How can you recover deleted files from a flash drive

​Flash drives also known as USB drives, thumb drives, or pen drives are incredibly popular due to their portability, speed, and convenience. They’re used daily to store everything from photos and videos to important work documents and school assignments. But because of their portability and frequent use, flash drives are also prone to data loss. Whether it’s from accidental deletion, formatting, or unexpected corruption, losing files from a flash drive can feel catastrophic.

This is key: when you delete a file from a flash drive, the file system marks its location as available for new data. Until new data is written over that space, the deleted file remains recoverable.

First Things First: Stop Using the Flash Drive

The single most important rule when attempting to recover deleted files is to stop using the flash drive immediately. Every new file you copy to it increases the risk of overwriting the space where your deleted files were stored. The more you use the drive after deletion, the lower your chances of recovery.

So if you’ve just realized you’ve deleted files from your flash drive, remove it from your computer and avoid saving anything new to it until recovery is complete.

Step 1: Check for Basic Recovery Options

While flash drive files usually don’t go to the Recycle Bin, it’s still worth checking, especially if you transferred the files from your computer and then deleted them there. If you deleted the file from your desktop or a folder that was synced with the USB, it might still be in your system’s trash folder.

On Windows:

Open the Recycle Bin from the desktop.

Search for your deleted file.

If found, right-click it and select “Restore.”

On macOS:

Open the Trash icon from the dock.

Search for your file.

Right-click and select “Put Back” to restore it.

If the file isn’t in the Trash or Recycle Bin, proceed to more advanced recovery methods.

Step 2: Try File History or Backup Services

If you have a backup system in place, this might be the easiest recovery path.

Windows File History:

If File History is enabled, you might be able to recover an earlier version of the file or folder:

Navigate to the folder where the file was originally saved.

Right-click and choose “Restore previous versions.”

If available, select a version that predates the deletion and click “Restore.”

macOS Time Machine:

Open the folder where the file was last located.

Launch Time Machine from the menu bar.

Browse the timeline and restore the deleted file.

Cloud Services:

If your flash drive data was synced with cloud storage like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, log into your account and check the “Deleted Files” or “Trash” section. These services usually retain deleted files for up to 30 days.

Step 3: Use Data Recovery Software

If the file isn’t in the Recycle Bin, Trash, or backed up, your next best option is to use specialized data recovery software. These tools scan the storage device for deleted files that are still physically present on the drive but marked as invisible by the system.

How Recovery Software Works

When files are deleted from a flash drive, they are not immediately destroyed. Instead, the operating system removes the reference to them in the file table. Recovery software looks for these orphaned files and reconstructs them for recovery.

Choosing the Right Software

There are many reliable data recovery programs available. Here are some user-friendly options:

Panda Assistant

Panda Assistant works by scanning the flash drive for deleted or hidden files that still reside on the device’s storage sectors. Thanks to its smart recovery engine, even files that appear permanently lost can often be recovered in just a few steps.

To begin, plug your flash drive into your computer and launch Panda Assistant. Select the flash drive from the list of detected devices, then choose either Quick Scan for recently deleted files or Deep Scan for a more thorough search. Deep Scan is especially effective if the flash drive was formatted or has become unreadable.

Once scanning is complete, Panda Assistant will display a list of recoverable files. You can preview many file types—such as images and documents before selecting what you want to recover. Choose a safe location on your computer or another external drive to save the restored files and avoid overwriting lost data.

Steps to Recover Deleted Files Using Recovery Software

Download and Install Software

Make sure to install the recovery software on your computer—not the flash drive. Installing it on the drive itself may overwrite the deleted files.

Insert Your Flash Drive

Connect your USB flash drive to the computer. Ensure it’s detected and assigned a drive letter.

Launch the Recovery Program

Open the software and select the flash drive from the list of available drives.

Choose Scan Type

Most tools offer a quick scan and a deep scan. Start with a quick scan. If you don’t find your files, move to a deep scan for a more thorough search.

Preview and Select Files

Once the scan completes, browse the list of recoverable files. Preview files (like images or documents) to ensure they’re intact.

