{"id":27649,"date":"2020-01-15T00:48:56","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T00:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=27649"},"modified":"2025-02-08T19:06:40","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T19:06:40","slug":"3-ways-to-recover-deleted-files-from-a-usb-drive-on-windows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from a USB Flash Drive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever unplugged a USB drive while some files were still transferring only to discover that you\u2019ve lost not just the files that were still in transfer but also files that were already on the USB drive? You certainly wouldn\u2019t be the first person in the world, which is why we\u2019ve decided to put together 4 ways how to recover deleted files from USB drives.<\/p>\r\n<p><img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53319 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/delete-files-from-USB-drive.jpg\" alt=\"how to recover deleted files from a usb flash drive\" width=\"2209\" height=\"1221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/delete-files-from-USB-drive.jpg 2209w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/delete-files-from-USB-drive-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/delete-files-from-USB-drive-500x276.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/delete-files-from-USB-drive-768x425.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/delete-files-from-USB-drive-1536x849.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/delete-files-from-USB-drive-2048x1132.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2209px) 100vw, 2209px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"reasons_for_usb_data_loss\"><\/span>Reasons for USB Data Loss<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>USB drive data loss most commonly happens because users accidentally delete the wrong file or format the wrong storage device. It can also happen due to improper USB flash drive removal, file system corruption, file name attribute changes, malware, and hardware damage\/failure.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">The good news is that in many cases, recovery is possible using different methods depending on the specific scenario and extent of data loss.<\/div>\r\n<p>That said, there are certain things you need to do to guarantee that you can successfully recover deleted files from flash drives:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>&#x2757; <b>Stop using the flash drive immediately<\/b> after discovering that your data has been lost.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f50c; <b>Safely disconnect the flash drive <\/b>from your computer and store it somewhere safe until you have time to start the <a href=\"\/usb-flash-drive-recovery.html\">USB data recovery process<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f4be; If possible, <b>make a byte-to-byte (b2b) copy<\/b> of the entire USB flash drive before attempting any recovery. Having a complete backup of the drive is especially important if the drive shows signs of physical damage and could stop working during your recovery attempts.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Use the table below to quickly identify the most suitable recovery method based on your specific data loss scenario so that you can learn how to recover pendrive data as quickly and painlessly as possible:<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"table_wrapper table_heading\"><p><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Data Loss Scenario<\/td>\r\n<td>Recommended Recovery Methods<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x2753; Accidental deletion<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Try using <a href=\"#data_recovery_software\">data recovery software<\/a> &#x2705; for best results.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Check <a href=\"#restore_previous_versions\">Windows Previous Versions<\/a> if file history was enabled.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x267b; Formatted drive<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Use <a href=\"#data_recovery_software\">specialized data recovery software<\/a> for deep scanning.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Check <a href=\"#restore_previous_versions\">Windows Previous Versions<\/a> if you have a recent backup.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f50c; Improper removal<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>If files missing, use <a href=\"#data_recovery_software\">data recovery software<\/a> for thorough scanning.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Run <a href=\"#cmd_recovery\">CHKDSK command<\/a> to fix file system errors.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f627; File System corruption<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Start with <a href=\"#data_recovery_software\">data recovery software<\/a> for any remaining lost files.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Then use <a href=\"#cmd_recovery\">CHKDSK repair command<\/a> to fix corruption.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f47b; Hidden files<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Use <a href=\"#cmd_recovery\">ATTRIB command<\/a> to reveal hidden files and restore attributes.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f41c; Malware attack<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Run a complete antivirus scan first to remove threats<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Then use <a href=\"#data_recovery_software\">data recovery software<\/a> to restore affected files.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f4a5; Hardware failure<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Try <a href=\"#data_recovery_software\">data recovery software<\/a> if drive is still detected by system<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Contact professional recovery service if drive isn&#8217;t recognized.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x26d4; Physical damage<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Contact professional data recovery service immediately (DIY repairs not recommended).