6 Methods to Recover Deleted Files From USB Drive on Windows 10/11

Have you nuked your crucial files from a USB? It could be that you hit delete, or maybe formatted by mistake. But whatever the reasons are, you would want to know whether can you recover deleted files from a USB flash drive​? In this post, we’ll share the reasons behind data loss in USBs, whether it’s viable to recover deleted files from USB drive​, and if yes, under what conditions. Let’s get into it!

What Happens When You Delete a File From a Flash Drive?

When you remove a file from a flash drive, it actually isn’t erased. The operating system just marks the space the file used as “empty,” meaning new data can be saved in that area. But the big question here is whether can you recover deleted files from a USB flash drive​? The straightforward answer is that it depends.

Unlike files removed from your computer, erased files on a USB flash drive don’t go to the Recycle Bin. They’re removed right away. Nevertheless, their data remains until it is overwritten. Thus, with the help of a special you can recover deleted USB files with the aid of a specialized USB retrieval tool. However, in the case of overwriting, you can restore the USB when you have a copy of its data.

3 Useful Tips for USB Deleted File Recovery

You should follow some tips to increase your recovery chances, before you learn how to recover deleted data from pendrive:

• Immediately cease use: Do not save, transfer, or open any files from the USB drive because fresh information may override the removed ones. This makes it out of the question to undelete files from USB flash drive.

• Strong protection: Stash the flash disk somewhere safe to prevent it from being damaged by drops, water, or heat, all of which can cause data loss.

• Never format the USB: This will destroy the file system and will complicate the USB deleted file recovery further.

How to Recover Deleted Files From USB With Software?

In case you have not copied your USB disc anywhere, though its files are not yet overwritten, then you can employ a dedicated USB data recovery tool. Tenorshare 4DDiG can retrieve files that are hidden, corrupted, formatted, or erased from numerous storage mediums. It supports 2000+ file types, including audio, videos, images, RAW files, documents, etc. Here are this tool’s core functions:

• This app can rescue files missing due to system crashes, lost partitions, unbootable disks, virus attacks, and so on.
• This software supports recovery from popular brands of USB drives, such as Kingston, SanDisk, PNY, Samsung, etc.
• You can preview the recovered files by their path and type.
• A free version is available for Windows users.
• No technical knowledge required.

Here’s how to recover deleted data from pendrive with this tool:

Step 1: Connect your flash drive to your computer. Then, execute the USB deleted file recovery​ on the same PC. Choose the flash drive. Pick the file types you want to retrieve from the USB. Then, hit “Scan.”

Step 2: Pause or stop the scan to look at the results. Adjust tags or input keywords to locate exact files.

Step 3: Once you’re satisfied with the results, hit “Recover” to move the recovered files to a secure place on your computer or cloud drive.

How to Recover Deleted Files From USB Without Software?

Here’s how to recover deleted files from USB without software in 6 ways. Pick a method based on whether your files are hidden, or permanently gone, or if you have a backup:

Method 1: Check the Recycle Bin

External disks like flash drives feature a hidden “$RECYCLE.BIN” folder. Once you erase data from a USB, it moves to that folder, where it’s hidden from your eye. But you can reveal that folder to recover deleted files from USB drive​. Here’s how:

Step 1: Type “folder options” in the Windows search. Then, tap “File Explorer Options” (Windows 11) or “Folder Options” (Windows 10).
Step 2: Open “View.” Check “Show hidden files, folders, and drives.” Next, uncheck “Hide protected operating system files.”

Step 3: Tap “Apply.” Hit “OK.” Connect your flash disk to your computer. Next, open “File Explorer.”

Step 4: Choose“View” from the menu bar. Tap “Show.” Next, check “Hidden Items” to reveal the “$RECYCLE.BIN” folder.

Step 5: Open the folder. Select the erased files you want back. Restore them.

Method 2: Recover USB files via Previous Versions

In case you’ve activated the Previous Version backup on Windows, you can use it to recover deleted USB files. However, this feature is not for external disks, so you must’ve manually added the files/folders from the USB to the backup. Here’s how to recover deleted files from USB without software via Previous Version:

Step 1: Connect your USB to a computer. Right-click the folder where you lost the files.

Step 2: Tap “Properties.” Then, select “Previous Versions.” Select “Restore previous versions.” Step 3: Pick a version of the file that you wish to retrieve. Hit “Restore.”

Method 3: Recover USB files By Windows Backups

You can also recover deleted USB files if you’ve activated the Windows Backup & Restore feature. This function only backs up your system data. But if you have copied the contents of your flash drive to your computer, they’ll be included in the backup as well. The following is how to recover deleted files from USB without software with Windows Backup & Restore:

Step 1: Type “con” in the Windows search. Then, open “Control Panel.”

Step 2: Beneath “System and Security,” select “Backup and Restore (Windows 7).”

Step 3: Choose “Restore my files.” Next, pick a backup that contains the erased USB files. Hit “Next” to export it to a secure place on your computer.

Method 4: Check Your Cloud Backup

If you have uploaded your USB files to the cloud, like Google Drive or OneDrive, before they got erased, then you can undelete files from USB flash drive. To do so, here’s an example of Google Drive:

Step 1: Visit “drive.google.com.” Then, sign in to your account.

Step 2: Pick your USB backup files. Press “Shift + Click” to choose many.

Step 3: Right-click. Then, tap “Download.” Choose your hard disk as the destination.

Method 5: Undelete USB Files Using CMD

Sometimes, your USB files are not erased, but malware might corrupt and hide them from your view. So, you’ll think they’re removed. However, you can employ CMD commands like CHDKSK and ATTRIB to repair and get them back. Here’s how to recover deleted data from pendrive that has not been erased, actually, using CMD:

Step 1: Connect your USB to a computer. Then, type “CMD” in the Windows search. Open “Command Prompt.”

Step 2: Type the following commands one after the other. Hit “Enter” after each one:

• chkdsk [USB disk letter]: /f /r
• ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D [USB disk letter]:*.*

Method 6: Contact Data Recovery Services

When you are not able to retrieve files with or without software in a given situation, then seek the help of a reputable flash drive recovery company. These experts possess the right tools and skills to retrieve data from damaged storage mediums. Find a service that is well reviewed, get a quote, and ship your USB to them in case you are satisfied. The cost of recovery will depend on how complicated the process is and the size of the files.

Other Common Causes of USB Data Loss

There are numerous reasons as to why you might lose files from your flash drive. Here are the most frequent ones:

1. Files are erased from the flash drive by mistake.
2. Failure in formatting the USB can destroy all the information contained in it.
3. The file system of a USB can get corrupted due to improper ejection, power loss, or malicious programs.
4. The USB can lose data when bent, broken, or when in contact with water or heat.
5. The malicious programs may destroy and/or conceal files in a USB.
6. USB areas become unusable with time.
7. It may lead to loss of data when the USB is removed while the files are being copied.

Conclusion

We have provided answers to your queries: “Can you recover deleted files from a USB flash drive​, and if yes, how?” It’s viable to recover deleted files from USB drive unless they’re overwritten. You can examine the hidden Recycle Bin folder of your pendrive, restore from a backup, or employ CMD commands to rescue flash disk data.

But if the files aren’t hidden or you don’t possess a backup, then a tool like 4DDiG Data Recovery is the most appropriate option. It can scan, preview, and restore files from numerous data loss scenarios and storage mediums with high success.