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USB drives, also known as flash drives, are a popular solution for data storage and transfer. However, your personal files may be lost from USB drives due to several reasons, such as accidental deletion. Few things can be as annoying as data loss. What can be done? The good news is that there are multiple ways to recover deleted files from a USB stick, even if you don't have a backup. More importantly, you don't need to pay dozens or hundreds of dollars for USB file recovery. Here, we'll walk you through a comprehensive guide on how to recover deleted files from a USB drive for free. Don't stop scrolling!
Sure, with the right tools and methods, it's often possible to recover deleted files from a USB thumb drive. File deletion on USB drives is a quick operation that removes the file from the file system index without immediately erasing the data. Choosing the right method depends on why and how severe the data loss is. For everyday deletions or mistakes like formatting, free data recovery tools are enough. For more serious problems, you might need professional help or rely on your backups to ensure a successful recovery. Now, let’s take a closer look at how to recover deleted files from USB drive!
Some users may be wondering how to recover deleted files from a USB drive without software. However, things will become much easier with the right helper. As a top free data recovery software, Tenorshare 4DDiG can help users retrieve lost files in an eye of blink. Compared to manual recovery services, this tool is not only more cost-effective but also faster. Some of its key features include:
Recovers lost files from various storage devices, including USB drives, SD cards, PCs, external hard disks, etc.
Supports recovery of more than 2000 file types with a high success rate and without any loss in quality.
No technical knowledge required.
Allows you to preview the deleted files before you restore them.
Applicable to all data loss scenarios, including accidental deletion, formatting erros, virus attacks, system crashes, and more.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to recover deleted files from a USB drive with the help of 4DDiG:
Step 1: First of all, insert your USB drive into a USB port on the computer. Download the 4DDiG Data Recovery tool on your Windows or Mac. Once installed, launch the app and select the USB drive from the main interface. It's very likely that 4DDiG will find thousands of recoverable files during the scan, including those you don't need anymore. So, before scanning, you'll be prompted to select the file types you want to recover.
Step 2: Now, 4DDiG Data Recovery will start a quick scan. In the left sidebar, you can quickly locate the target files by switching between the file view and the tree view. If the lost files are not found after a quick scan, 4DDiG will automatically initiate a deep scan. This mode conducts a more thorough scan of your USB drive, but it will take more time.
Step 3: After the scan is complete, Tenorshare 4DDiG allows you to preview recoverable files to ensure data integrity. You can select the desired files and simply click on the "Recover" button to get them back on your computer. In addition, 4DDiG provides a built-in file repair feature if your videos or photos can't be viewed after recovery
Files deleted from external storage devices are not moved to the Recycle Bin as usual, which makes USB file recovery challenging. However, if you have enabled File History to back up data on the USB drive, you can easily recover deleted files from a USB drive without software. This native tool also allows you to restore earlier versions of deleted files.
Step 1: After connecting the USB drive, open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E on your keyboard. Locate your flash drive, right-click on it, and opt for "Properties" from the menu.
Step 2: Go to the "Previous Versions" tab. Keep in mind that this tab will only appear if you had enabled File History before deleting the files.
Step 3: Select an earlier version that contains the deleted files followed by clicking on "Open." Then, opt for "Open in File History" from the dropdown menu
Step 4: To recover the deleted file, select it and hit the "Restore" button below.
Still wondering how to recover deleted files from a USB drive without software? If you are one of those who regularly back up data, congrats, because the Windows Backup tool can help you restore files to their previous state. Despite Microsoft no longer providing updates for it in the latest operating systems, it remains the preferred backup and recovery tool for many Windows users. Follow these steps to recover deleted files from USB drive for free:
Step 1: Ensure your flash drive is connected to the computer. Press Win + R, type "Control" into the dialog box and click "OK."
Step 2: Use the search box in the upper right corner to open "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)." Then, proceed by clicking on "Restore my files."
Step 3: Windows will ask you to where your backup is located. If you’ve backed up your USB drive before, it should appear in the list. Once you select the backup location, take some times to find the files you want to recover.
Step 4: Finally, select them and click "Next" to initiate the recovery process.
For those with a bit of technical know-how, you can use the 'attrib' command to recover deleted files from a USB stick. In CMD, this command is used to remove the hidden, read-only, and system attributes of files. This method is free, easy to use, but it doesn't guarantee a 100% recovery of deleted files. If you are not much familiar with this built-in Windows utility, we strongly recommend using it with guidance. Here's how to recover deleted files from a USB drive using Command Prompt:
Step 1: Type "cmd" in the Windows search bar, right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator" from the menu.
Step 2: Type the "chkdsk X: /f" command and hit Enter. X is the actual drive letter of your flash drive(in my case it's C drive).
Step 3: Type "attrib -h -r -s /s /d X: *.*" and press the Enter key to recover hidden files.
Step 4: Once the command completes, check your USB drive to see if the deleted files are recovered.
Deleted files can't be recovered if their storage space is overwritten with new data. With that said, you now know everything related to USB deleted file recovery. If you want to recover deleted files from a USB drive for free, give Tenorshare 4DDiG a shot. It is one of the best free USB drive data recovery software in 2024. With just a few click, this powerful tool can help you get back lost files in minutes. Plus, it's always a good idea to create backups on a regular basis.