<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p><\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_deleted_files_from_a_usb_drive_without_software\"><\/span>How to Recover Deleted Files from a USB Drive without Software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Before exploring data recovery tools, it\u2019s insightful to utilize built-in commands for specific USB recovery scenarios. The CMD <b>attrib<\/b> command can be used for uncovering hidden files, often a quick fix for seemingly lost data. Meanwhile, <b>chkdsk<\/b> tackles file system errors on corrupted drives, effectively setting things straight.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_use_the_restore_previous_versions_feature\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 1:<\/span> <span id=\"restore_previous_versions\">Use the Restore Previous Versions Feature<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>The Restore Previous Versions feature (available in Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11) can help recover deleted files without third-party tools. However, the method only works if you set up File History before data loss occurred and manually added the flash drive to File History by including it in your Windows Libraries or pinning specific files to Favorites.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x2139;&#xfe0f; If you don\u2019t remember any of this, then prepare to be disappointed because USB flash drives are not backed up by default and, to make things worse, recent Windows versions only support File History backup for external drives with the NTFS file system (most USB flash drives use FAT32 or exFAT).<\/div>\r\n<p>Still, it doesn\u2019t take much time at all to check, and you can always continue with <a href=\"#data_recovery_software\">data recovery software<\/a> if this one doesn\u2019t work for you.<\/p>\r\n<p>To recover deleted data from a USB flash drive:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Open Windows Control Panel and navigate to <b>System and Security<\/b> and then <b>Save backup copies of your files with File History<\/b>. This is the only way to access previous versions in the latest version of Windows.\u00a0<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53320 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-file-history-in-control-panel.jpg\" alt=\"Open File History in Control Panel\" width=\"2083\" height=\"1168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-file-history-in-control-panel.jpg 2083w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-file-history-in-control-panel-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-file-history-in-control-panel-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-file-history-in-control-panel-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-file-history-in-control-panel-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-file-history-in-control-panel-2048x1148.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2083px) 100vw, 2083px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Look for and click the <b>Restore personal files<\/b> button in the left pane. This will open the recovery interface where you can browse through available backups.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53326 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-personal-files-in-file-history.jpg\" alt=\"restore personal files in file history menu\" width=\"2083\" height=\"1168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-personal-files-in-file-history.jpg 2083w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-personal-files-in-file-history-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-personal-files-in-file-history-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-personal-files-in-file-history-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-personal-files-in-file-history-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-personal-files-in-file-history-2048x1148.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2083px) 100vw, 2083px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Navigate to the library or folder where your USB flash drive was previously added.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53321 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-library-in-file-history.jpg\" alt=\"Open Library with your USB flash drive\" width=\"2083\" height=\"1168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-library-in-file-history.jpg 2083w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-library-in-file-history-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-library-in-file-history-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-library-in-file-history-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-library-in-file-history-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-library-in-file-history-2048x1148.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2083px) 100vw, 2083px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Browse through the available backup versions using the timeline controls. Select the specific files and folders you want to restore from your USB drive.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter size-full wp-image-53325\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-files-from-USB-drive-with-file-history.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2083\" height=\"1168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-files-from-USB-drive-with-file-history.jpg 2083w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-files-from-USB-drive-with-file-history-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-files-from-USB-drive-with-file-history-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-files-from-USB-drive-with-file-history-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-files-from-USB-drive-with-file-history-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-files-from-USB-drive-with-file-history-2048x1148.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2083px) 100vw, 2083px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Finally, click the green <b>Restore<\/b> button to recover your selected files to their original location. You can then open File Explorer and navigate to the recovery location\u2014your files should be there.\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; If you see no previous versions, it means that you can\u2019t use this method to recover deleted files from your flash drive. In that case, we recommend you move on to the <a href=\"#data_recovery_software\">third method<\/a>, which is guaranteed to work no matter what.