USB Flash Drive Data Recovery on Windows

Updated on Oct 17, 2026 | by Qiling

Quick Navigation:

Identify the USB Loss Scenario
Before You Scan
Recover Files From the USB Drive
After the USB Files Are Safe
Frequently Asked Questions

USB flash drives are easy to remove, format, or overwrite accidentally. Before trying to repair one, determine whether files were deleted, the device was formatted, or Windows cannot read its file system.

Identify the USB Loss Scenario

If the drive opens but files are missing, check hidden files and the original folder before scanning. If it asks to be formatted or appears RAW, cancel the format prompt. If the USB device is not detected at all, a software scan may not have a readable source.

Deletion from removable media may bypass the Windows Recycle Bin. The safest immediate step is to stop using the USB drive and avoid copying new files onto it.

Before You Scan

Test a known-good USB port and note the drive capacity. If the connector is loose or the drive disconnects, avoid repeatedly plugging it in; hardware recovery may be more appropriate.

Prepare a separate disk with room for recovered files. Do not run a repair utility or reformat the device until you have preserved the data you need.

Recover Files From the USB Drive

Qiling Deep Data Recovery provides the scan modes shown below. The mode in Step 2 is chosen for this specific loss scenario; it does not change the need for a separate recovery destination.

Step 1. Prepare a Healthy Output Disk

Connect another drive for recovered files. Download Deep Data Recovery to the PC rather than to the affected USB stick.

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Step 2. Choose USB/SD Scan

Use USB/SD Scan for an unformatted flash drive with missing files. If you know the USB was formatted, select Format Scan instead.

Step 3. Select the Original USB Device

Match the USB device by capacity and drive letter on the location screen. Click Scan only after confirming you did not choose the output disk.

Step 4. Review File Previews

Filter by expected document, picture, or video types and preview several candidates. If needed, use Deep Scan after the first pass.

Step 5. Save to a Different Drive

Select usable files, click Recover, and save them to the healthy disk. Open a few saved files to check integrity.

Save recovered USB files outside the flash drive

After the USB Files Are Safe

Check the USB stick for repeated file-system errors. A device that frequently becomes RAW or disconnects should be replaced rather than trusted as the only copy.

If the drive is not detected by Windows or shows zero capacity, recovery software cannot simply scan it by drive letter. Seek a hardware-oriented diagnosis rather than guessing another disk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I format a USB stick before recovery?

No. Format only after the important files are safely copied or recovered elsewhere.

Why are some files found without names?

A deeper scan can find file content after directory records are lost, so original names and folders may be unavailable.

USB Flash Drive Repair Tools
RAW USB Drive Recovery
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Recover important files before making changes to a damaged USB file system.