{"id":33646,"date":"2021-03-10T20:06:20","date_gmt":"2021-03-10T20:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=33646"},"modified":"2022-03-30T18:02:53","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T18:02:53","slug":"how-to-restore-files-from-a-password-protected-usb-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-encrypted-files-usb-drive.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Restore Files from a Password Protected USB Drive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Data encryption is among the most effective techniques for protecting confidential files, but it can become a double-edged sword when recovering lost data. Why? Because files stored on an encrypted (password-protected) USB drive can\u2019t be accessed by anyone unless the USB drive is decrypted and unlocked first.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>If you\u2019ve found yourself in a situation where you need to recover lost files from an encrypted\/password-locked USB drive, the instructions provided in this article are just what you need to get them back regardless of if you\u2019re using Windows or macOS.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_an_encrypted_file\"><\/span>What Is an Encrypted File?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>When a file has been encrypted, an encoding algorithm has been applied to it which modifies the data until a decryption key has been used. While encrypted, the file is no longer readable through normal means. File encryption is a method used to digitally protect your data from unwanted access.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_open_an_encrypted_file\"><\/span>How to Open an Encrypted File<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>In order to view an encrypted file, you must first decrypt it using a decryption key. In most cases, this is in the form of a password, but it could also be a physical access card or biometric data. In any case, once the file is decrypted using the decryption key, you can open and view the contents of the file like normal until it is encrypted again.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_unlock_encrypted_usb_drive\"><\/span>How to Unlock Encrypted USB Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>It\u2019s not possible to <a href=\"\/recover-deleted-files.html\">recover files<\/a> from an encrypted USB drive unless the drive is decrypted\/unlocked first.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>Let\u2019s go over three ways to unlock an encrypted USB drive\u2014one for Windows, one for macOS, and one that works regardless of which operating system you use.<\/p>\r\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33668\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flash-drive-with-combination-lock-isolated-white-background-1.jpg\" alt=\"recover deleted files from an encrypted USB flash drive\" width=\"900\" height=\"463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flash-drive-with-combination-lock-isolated-white-background-1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flash-drive-with-combination-lock-isolated-white-background-1-300x154.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flash-drive-with-combination-lock-isolated-white-background-1-500x257.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flash-drive-with-combination-lock-isolated-white-background-1-768x395.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flash-drive-with-combination-lock-isolated-white-background-1-1536x790.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_how_to_unlock_a_flash_drive_in_windows\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 1:<\/span> How to Unlock a Flash Drive in Windows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Unlocking a password-locked USB drive in Windows is easy, assuming the drive has been encrypted using <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/security\/information-protection\/bitlocker\/bitlocker-overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BitLocker<\/a>, Microsoft\u2019s encryption tool included with Microsoft Windows versions starting with Windows Vista.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>How to unlock a flash drive encrypted using BitLocker: <\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><strong>Insert<\/strong> <strong>the flash drive<\/strong> into a USB port on your PC.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Open the <strong>Start menu<\/strong> and type \u201ccontrol panel.\u201d<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Launch the classic <strong>Control Panel<\/strong> and navigate to System and Security \u2192 BitLocker Drive Encryption.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the encrypted flash drive and click the <strong>Unlock drive<\/strong> option.<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33652 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bitlocker-unlock.png\" alt=\"how to recover encrypted files\" width=\"1031\" height=\"634\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bitlocker-unlock.png 1031w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bitlocker-unlock-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bitlocker-unlock-500x307.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bitlocker-unlock-768x472.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1031px) 100vw, 1031px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Enter your password<\/strong> and confirm.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>If you don\u2019t remember your password anymore, you can click <strong>More options<\/strong> and use your 48-digit recovery key instead. If you would like to learn how to remove a password from a USB flash drive encrypted with BitLocker, you can read this <a href=\"https:\/\/techcommunity.microsoft.com\/t5\/intune-customer-success\/support-tip-steps-to-decrypt-and-reencrypt-a-bitlockered-device\/ba-p\/280008\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">official tutorial<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_how_to_decrypt_a_usb_flash_drive_in_macos\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 2:<\/span> How to Decrypt a USB Flash Drive in macOS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>macOS comes with a native disk encryption program called FileVault. If you need to recover files from a USB drive that has been encrypted with it, then you need to enter your password first to unlock it. The good news is that it won\u2019t take you more than a minute to do so.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>How to unlock a password-protected USB drive using FileVault<\/strong>:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><strong>Insert<\/strong> <strong>the flash drive<\/strong> into a USB port on your Mac.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Launch <strong>Finder<\/strong> and right-click your USB drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the <strong>Decrypt<\/strong> option.