<\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_recover_deleted_files_from_a_usb_drive_using_cmd\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 2:<\/span> <span id=\"cmd_recovery\">Recover Deleted Files from a USB Drive Using CMD<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Command Prompt (CMD) offers two built-in commands that can help recover access to your files from your USB drive without any third-party tools:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><code>chkdsk<\/code> identifies and fixes file system errors<\/li>\r\n\t<li><code>attrib<\/code> reveals hidden files that might appear deleted<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The two tools can help in situations where files appear to be mysteriously deleted but have actually just become inaccessible due to file system errors, corruption, or attribute changes.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; <b>Important:<\/b> If your flash drive contains important data, we strongly recommend <a href=\"\/help\/dmg-iso-backup.html\">creating a byte-to-byte clone<\/a> of the drive using a free tool like the drive backup feature in Disk Drill.<\/div>\r\n<p>To recover files from a USB flash drive using Command Prompt:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Connect the USB flash drive to your computer.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Press <b>Windows<\/b> + <b>X<\/b> and select <b>Terminal (Admin)<\/b> or <b>Command Prompt (Admin)<\/b>.<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53322 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-terminal-windows-11.jpg\" alt=\"open terminal app on Windows 11\" width=\"2197\" height=\"1281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-terminal-windows-11.jpg 2197w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-terminal-windows-11-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-terminal-windows-11-500x292.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-terminal-windows-11-768x448.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-terminal-windows-11-1536x896.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/open-terminal-windows-11-2048x1194.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2197px) 100vw, 2197px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Type <code>chkdsk X: \/f<\/code> (replace X with your drive letter) to tell <b>chkdsk<\/b> to fix any errors it finds on your USB flash drive. Wait for the scan and repairs to complete. <img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53328 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-chkdsk-command.jpg\" alt=\"Run chkdsk command on USB flash drive\" width=\"2265\" height=\"1269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-chkdsk-command.jpg 2265w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-chkdsk-command-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-chkdsk-command-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-chkdsk-command-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-chkdsk-command-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-chkdsk-command-2048x1147.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2265px) 100vw, 2265px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Then, type <code>ATTRIB -H -R -S \/S \/D X:*.*<\/code> and hit the Enter key (again, replace X with the drive letter of the USB drive). This removes Hidden, Read-only, and System attributes from all files across all folders and subfolders. <img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53327 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-attrib-command.jpg\" alt=\"run attrib command on USB drive\" width=\"2265\" height=\"1269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-attrib-command.jpg 2265w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-attrib-command-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-attrib-command-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-attrib-command-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-attrib-command-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-attrib-command-2048x1147.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2265px) 100vw, 2265px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Wait for the process to be completed.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>If your seemingly deleted files were really just corrupted or hidden, then you should now be able to access them normally through File Explorer. However, if you still can&#8217;t see your files, this indicates they were actually deleted rather than just hidden or corrupted. In this case, proceed to data recovery software which can recover truly deleted files.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_permanently_deleted_files_from_a_usb_drive\"><\/span>How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files from a USB Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>If Restore Previous Versions and CMD didn\u2019t recover your USB flash drive files, there\u2019s still a path forward. The next step is to utilize third-party software like Disk Drill and built-in tools such as Windows File Recovery.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_3_recover_data_from_usb_drive_with_third-party_software\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 3:<\/span> <span id=\"data_recovery_software\">Recover Data from USB Drive with Third-Party Software<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Data recovery software can recover files that have been permanently deleted from a USB drive because such files aren\u2019t immediately erased from the physical storage\u2014they\u2019re just marked as space available for new data and remain recoverable until overwritten.<\/p>\r\n<p>Leading data recovery software solutions like <a href=\"\/data-recovery-software.html\">Disk Drill<\/a> scan the file system structure to find traces of deleted files, which can recover files of any type with their original names and folder structure intact. If that doesn\u2019t work, they can also perform a signature-based scan to recognize deleted files even if the file system is <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-corrupted-flash-drive.html\">corrupted<\/a>, <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-files-formatted-usb-drive.html\">formatted<\/a>, or even <a href=\"\/howto\/how-to-fix-a-broken-usb-stick.html\">damaged<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Disk Drill is especially good at signature-based file recovery, thanks to its support for over 400 file types, and its file system-based recovery capabilities are also excellent because it supports all file systems commonly used with USB flash drives, such as FAT, FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; <b>Important:<\/b> If your USB drive shows signs of physical damage, such as intermittent connection, then you should create a USB drive image first using Disk Drill\u2019s drive backup feature and perform recovery on the copy by attaching it as an image.