How to Recover Deleted USB Files After Formatting the Drive
If you’ve ever faced the frustrating situation of accidentally formatting a USB drive and losing important files, you might be wondering how to recover deleted USB files. Fortunately, the data is often recoverable, even after formatting, as long as it hasn’t been overwritten by new data. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of recovering deleted files from a USB drive, including the best recovery software to use and tips for maximizing your chances of success.
What Happens When You Format a USB Drive, and Can Data Be Recovered?
To understand how to recover deleted USB files after formatting, it’s essential to first grasp what happens during the formatting process.
What Happens During Formatting?
When you format a USB drive, the operating system removes the file system structure, which is responsible for organizing the data. However, formatting does not immediately delete the data itself. Instead, it marks the areas where files are stored as “available” for new data. As a result, the files remain on the drive, but the system no longer knows where they are stored.
There are two types of formatting:
- Quick Format: This only deletes the file system structure and makes space available for new files. If you act quickly and don’t write new data to the drive, there’s a high chance that your files can be recovered.
- Full Format: This type of format writes over the data with zeros, making it harder, though not impossible, to recover files. Recovery is more challenging, but certain advanced tools may still be able to retrieve the lost data.
In short, formatting a USB drive doesn’t erase the data permanently. As long as new data hasn’t been written over the old data, it’s often possible to recover deleted files.
How to Recover Deleted USB Files After Formatting
If you’ve accidentally formatted your USB drive and lost important files, there are still chances of recovery. Follow these steps to try and get your data back.
Step 1: Stop Using the USB Drive Immediately
Once you realize that you’ve formatted the drive and lost data, stop using the USB drive immediately. The more you use it, the more likely new data will overwrite the space where your deleted files are stored. This greatly reduces the chances of a successful recovery. Disconnect the USB drive from your computer to prevent further use, and do not save any files to it.
Step 2: Use Data Recovery Software
To recover deleted files, you’ll need to use data recovery software. These tools work by scanning the drive for remnants of deleted files, allowing you to restore them. Here are four effective tools to recover files from a formatted USB drive:
1. WinfrGUI (Free)
WinfrGUI is a free, user-friendly tool that can help you recover files from a formatted USB drive. It’s based on Windows File Recovery, but with a graphical interface that makes it easier for non-technical users. If you need a no-cost solution for recovering files from a formatted USB drive, WinfrGUI is a solid choice. It works well for simple recovery scenarios and is great for quick fixes.
2. Recuva (Free/Paid)
Recuva is one of the most popular and effective file recovery tools available. It offers both a free and a paid version, with the paid version offering advanced features such as deep scanning and support for damaged files. Recuva is especially useful for quick formats and is very easy to use, making it a great choice for beginners and experienced users alike.
3. Acronis Revive (Paid)
Acronis Revive is a professional-grade tool designed for data recovery, offering powerful scanning algorithms. It can handle complex data loss scenarios, making it an excellent option if the format was full or if the USB drive is damaged. Acronis also offers cloud backup solutions, so you can ensure your data is safe before any loss occurs in the future.
4. R-Studio (Paid)
R-Studio is a professional data recovery tool that provides high-level scanning options. It is particularly useful if you’re dealing with a formatted USB drive that has been heavily overwritten or damaged. R-Studio supports a variety of file systems, including FAT, NTFS, and exFAT, and can handle complex data loss situations that other tools may struggle with.
Step 3: Recover Your Files
Once you’ve selected a recovery tool, follow these steps to recover your lost files:
1. Download and Install the Software
Download and install your chosen recovery software WinfrGUI on a separate drive or computer—never install it on the USB drive from which you’re trying to recover files. This prevents you from overwriting the deleted data during the installation process.
2. Scan the Drive
Open the recovery software, select your formatted USB drive, and start the scan. Depending on the tool and the size of the USB drive, this process can take some time. Many recovery tools offer a quick scan option as well as a deep scan option. A deep scan is more thorough and will find more recoverable files, but it takes longer.
3. Recover Your Files
Once the scan is finished, you’ll see a list of recoverable files. Preview the files to check their quality and select the ones you want to restore. Make sure to save the recovered files to a different drive to prevent overwriting the data on the USB drive.
Step 4: Verify the Recovered Files
After recovering your files, it’s essential to verify that the files are intact. Open each recovered file to check for corruption. If some files are damaged, you can try to repair them using a file repair tool, or if they’re critical, you may need to consult a professional data recovery service.
Best Practices for Successful USB File Recovery
Here are a few tips to ensure that you maximize your chances of a successful recovery:
- Stop Using the Drive Immediately: As mentioned, do not continue using the USB drive after you realize that files have been deleted. The more you use the drive, the greater the risk of overwriting deleted data.
- Choose the Right Recovery Tool: Use reliable recovery software like WinfrGUI, Recuva, Acronis, or R-Studio for the best chance of recovering your data.
- Backup Data Regularly: The best way to avoid data loss in the future is to back up your files regularly to external drives or cloud storage.
- Consider Professional Help: If software recovery doesn’t work or if the drive is physically damaged, consider reaching out to a professional data recovery service.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in USB File Recovery
When trying to recover deleted files from a formatted USB drive, here are some common mistakes you should avoid:
- Mistake 1: Using the Drive After Formatting
Continuing to use the USB drive after formatting is a surefire way to overwrite the files you’re trying to recover. Always stop using the drive immediately after realizing the files are lost. - Mistake 2: Saving Recovered Files to the Same USB Drive
When you recover files, save them to a different drive, not the same USB drive from which they were deleted. Writing new data to the USB drive could overwrite the recoverable files, making recovery impossible. - Mistake 3: Relying on Unreliable Software
There are many data recovery tools available, but not all of them are reliable. Stick with trusted tools like WinfrGUI, Recuva, Acronis, or R-Studio to increase your chances of a successful recovery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, yes, you can recover deleted USB files after formatting, as long as you take the right steps and act quickly. By stopping the use of the USB drive, using effective data recovery software, and saving the recovered files to a different location, you can restore your important data.
If recovery software doesn’t work or if the situation is more complex, professional data recovery services can often provide assistance. Whether you’re using WinfrGUI for a simple recovery or opting for a more advanced tool like R-Studio or Acronis, the key is to act quickly to maximize your chances of success.
Now that you know how to recover deleted USB files after formatting, you can confidently follow these steps and restore your data, avoiding future data loss by implementing regular backup practices.
Also Read👉Resolved! Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device
Frequent Asked Questions
❓1. Can I recover files after formatting a USB drive?
Yes, as long as the drive hasn’t been overwritten, you can recover files even after formatting.
❓2. What’s the best tool for recovering deleted files from a formatted USB drive?
WinfrGUI, Recuva, Acronis Revive, and R-Studio are all reliable and effective options for recovering files from a formatted USB drive.
❓3. Is WinfrGUI effective for recovering files after a format?
Yes, WinfrGUI is particularly good for recovering files after a quick format and is a great free option for most users.
❓4. What should I do if recovery tools don’t work?
If recovery tools fail, you may need to consult a professional data recovery service, especially if the drive is physically damaged or has been heavily overwritten.