<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33653 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/filevault-decrypt.png\" alt=\"recover files from encrypted usb on a mac\" width=\"913\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/filevault-decrypt.png 913w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/filevault-decrypt-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/filevault-decrypt-500x307.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/filevault-decrypt-768x471.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 913px) 100vw, 913px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Enter your password <\/strong>and confirm.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><strong>Tip<\/strong>: As a Mac user, you can also decrypt BitLocker-protected USB drives, but you need to use a third-party software application like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uubyte.com\/bitlocker-reader-for-mac.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UUByte BitLocker Geeker<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_3_how_to_unlock_a_physically_locked_usb_flash_drive\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 3:<\/span> How to Unlock a Physically Locked USB Flash Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33651 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/usb-flash-drive-lock-tinified.png\" alt=\"how to remove password from usb flash drive\" width=\"1331\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/usb-flash-drive-lock-tinified.png 1331w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/usb-flash-drive-lock-tinified-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/usb-flash-drive-lock-tinified-500x270.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/usb-flash-drive-lock-tinified-768x415.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p>Just like SD cards, some USB flash drives feature a physical lock switch that makes it impossible to write new data on the device when engaged.<\/p>\r\n<p>Such a switch can protect the USB drive from malware infections, accidental erasure and overwriting, and other user errors. However, it can also complicate recovery attempts by making it impossible to copy backups of lost files to the USB flash drive.<\/p>\r\n<p>To disable read-only protection on your USB flash drive, all you need to do is move the lock switch to the off position.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_restore_files_from_password-protected_usb_drive\"><\/span>How to Restore Files from Password-Protected USB Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Now that you know how to unlock a USB memory stick and make it fully accessible, we can finally explain what you need to do in order to recover lost files from it. Once again, we\u2019re describing multiple methods so you can choose the one that best fits your specific data loss scenario.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"option_1_recover_your_files_from_a_backup\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Option 1:<\/span> Recover Your Files from a Backup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><img class=\"alignright wp-image-29779 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/backup-icon.png\" alt=\"how to encrypt a flash drive without software\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/backup-icon.png 100w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/backup-icon-24x24.png 24w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/backup-icon-48x48.png 48w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/backup-icon-96x96.png 96w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/>If you\u2019ve been diligently backing up your data using File History in Windows or Time Machine in macOS, then you should be able to quickly and painlessly recover all lost files by following the step-by-step instructions below.<\/p>\r\n<h4><b>File History (Windows)<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Launch <strong>File Explorer<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click your USB drive and select the <strong>Restore previous versions<\/strong> option.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select a previous version and click <strong>Restore<\/strong>.<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-27713 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-File-History-Step-1.png\" alt=\"password locked usb\" width=\"363\" height=\"499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-File-History-Step-1.png 363w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-File-History-Step-1-218x300.png 218w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h4><b>Time Machine (macOS)<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Launch <strong>Finder<\/strong> and open your USB flash drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the Time Machine icon in the Menu bar and select <strong>Enter Time Machine<\/strong>.<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-26988 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Emptied-Trash-on-Mac-Enter-Time-Machine.png\" alt=\"how to unlock a flash drive\" width=\"255\" height=\"144\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Use the <strong>navigational arrows<\/strong> to find a backup with the files you want to recover.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select your files and click <strong>Restore<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Of course, there are countless third-party backup software applications for Windows and macOS, but it would be beyond the scope of this article to describe them all. That said, you should be able to find detailed instructions for just about any backup application with a simple Google search.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4a1; <strong>Tip<\/strong>: Make sure to also check cloud backup services like Microsoft OneDrive and Apple iCloud. The lost files could be there without you even knowing about it.<\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"option_2_use_data_recovery_software\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Option 2:<\/span> Use Data Recovery Software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><img class=\"alignright wp-image-27727\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-DiskDrill-USB-Icon.png\" alt=\"password protected usb drive\" width=\"122\" height=\"122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-DiskDrill-USB-Icon.png 512w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-DiskDrill-USB-Icon-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-DiskDrill-USB-Icon-500x500.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-DiskDrill-USB-Icon-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-DiskDrill-USB-Icon-24x24.png 24w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-DiskDrill-USB-Icon-48x48.png 48w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deleted-Files-USB-Win-DiskDrill-USB-Icon-96x96.png 96w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 122px) 100vw, 122px\" \/>Don\u2019t have a backup from which you could recover your files? Don\u2019t despair just yet! You can download <a href=\"\/data-recovery-software.html\">data recovery software<\/a> like Disk Drill and attempt to recover files that are no longer accessible from Windows or macOS.