<\/div>\r\n<p>To recover deleted files from a USB flash drive:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/download.html\">Download<\/a> and install Disk Drill for Windows or macOS. The software offers a free version that allows you to recover up to 100 MB of data (on Windows). You can also scan and preview files without any limitations, proving their recoverability (on both platforms). Many real cases fit neatly under the free limit, from key documents to entire folders.<div class=\"relative bottom download__block\">\r\n            <div class=\"d-flex align-center download__block__inner\">\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__image-wrapper\">\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__image\">\r\n                    <img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sidebar-ban-96.png\" srcset=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sidebar-ban-2x-1.png 2x\" alt=\"Disk Drill\" width=\"96\" height=\"96\">        \r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__announce\">\r\n                    <b>download-block-title<\/b><br>\r\n                    download-block-text\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__action\">\r\n                    <a href=\"\/\/download.html\" data-href-mac=\/\/disk-drill-mac.html data-href-win=\/\/disk-drill-win.html class=\"button button-green btn-md osreplace\">\r\n<svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\r\n<path d=\"M11.9546 7.293C11.8736 7.114 11.6956 7 11.4996 7H9.49957V0.5C9.49957 0.224 9.27557 0 8.99957 0H6.99957C6.72357 0 6.49957 0.224 6.49957 0.5V7H4.49957C4.30357 7 4.12557 7.115 4.04457 7.293C3.96257 7.472 3.99457 7.681 4.12357 7.829L7.62357 11.829C7.71857 11.938 7.85557 12 7.99957 12C8.14357 12 8.28057 11.937 8.37557 11.829L11.8756 7.829C12.0056 7.682 12.0356 7.472 11.9546 7.293Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\r\n<path d=\"M13.5 11V14H2.5V11H0.5V15C0.5 15.553 0.948 16 1.5 16H14.5C15.053 16 15.5 15.553 15.5 15V11H13.5Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\r\n<\/svg>\r\ndownload-block-button-text\r\n<\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Connect your USB drive and launch Disk Drill. Before proceeding with recovery, you have the option to create a byte-to-byte backup of your drive. To do that, select the <b>Drive Backup<\/b> extra tool in the left sidebar. You can then scan the backup image directly by clicking the <b>Attach disk image<\/b> link at the bottom of the main Storage Devices window and continuing with Step 3.<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53318 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-tool-disk-drill.jpg\" alt=\"backup feature in Disk Drill\" width=\"2862\" height=\"1621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-tool-disk-drill.jpg 2862w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-tool-disk-drill-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-tool-disk-drill-500x283.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-tool-disk-drill-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-tool-disk-drill-1536x870.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-tool-disk-drill-2048x1160.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2862px) 100vw, 2862px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the <b>Search for lost data<\/b> button next to your USB drive. As the scan progresses, you\u2019ll see information about the number of found files and the estimated time remaining. You can click the <b>Review found files<\/b> button to view scan results while Disk Drill continues in the background. <img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53330 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-usb-drive-in-disk-drill.jpg\" alt=\"Select USB drive from list and start scan\" width=\"2862\" height=\"1621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-usb-drive-in-disk-drill.jpg 2862w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-usb-drive-in-disk-drill-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-usb-drive-in-disk-drill-500x283.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-usb-drive-in-disk-drill-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-usb-drive-in-disk-drill-1536x870.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-usb-drive-in-disk-drill-2048x1160.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2862px) 100vw, 2862px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Locate and select your lost files using Disk Drill\u2019s comprehensive search and preview capabilities. The scan results interface lets you search by filename, filter by date ranges, and narrow down by file sizes or types. For supported file formats, you can preview contents directly within the program. <img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53323 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/preview-and-select-files-for-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"Preview found files in Disk Drill\" width=\"2862\" height=\"1621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/preview-and-select-files-for-recovery.jpg 2862w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/preview-and-select-files-for-recovery-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/preview-and-select-files-for-recovery-500x283.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/preview-and-select-files-for-recovery-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/preview-and-select-files-for-recovery-1536x870.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/preview-and-select-files-for-recovery-2048x1160.