple: if the SSD is detected normally, reports the correct capacity, and remains stable, try data recovery software first. It’s much simpler and definitely cheaper than going straight to a professional recovery service. But if your situation falls outside the DIY recovery zone and you do need professional help, you can find several great options in our list of the best data recovery services.
Conclusion
Solid-state drive recovery is definitely possible, but the outcome depends on several factors, including TRIM, how much the SSD was used after the data was lost, and whether the problem is logical or hardware-related. SSD recovery is not always as straightforward as recovery from a traditional hard drive. But still, it’s worth repeating that recovery is often possible. The general approach is simple: use specialized recovery software such as Disk Drill, scan the SSD, review the results, preview the files that are still physically available, and recover them to a safe location on another drive.
If the SSD is detected correctly and remains stable, this is usually the best place to start.
FAQ
Yes, you can recover data from an SSD after format. However, some factors, such as TRIM, can impact the recoverability of your data. If TRIM was enabled (which is the case with most internal SSDs nowadays), your chances are near zero.
Starting with the 2004 release, Windows 10 will list the type of drive in the task manager. Another method is by way of the Windows Drive Optimizer, which will clearly report whether a drive is HDD or SSD. To open this utility, press the Windows key and search for “optimize.” Select Defragment and optimize your drives. Windows Drive Optimizer will list out the type of drive in the Media Type column.
The tools you use are the same (you’ll still need data recovery software to scan the SSD) but the chances of successful recovery can be very different.
The main reason is TRIM. Internal SSDs usually have TRIM enabled, which means deleted data can be marked for cleanup very quickly and may become unrecoverable once the SSD clears those blocks.
External SSDs can be different. Depending on the OS, enclosure, controller, and connection type, TRIM or UNMAP commands may not always be passed to the SSD over USB Type-A or USB-C. In those cases, deleted files may remain physically present for longer and can have a better chance of being recovered.
On average, professional SSD data recovery can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to well over $1,000, depending on the type of failure and how much work is required.
Logical issues such as accidental deletion, formatting, or file system corruption are usually cheaper to handle. Hardware-related problems involving the controller, firmware, NAND memory, or physical damage tend to cost much more because they require specialized equipment and more complex recovery work.
Most professional recovery labs will first diagnose the SSD and provide a quote before starting the actual recovery.
Not necessarily. If you already scanned the SSD with reputable data recovery software and the deleted files were not found at all, there is a good chance that TRIM has already cleared the data or new activity has overwritten it.
In that situation, a professional recovery service may not be able to help either, because even specialized equipment cannot recover data that is no longer physically present on the SSD.