<\/p>\r\n<p>Disk Drill and other similar applications scan the actual physical storage space, looking for traces of deleted files that haven\u2019t been overwritten yet. If you act quickly enough and are at least a little bit lucky, you should recover some and maybe even all lost files.<\/p>\r\n<p>We recommend Disk Drill because it runs on both Windows and macOS, is exceptionally easy to use, and delivers fantastic recovery results. What\u2019s more, Disk Drill comes with handy extra tools that you can use to avoid data loss emergencies in the future.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>To recover encrypted files from a USB drive on a Windows PC:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/downloads.html\"><strong>Download<\/strong><\/a> and <strong>install<\/strong> Disk Drill for Windows.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Connect<\/strong> the USB drive to your PC and <strong>unlock it<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Launch Disk Drill<\/strong> and <strong>scan<\/strong> the USB drive.<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33655 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-main-screen-sd-card-selected.jpg\" alt=\"how to recover encrypted files on windows\" width=\"1086\" height=\"633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-main-screen-sd-card-selected.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-main-screen-sd-card-selected-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-main-screen-sd-card-selected-500x291.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-main-screen-sd-card-selected-768x448.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Preview <\/strong>&amp;<strong> select<\/strong> the files you want to recover.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <strong>Recover<\/strong> and pick a suitable recovery location.<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33656 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-windows-scan-results-preview-selected-highlight.jpg\" alt=\"recover files from encrypted usb on windows\" width=\"1086\" height=\"633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-windows-scan-results-preview-selected-highlight.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-windows-scan-results-preview-selected-highlight-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-windows-scan-results-preview-selected-highlight-500x291.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-windows-scan-results-preview-selected-highlight-768x448.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><strong>To recover encrypted files from a USB drive on a Mac:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/downloads.html\"><strong>Download<\/strong><\/a> and <strong>install<\/strong> Disk Drill for Mac.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Connect<\/strong> the USB drive to your Mac and <strong>unlock it<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Launch Disk Drill<\/strong> and <strong>scan<\/strong> the USB drive.<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33657 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sd-card-disk-drill-select-annotated.png\" alt=\"how to remove password from usb flash drive on mac\" width=\"1049\" height=\"601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sd-card-disk-drill-select-annotated.png 1049w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sd-card-disk-drill-select-annotated-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sd-card-disk-drill-select-annotated-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sd-card-disk-drill-select-annotated-768x440.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1049px) 100vw, 1049px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Preview <\/strong>&amp;<strong> select<\/strong> the files you want to recover.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <strong>Recover<\/strong> and pick a suitable recovery location.<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33658 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-sd-card-file-select-recover.png\" alt=\"how to encrypt a flash drive without software on mac\" width=\"1049\" height=\"601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-sd-card-file-select-recover.png 1049w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-sd-card-file-select-recover-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-sd-card-file-select-recover-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-sd-card-file-select-recover-768x440.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1049px) 100vw, 1049px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"option_3_pay_for_professional_data_recovery\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Option 3:<\/span> Pay for Professional Data Recovery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><img class=\"alignright wp-image-26713\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Reset-BitLocker-Password-BitLocker-Repair-Tool.png\" alt=\"how to unlock a USB flash drive with service\" width=\"126\" height=\"126\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Reset-BitLocker-Password-BitLocker-Repair-Tool.png 256w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Reset-BitLocker-Password-BitLocker-Repair-Tool-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Reset-BitLocker-Password-BitLocker-Repair-Tool-24x24.png 24w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Reset-BitLocker-Password-BitLocker-Repair-Tool-48x48.png 48w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Reset-BitLocker-Password-BitLocker-Repair-Tool-96x96.png 96w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 126px) 100vw, 126px\" \/> Have your data recovery attempts failed to yield the desired results? If so, then you should consider sending your USB flash drive to a professional <a href=\"\/data-recovery-center.html#:~:text=Call%20our%20data%20recovery%20center,to%20ship%20your%20storage%20device%3F&amp;text=CleverFiles%20has%20partnered%20with%20the,it%2Dyourself%20data%20recovery%20solutions.\">data recovery center<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"\/howto\/best-data-recovery-services.html\">Professional data recovery centers<\/a> are equipped with state-of-the-art data recovery software and hardware tools, allowing them to recover data even from physically damaged or heavily corrupted storage devices.<\/p>\r\n<p>Just don\u2019t expect data recovery professionals to circumvent modern encryption standards, such as AES-256. Without the correct password, even experienced professionals won\u2019t get too far.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"\/howto\/how-to-fix-a-broken-usb-stick.html\">How to Fix a Broken USB Flash Stick in Any Situation\u2192<\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_encrypted_files\"><\/span>How to Recover Encrypted Files<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Encrypted files can be recovered like any other file, though the fact remains that once the file is recovered, you will still need the decryption key in order to open and view it.