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2862px) 100vw, 2862px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the <b>Recover<\/b> button to recover the selected files. Choose a destination drive different from your USB drive to avoid overwriting data. <img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53324 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recovery-location-disk-drill.jpg\" alt=\"choose recovery location in Disk Drill\" width=\"2862\" height=\"1621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recovery-location-disk-drill.jpg 2862w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recovery-location-disk-drill-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recovery-location-disk-drill-500x283.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recovery-location-disk-drill-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recovery-location-disk-drill-1536x870.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recovery-location-disk-drill-2048x1160.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2862px) 100vw, 2862px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f530; While Disk Drill is our recommended choice for USB flash drive recovery (you can even use it to recover deleted files from a USB on Mac), we understand that different users have different needs. For a comprehensive comparison of available options, including features and pricing, you can explore our detailed review of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/top-5-data-recovery-software-windows.html\">top data recovery solutions for Windows<\/a>.<\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_4_use_windows_file_recovery_build-in_tool_to_get_back_deleted_files\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 4:<\/span> <span id=\"windows_file_recovery\">Use Windows File Recovery Build-in Tool to Get Back Deleted Files<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>In response to the substantial demand for third-party data recovery software like Disk Drill, Microsoft released its own data recovery application, called <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.microsoft.com\/store\/detail\/9N26S50LN705\">Windows File Recovery<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x2139;&#xfe0f; Windows File Recovery is available for Windows 10 version 2004 and higher, and you can use it to get back your deleted files from any USB drive. The only problem is that the tool doesn\u2019t have a graphical user interface, so it\u2019s not nearly as easy to use as Disk Drill.<\/div>\r\n<p>To recover deleted data from a USB flash drive using Windows File Recovery:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store. <img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-46093 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/windows-file-recovery-1.jpg\" alt=\"windows file recovery download\" width=\"883\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/windows-file-recovery-1.jpg 883w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/windows-file-recovery-1-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/windows-file-recovery-1-500x326.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/windows-file-recovery-1-768x501.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 883px) 100vw, 883px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Connect your USB flash drive to your computer and memorize the drive letter assigned to it.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Open Windows Terminal or CMD as administrator.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Enter the following command: <code>Winfr E: C: \/extensive<\/code> (replace <b>E:<\/b> with the drive letter assigned to your USB flash drive and <b>C:<\/b> with the drive letter assigned to the storage device where you want to store recovered files).<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53329 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-winfr-on-USB-drive.jpg\" alt=\"run Windows File Recovery on your USB flash drive\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-winfr-on-USB-drive.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-winfr-on-USB-drive-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-winfr-on-USB-drive-500x298.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-winfr-on-USB-drive-768x457.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-winfr-on-USB-drive-1536x914.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/run-winfr-on-USB-drive-2048x1219.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Wait for Windows File Recovery to finish.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>After spending several weeks testing both Disk Drill and Windows File Recovery, we&#8217;ve successfully used them to recover permanently deleted files from a USB drive in scenarios involving accidental deletions, formatting, and even corrupted USB flash drives. Based on these real-world recovery tests, we can offer a detailed comparison of these tools to help you select the best option for your situation:<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"table_wrapper table_heading\"><p><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Criteria<\/td>\r\n<td>Disk Drill<\/td>\r\n<td>Windows File Recovery<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f5a5;&#xfe0f; Interface<\/td>\r\n<td>Easy-to-use GUI suitable for all skill levels<\/td>\r\n<td>Command-line interface requiring technical knowledge<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x2699;&#xfe0f; Compatibility<\/td>\r\n<td>Available for both Windows and macOS<\/td>\r\n<td>Only available for Windows 10 version 2004 and later<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f9be; Functionality<\/td>\r\n<td>Advanced file recovery for various scenarios including corruption, formatting, and damage<\/td>\r\n<td>Mainly focused on recovering deleted files, with options for more thorough scans<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f917; User Friendliness<\/td>\r\n<td>Straightforward process with visual guidance and file previews<\/td>\r\n<td>More complex, best for users comfortable with CMD or Windows Terminal<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f4c9; Data Recovery Limit<\/td>\r\n<td>Free recovery of up to 100 MB; paid upgrades available for more<\/td>\r\n<td>No data recovery limit, but less intuitive for average users<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f4c4; File Support<\/td>\r\n<td>Supports an extensive range of file types and formats with over 400 file signatures<\/td>\r\n<td>Only basic document formats (such as DOCX, XLSX, PPTX), common image types (like JPEG, PNG), and popular media files (MP3, MPEG, ASF, and others)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f4d6; Learning Resources<\/td>\r\n<td>Comprehensive tutorials, including video guides<\/td>\r\n<td>Primarily documented guides and support articles<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>&#x1f579;&#xfe0f; Usage<\/td>\r\n<td>Ideal for beginners and those preferring a GUI<\/td>\r\n<td>Suited for tech-savvy users and those familiar with command-line tools<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p><\/div>\r\n<p>In summary, the main advantage of Windows File Recovery is its completely free price. In all other ways, Disk Drill wins &#8211; by a lot. Its data recovery performance is significantly better thanks to its extensive range of supported file types, and the straightforward user interface makes the system accessible even to the least experienced Windows users out there.