Recover and Save

Choose a safe location to save the recovered files—never back to the flash drive itself.

Recovery can take a few minutes to several hours depending on the size of the drive and the extent of file loss.

Step 4: Recover Files from a Formatted Flash Drive

Accidentally formatted your flash drive? Don’t worry—file recovery is still possible.

When a flash drive is formatted, the operating system wipes the file allocation table, but the actual data remains on the drive until overwritten. Most recovery programs include the ability to scan formatted drives.

Steps:

Open your recovery software.

Select the formatted flash drive.

Choose the deep scan option.

Wait for the software to rebuild the file structure.

Preview and restore files as needed.

In many cases, files can be recovered even after a full format, especially if the drive hasn’t been reused since.

Step 5: Recover Files from a Corrupted Flash Drive

If your flash drive becomes corrupted and unreadable, it might still be recoverable.

Symptoms of corruption include:

Flash drive not showing in File Explorer.

You’re prompted to format the drive when inserting it.

The drive shows as RAW format.

In such cases, try the following:

On Windows:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Type: chkdsk X: /f (Replace X with your flash drive’s letter.)

Press Enter and wait for the system to attempt repairs.

If CHKDSK fails, skip directly to using recovery software that supports RAW drives, such as Disk Drill, Stellar, or PhotoRec.

Step 6: Try Recovering Files Using a Linux Live CD

If your flash drive is unreadable on Windows or macOS, a Linux system may still be able to mount and access it.

Create a bootable USB drive with a Linux distribution (like Ubuntu).

Boot from the USB and select “Try Ubuntu” (without installing).

Insert your flash drive.

Check if the file manager can read it.

If visible, copy the files to another USB or external drive.

Linux is often better at handling corrupted file systems and can read drives that Windows or macOS cannot.

Step 7: Use Professional Data Recovery Services

If your flash drive is physically damaged or unreadable despite using all available software, professional recovery may be your last resort.

Signs of physical damage:

Flash drive is not recognized at all.

It gets unusually hot.

It’s broken or bent.

LED light doesn’t turn on.

Professional recovery services like DriveSavers, Ontrack, or Secure Data Recovery have the tools and cleanroom environments to recover data even from physically damaged drives.

These services can be expensive, but if your lost data is irreplaceable, they’re often worth it.

Preventing Future Data Loss

Recovering deleted files is a relief, but prevention is even better. Here are steps to protect your data going forward:

Always Eject the Flash Drive Properly

Use the “Safely Remove Hardware” feature on Windows or “Eject” on macOS. Removing the drive during a read/write operation is one of the leading causes of corruption.

Back Up Important Files

Never store your only copy of important data on a flash drive. Keep backup copies on your computer, cloud storage, or external hard drives.

Avoid Using Flash Drives as Long-Term Storage

Flash drives are meant for portability and short-term storage. Use more robust solutions for archiving critical files.

Use Antivirus Protection

Flash drives can easily carry and spread viruses. Make sure you have antivirus protection on any device you plug the drive into.

Monitor for Fake or Failing Drives

Cheap or counterfeit flash drives may report larger capacities than they can actually store. Use tools like H2testw to verify your drive’s integrity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover files after a full format?

Yes, if the drive hasn’t been used afterward. Deep scan tools can often recover files from formatted flash drives.

Will recovery software harm my files?

No, most recovery tools are read-only and safe to use.

Is it possible to recover files deleted months ago?

Possibly, depending on how much new data has been written to the drive since the deletion.

Do recovery tools work on encrypted drives?

Only if you can unlock the encryption first. Encrypted data is unreadable without the correct key or password.

Final Thoughts

Losing files from a flash drive is an all-too-common occurrence, but it’s often fixable. Whether the deletion was accidental, due to formatting, corruption, or physical issues, there are multiple paths to recovery. The key is acting quickly, using the right tools, and minimizing further use of the drive until recovery is complete.

Start with basic recovery options like checking the Recycle Bin or your backups. If that doesn’t work, use recovery software tailored to your needs—whether for images, documents, or full drive scans. And if software doesn’t help and the data is valuable, don’t hesitate to consult professional services.