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_encrypted_files_from_windows_1110\"><\/span>How to Recover Encrypted Files From Windows 11\/10<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Windows offers a few methods for recovering encrypted files. Here are a few.<\/p>\r\n<h4>Restore from a Backup<\/h4>\r\n<p>The File History backup solution is included with your copy of Windows. If it was configured prior to the loss of your encrypted files, you can restore a working copy of the files you lost. To restore a copy of lost or deleted encrypted files from a File History backup, follow these steps:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Navigate to the folder that contained your lost file.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Home<\/b>, then <b>History<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-40833 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/access-file-history.jpg\" alt=\"Opening File History.\" width=\"871\" height=\"545\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/access-file-history.jpg 871w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/access-file-history-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/access-file-history-500x313.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/access-file-history-768x481.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 871px) 100vw, 871px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the encrypted file, then click the green restore button.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-40834 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file.jpg\" alt=\"Recovering the encrypted file.\" width=\"830\" height=\"515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file-500x310.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file-768x477.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Once restored, the file will return to its original location.<\/p>\r\n<h4>Recover Using Data Recovery Software<\/h4>\r\n<p>Data recovery software, like <a href=\"\/data-recovery-software.html\">Disk Drill<\/a>, can be used to recover encrypted files. This is a great option for those who don\u2019t have access to a backed-up copy of their files. To retrieve a lost or deleted encrypted file using Disk Drill, follow these instructions:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/download.html\">Download<\/a> and install Disk Drill to a separate physical partition than the one where your file resides.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the drive that contains the encrypted file from the list, then click <b>Search for lost data<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-40838 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/scan-drive.jpg\" alt=\"Scanning the drive.\" width=\"1083\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/scan-drive.jpg 1083w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/scan-drive-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/scan-drive-500x291.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/scan-drive-768x447.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1083px) 100vw, 1083px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Review found items<\/b> and mark the file you want to recover from the list. When ready, click <b>Recover<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-40837 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file-1.jpg\" alt=\"Recovering the encrypted file.\" width=\"1083\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file-1.jpg 1083w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file-1-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file-1-500x291.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-encrypted-file-1-768x447.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1083px) 100vw, 1083px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select an output location that resides on a separate physical partition than where you\u2019re recovering from, then click <b>OK<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-40836 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/complete-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"Finalizing recovery.\" width=\"1083\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/complete-recovery.jpg 1083w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/complete-recovery-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/complete-recovery-500x291.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/complete-recovery-768x447.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1083px) 100vw, 1083px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h4>Using a Third-party Decryption Tool<\/h4>\r\n<p>If you\u2019re trying to decrypt files that were encrypted by ransomware, there are some options available. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts all of your data, rendering it unusable. The attacker will typically request payment from you via cryptocurrency in exchange for the decryption key. This should always be treated as a lie, as once the payment is made, there is no guarantee that the decryption key will be provided.<\/p>\r\n<p>Instead, you can check out No More Ransom. It includes a directory of known ransomware, as well as their corresponding decryption tools so you can unlock your data. If you\u2019re unable to find a decryption key for your files, it\u2019s best to create a shadow copy of your data for safekeeping until one becomes available.<\/p>\r\n<p>It should be noted that files encrypted with powerful file encryption, like Encrypting File System (EFS), are virtually impossible to decrypt without the correct certificates. This method typically only works on files encrypted by ransomware.<\/p>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_encrypted_files_on_mac\"><\/span>How to Recover Encrypted Files on Mac<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>It\u2019s also possible to recover encrypted files on Mac. Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\r\n<h4>Restore from a Backup<\/h4>\r\n<p>Time Machine is the backup solution for Mac, just like File History is for Windows. It makes incremental backups of your data that you can restore copies from should the need arise. Here\u2019s how you restore an encrypted file from a Time Machine backup:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Connect the media that holds your backup, then navigate to where the original file was stored on your computer.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the <b>Time Machine <\/b>menu, then click <b>Enter Time Machine<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Locate the file you want to restore using the navigational arrows on the right. Select it, then click <b>Restore<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h4>Decrypt the File on Mac<\/h4>\r\n<p>If the file was encrypted on your Mac, you have the option of decrypting it using the Terminal. This will allow the file to be viewed like any other. Follow these steps to do so:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Launch the Terminal window.