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"related_posts\"><div class=\"related_posts__inner\"><div class=\"h4\">Read also<\/div><div class=\"related_post\"><div class=\"related_post_item\"><div class=\"related_post_img\"><img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/windows.png\" alt=\"windows\" width=\"144\" height=\"144\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/usb-flash-drive-recovery.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">USB Drive Data Recovery Software for Windows<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"related_post\"><div class=\"related_post_item\"><div class=\"related_post_img\"><img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/apple.png\" alt=\"apple mac\" width=\"144\" height=\"144\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/usb-recovery-mac.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">USB Drive Data Recovery Software for Mac<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"related_post\"><div class=\"related_post_item\"><div class=\"related_post_img\"><img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/i-mac.png\" alt=\"mac\" width=\"144\" height=\"144\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/howto\/recover-data-flash-drive-mac.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">Steps to Recover Deleted Files from USB Drive on Mac<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"related_post\"><div class=\"related_post_item\"><div class=\"related_post_img\"><img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Reset-BitLocker-Password-Drive-Icon.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"89\" height=\"89\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/howto\/recover-encrypted-files-usb-drive.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">Recover Files from an Encrypted USB Drive<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Just because you\u2019ve lost important files doesn\u2019t mean that there\u2019s no way how to get them back. In this article, we\u2019ve described four methods how to recover deleted files from flash drives, and it\u2019s up to you now to follow our instructions and save the day.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<div><section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq1\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq1\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is_it_possible_to_recover_lost_files_from_a_usb_drive_that_was_accidentally_formatted\"><\/span>Is it possible to recover lost files from a USB drive that was accidentally formatted?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Yes, you can <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-files-formatted-usb-drive.html\">recover files from a formatted USB drive<\/a>, but your approach must reflect the formatting type used. After a quick format, most files can be retrieved using data recovery software since only the file system table is cleared. However, if you performed a full format, you&#8217;ll need to rely on your backups because it\u2019s impossible to recover deleted files from USB after formatting that overwrites the entire drive.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq2\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq2\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_deleted_files_from_a_usb_drive\"><\/span>How to recover deleted files from a USB drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>To recover deleted files from a USB drive:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Download, install, and launch Disk Drill.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Scan the USB drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Wait for scanning to finish.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select your deleted files.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Recover files to a safe destination.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq3\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq3\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is_there_free_software_to_restore_deleted_files_from_a_usb_flash_drive\"><\/span>Is there free software to restore deleted files from a USB flash drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Yes, there are multiple free solutions capable of restoring deleted files from a USB flash drive, including:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Disk Drill USB Data Recovery Software<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Windows File Recovery<\/li>\r\n\t<li>PhotoRec<\/li>\r\n\t<li>TestDisk<\/li>\r\n\t<li>R-Photo<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Out of these, Disk Drill is the easiest to use because it has a modern graphical user interface.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq4\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq4\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"where_do_deleted_files_from_a_usb_drive_go\"><\/span>Where do deleted files from a USB drive go?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq4\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>They don\u2019t go anywhere! When you delete a file from a USB drive, the file remains physically present on the drive, but the storage space occupied by it is marked as empty. That\u2019s why it\u2019s possible to recover deleted files that haven\u2019t been overwritten yet using USB recovery software.