Recover deleted files from pendrive

Losing files from a pen drive can feel like one of those mini heart attacks you plug it in, and boom, everything’s gone. Whether it was an accidental delete, a rogue virus, or your system just deciding to be weird that day, don’t panic. The good news? Those files might not be gone for good. You’ve got a few solid ways to bring them back, and we’re going to walk through them all.

Before we dive into any recovery process, stop using the pen drive immediately. Seriously. Don’t save anything new to it, don’t format it again, don’t even open random files on it. Why? Because when you delete something, it’s not really gone yet. It’s just marked as “okay to overwrite.” So the more you use the drive, the higher the risk of overwriting the very files you’re trying to recover.

Method 1: Check the Recycle Bin (Yes, It’s That Simple Sometimes)

Believe it or not, if you deleted files from the pen drive while it was connected to your PC, they might still be chilling in your Recycle Bin.

To check:

Open the Recycle Bin on your desktop.

Look for the deleted files.

If you find them, right-click and hit Restore.

That’s it. They should go back to where they were originally.

Note: This only works if the deletion happened via a Windows file explorer. If it was done via a different program or command line, they might bypass the bin altogether.

Method 2: Use Free File Recovery Software

Using Panda Assistant is simple. First, download and install the software on your computer. Plug in your pendrive, launch the program, and select your USB drive from the device list. Click on the “Scan” button, and Panda Assistant will begin a deep scan to locate all recoverable files. Once the scan is complete, you can preview and select the files you want to restore, then click “Recover” to save them back to your system.

Panda Assistant supports a wide range of file types including documents, photos, videos, and more. It’s compatible with all major USB brands and works on both Windows and macOS platforms. Whether your files were deleted recently or due to an unexpected error, Panda Assistant provides a reliable solution.

Method 3: Use Command Prompt (Windows Only)

If you’re a little comfortable with typing commands (don’t worry—it’s not too scary), Command Prompt can sometimes help bring files back.

Here’s what to do:

Connect your pen drive.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search “cmd” > right-click > “Run as administrator”).

Type the following and press Enter:

bash

attrib -h -r -s /s /d X:\*.*

Replace X: with the drive letter of your pen drive.

What this does is remove the “hidden” and “system” attributes from files that may have been made invisible due to a virus or corruption. Sometimes deleted files aren’t really deleted—just hidden.

Method 4: Restore From a Backup

If you’re one of those amazing people who regularly backs up their files (teach us your ways), then this might be the easiest solution.

Check your backup software (like File History on Windows or Time Machine on Mac).

Browse for the folder or file from the pen drive.

Restore it from the latest backup.

Even if it was a manual copy you made a while back, it’s still worth checking.

Method 5: Check Temporary or Cached Files

Sometimes, depending on the application used to access files on your pen drive, there might be cached or temp files still lurking around your computer.

You can dig into:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Temp

Recently opened files in Microsoft Office (File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents)

This method doesn’t always work, but it’s worth checking if you’re desperate and the file was something like a Word doc or Excel sheet.

What If Your Pen Drive Is Corrupted?

Okay, so sometimes your pen drive is being shady—it shows as RAW, unformatted, or just refuses to open. Here’s how to tackle that:

1. Don’t Format It Yet!

Formatting a corrupted drive wipes the file system, making recovery trickier. If you’ve already formatted, all hope isn’t lost, but recovery will be harder.

2. Try CHKDSK

Open Command Prompt and run:

bash

chkdsk X: /f

Replace X: with your drive letter. This checks for file system errors and tries to repair them.

3. Use Data Recovery Software for RAW Drives

Software like PhotoRec, EaseUS, or Stellar Data Recovery can scan RAW or unallocated drives and recover files without needing the file system to work properly.

Tips to Prevent This from Happening Again

Let’s be honest: nobody wants to be in recovery mode again. So here are a few tips to keep your pen drive safe:

Eject Properly Every Time – Don’t just yank it out.

Scan Regularly for Viruses – Especially if you plug your pen drive into random PCs (like public or work computers).

Backup Important Files – Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive—they’re free, and they’ll save you from a headache.

Avoid Filling the Drive Completely – Keeping some space free can help prevent file corruption.

Don’t Use the Same Drive Forever – Flash drives wear out. If you’ve had one for years, it might be time to retire it.

When to Call in the Pros

If the pen drive has physical damage (like it won’t even show up in Disk Management or emits weird noises), software isn’t going to help you. That’s when it’s time to reach out to professional data recovery services. They can open up the device in a clean lab and try to pull data directly from the memory chips. It’s pricey, but worth it for really valuable data.