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Type <b>openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -d -in &lt;encryptedfile&gt; -out &lt;decryptedfile&gt;<\/b>. Replace <b>&lt;encryptedfile&gt; <\/b>with the filepath of your encrypted file and replace &lt;<b>decryptedfile&gt; <\/b>with output name and location of the file. Press <b>Return<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Enter the decryption password and press <b>Return <\/b>again.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_encrypted_files_on_android\"><\/span>How to Recover Encrypted Files on Android<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Some Android devices come with built-in encryption capabilities, others rely on third-party applications. Here are two ways you can recover encrypted files on Android.<\/p>\r\n<h4>Recover Using Data Recovery Software on Android<\/h4>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/diskdigger.org\/android\">DiskDigger<\/a> is an Android app that can be installed on your device and used to recover lost encrypted files. Bear in mind that DiskDigger Pro must be bought and used as the free version only allows the recovery of photos. Your device must also be <a href=\"https:\/\/diskdigger.org\/root\">rooted<\/a> before the application can work. Here\u2019s how you recover encrypted files using DiskDigger Pro (the below instructions use the free DiskDigger version, but the steps will be almost identical):<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.defianttech.diskdiggerpro&amp;hl=en_NZ&amp;gl=US\">Download<\/a> and open DiskDigger Pro.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Tap <b>Start Basic Photo Scan<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-40839 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/basic-scan.jpg\" alt=\"Starting the basic scan.\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/basic-scan.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/basic-scan-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/basic-scan-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/basic-scan-768x575.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Mark the files you want to recover, then tap <b>Recover<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-40842 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-marked-files.jpg\" alt=\"Recovering the marked files.\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-marked-files.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-marked-files-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-marked-files-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recover-marked-files-768x575.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select how you want to recover the files. For this demonstration, we chose <b>Save the files to a custom location on your device<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-40843 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recovery-location.jpg\" alt=\"Selecting how you want to save the file.\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recovery-location.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recovery-location-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recovery-location-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/recovery-location-768x575.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Tap <b>OK <\/b>to finalize recovery.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-40841 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/output-folder.jpg\" alt=\"Selecting the output folder.\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/output-folder.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/output-folder-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/output-folder-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/output-folder-768x575.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h4>Recover Using Data Recovery Software on Mac<\/h4>\r\n<p>Disk Drill for Mac has the ability to recover files directly from your connected Android device. Again, like DiskDigger, your Android device must be rooted in order for this to work. Follow these instructions to recover encrypted files from your Android devices using Mac:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/disk-drill-mac.html\">Download<\/a> and install Disk Drill for Mac.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Connect your rooted Android device and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embarcadero.com\/starthere\/xe5\/mobdevsetup\/android\/en\/enabling_usb_debugging_on_an_android_device.html\">enable USB debugging<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Accept Disk Drill\u2019s request for permission to scan your device.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the <b>Android Devices <\/b>section. Choose your device, then scan it.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Mark the files you want to recover. Click <b>Recover<\/b>, then choose where you want to store the files.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_encrypted_files_on_iphone\"><\/span>How to Recover Encrypted Files on iPhone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>It\u2019s generally harder to recover encrypted files from an iPhone, but there are still a few methods available to you.<\/p>\r\n<h4>Restore from a Backup<\/h4>\r\n<p>If your iOS device was backed up to iCloud, there\u2019s a chance that your recently deleted encrypted files can be recovered from there. Of course, this is only possible if the file was saved to iCloud first.<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Go to iCloud.com, then click <b>Recently Deleted<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the file you want to recover, then click <b>Recover<\/b>. Alternatively, click <b>Recover All <\/b>to recover all files in here.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h4>Recover Using Data Recovery Software<\/h4>\r\n<p>Although you\u2019d assume that recovery would be unlikely given Apple\u2019s inclination for doing things differently, it is very much possible to recover encrypted files from your iOS device. Again, this is only possible using Disk Drill for Mac.<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/disk-drill-mac.html\">Download<\/a> and install Disk Drill for Mac.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select your iOS device in the list, then scan it.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Mark all the files you want to retrieve, then recover them.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Learning how to recover encrypted files from a USB drive isn\u2019t nearly as difficult as it may initially seem. As long as you manage to successfully unlock the drive, the actual recovery is a piece of cake\u2014at least if you use a straightforward data recovery tool.