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq5\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq5\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_fix_a_damaged_usb_flash_drive\"><\/span>How to fix a damaged USB flash drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq5\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Fixing a physically damaged USB flash drive is not easy, and it often requires the flash memory chip to be removed from the drive and soldered onto a new circuit board. If that\u2019s not something you feel confident doing, we highly recommend you take the flash drive to a professional data recovery center.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 01px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq6\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq6\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_deleted_files_from_an_otg_pen_drive\"><\/span>How to recover deleted files from an OTG pen drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq6\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>When it comes to recovering deleted files from an OTG pen drive, you have two main options: either use Command Prompt (it requires a bit more tech knowledge) or use data recovery software.<\/p>\r\n<p>Here\u2019s how to recover deleted files from an OTG pen drive the easy way:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Download and install Disk Drill.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Connect your OTG pen drive to your computer and launch Disk Drill.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>From the list of devices, click your pen drive to select it.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Search for lost data<\/b> to scan your device.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Review found items<\/b> to look through the files.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose the files you wish to restore and click the <b>Recover<\/b> button.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the location to which you want to retrieve the files.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Have you ever unplugged a USB drive while some files were still transferring only to discover that you\u2019ve lost not just the files that were still in transfer but also files that were already on the USB drive? You certainly&#8230;","protected":false},"author":7902,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2634],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-27649","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sd-card-flash-drive-recovery-tips"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from USB Flash Drives [2025]<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the top 4 ways to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive with the help of our step-by-step instructions.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from USB Flash Drives [2025]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover the top 4 ways to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive with the help of our step-by-step instructions.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/og-cleverfiles.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Romana Levko\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from USB Flash Drives [2025]\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Discover the top 4 ways to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive with the help of our step-by-step instructions.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/delete-files-from-USB-drive.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Cleverfiles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Cleverfiles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Romana Levko\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"15 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from USB Flash Drives [2025]","description":"Discover the top 4 ways to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive with the help of our step-by-step instructions.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from USB Flash Drives [2025]","og_description":"Discover the top 4 ways to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive with the help of our step-by-step instructions.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html","og_site_name":"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/og-cleverfiles.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Romana Levko","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from USB Flash Drives [2025]","twitter_description":"Discover the top 4 ways to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive with the help of our step-by-step instructions.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/delete-files-from-USB-drive.jpg","twitter_creator":"@Cleverfiles","twitter_site":"@Cleverfiles","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Romana Levko","Est. reading time":"15 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html"},"author":{"name":"Romana Levko","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/person\/db008e5aa9b268917aed3f788e5f17fc"},"headline":"4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from a USB Flash Drive","datePublished":"2020-01-15T00:48:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-08T19:06:40+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html"},"wordCount":2822,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#organization"},"articleSection":["SD Card &amp; Flash Drive Recovery Tips"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html","name":"4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from USB Flash Drives [2025]","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-01-15T00:48:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-08T19:06:40+00:00","description":"Discover the top 4 ways to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive with the help of our step-by-step instructions.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-usb-drive-windows.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"\u0413\u043b\u0430\u0432\u043d\u0430\u044f","item":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/fr\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"4 Ways to Recover Deleted Files from a USB Flash Drive"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/","name":"Data recovery tips. 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