\u00a0<\/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\/2019\/05\/Unsaved-Presentation-Bootable-USB.png\" alt=\"how to recover data from usb\" width=\"104\" height=\"104\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/howto\/recover-files-formatted-usb-drive.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">Recover Files from a Formatted USB Flash Drive<\/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=\"\/howto\/flash-drive-not-showing-up-mac.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">USB Flash Drive Not Showing Up 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\/2020\/05\/usb-port.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/howto\/recover-dead-usb-drive-mac.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">Recover Files from a Dead USB Drive<\/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\/disk-usage-analyzer-icon.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"144\" height=\"144\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/howto\/recover-data-raw-usb-drive.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">Fix USB Flash Drive Turned RAW<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\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: 00px 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=\"how_do_i_open_an_encrypted_usb_drive_on_a_mac\"><\/span>How do I open an encrypted USB drive on a Mac?<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><\/p>\r\n<p>To open an encrypted USB drive on a Mac, you need to:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Right-click the USB drive in Finder<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the Decrypt option<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Enter your password.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>If the USB drive has been encrypted using BitLocker in Windows, then you\u2019ll need to download a third-party tool capable of decrypting BitLocker volumes.<\/p>\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: 00px 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_restore_files_from_a_password-protected_usb_drive_on_a_mac\"><\/span>How to restore files from a password-protected USB drive on a Mac?<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><\/p>\r\n<p>To restore files from a password-protected USB drive on a Mac:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Unlock it with your password.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Scan it using a data recovery tool like Disk Drill.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select and recover all files that are still physically present on the drive.<\/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: 00px 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=\"how_do_i_access_encrypted_files_on_a_usb\"><\/span>How do I access encrypted files on a USB?<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><\/p>\r\n<p>The only way to access encrypted files on a USB drive is by unlocking the drive first. Here\u2019s how you can do that:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Connect it to your Windows computer.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the Unlock drive message prompt.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Enter your password and click Unlock.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>If you\u2019re using Mac, then the process is largely similar, but you need to select your USB in Finder.<\/p>\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: 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=\"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=\"how_to_encrypt_a_flash_drive_without_software\"><\/span>How to encrypt a flash drive without software?<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><\/p>\r\n<p>There are some flash drives with built-in encryption capabilities. Such flash drives typically feature a physical keypad, allowing you to encrypt and decrypt your files without software. Here\u2019s how they work:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>You set your password to encrypt the entire flash drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Use the flash drive just like you would normally.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The flash drive will lock automatically when you disconnect it from your computer.<\/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":"Data encryption is among the most effective techniques for protecting confidential files, but it can become a double-edged sword when recovering lost data. Why? Because files stored on an encrypted (password-protected) USB drive can\u2019t be accessed by anyone unless the&#8230;","protected":false},"author":7884,"featured_media":33656,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2634],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-33646","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"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>How to Recover Data from Encrypted USB Drive [Mac &amp; Windows]<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The instructions provided in this article are here to help you recover lost files from an encrypted\/password-locked USB drive.\" \/>\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-encrypted-files-usb-drive.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Recover Data from Encrypted USB Drive [Mac &amp; Windows]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The instructions provided in this article are here to help you recover lost files from an encrypted\/password-locked USB drive.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-encrypted-files-usb-drive.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\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-windows-scan-results-preview-selected-highlight.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1086\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"633\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jordan Jamieson-Mane\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"How to Recover Data from Encrypted USB Drive [Mac &amp; Windows]\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"The instructions provided in this article are here to help you recover lost files from an encrypted\/password-locked USB drive.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/disk-drill-windows-scan-results-preview-selected-highlight.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=\"Jordan Jamieson-Mane\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Recover Data from Encrypted USB Drive [Mac & Windows]","description":"The instructions provided in this article are here to help you recover lost files from an encrypted\/password-locked USB drive.","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-encrypted-files-usb-drive.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Recover Data from Encrypted USB Drive [Mac & Windows]","og_description":"The instructions provided in this article are here to help you recover lost files from an encrypted\/password-locked USB drive.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-encrypted-files-usb-drive.html","og_site_name":"Data recovery tips. 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