Can I recover files from a formatted USB flash drive?

Yes, it is possible to recover files from a formatted USB flash drive using Recoverit data recovery software. However, the success of recovery depends on various factors such as the extent of formatting and overwriting of data.

Will formatting my USB flash drive erase all the data permanently?

Formatting a USB flash drive does not permanently erase the data. The data remains intact until it is overwritten by new data. Therefore, it is possible to recover files from a formatted USB flash drive using appropriate recovery methods.

What are the common causes of formatting a USB flash drive?

Common reasons for formatting a USB flash drive include removing viruses, fixing file system errors, preparing the drive for a different operating system, or clearing out unwanted data to free up space.

What precautions should I take after accidentally formatting my USB flash drive?

After accidentally formatting a USB flash drive, it is essential to stop using the drive immediately to prevent overwriting of data. Avoid saving new files or performing any operations on the drive that might alter the existing data. Then, use reliable data recovery software like Recoverit to attempt recovery as soon as possible.

How to Recover Files from Formatted USB Flash Drive?

Sue Wayne

Dec 16, 2024 • Filed to: USB Recovery • Proven solutions

I got a flash drive when I connect it to the computer and I got the error message: You need to format the disk in drive G: before you can use it. Do you want to format it?", then I did format it. But I found that all my data on the drive is gone, I need to get them back. Can I recover files from formatted hard drive?

What you Should Do about the Formatted Flash Drive?

After your formatted the flash drive, the first important thing is you may not write any data on it, or the formatted data will not retrieve. The data on the drive is hidden and cannot access. On the following steps, we will show you how to recover files from formatted flash drive, we will introduce the best-formatted flash drive recovery program help you to solve the formatted drive.

The Best Free Formatted Flash Drive Recovery Software - Recoverit

The best-formatted data recovery, we recommend Recoverit Data Recovery software. It is a professional formatted flash drive recovery software, it can easily help you recover files including photos, videos, Emails, office documents. Restore files from formatted flash drive easily and effectively.

Recoverit - The Best USB Flash Drive Recovery Software

The formatted data recovery program can easily recover deleted files from USB flash drive on Windows and MAC.
Undeleted files from a formatted USB device, restore files after virus-infected USB, or any other data loss issue from USB flash drive.
Restore data from all kinds of storage drives like USB Drive, SD card, SSDs, HDDs, Floppy Disks, Pen Drive, etc.
Preview files before you recover them.
It provides a Free version to recover up to 100MB files, absolutely free.

Free Download | Win Windows Version Free Download | Mac Mac Version

Steps on How to Recover Files from Formatted Flash Drive

Download and install Recoverit Formatted USB Drive Data Recovery on your computer, and connect your formatted flash drive to the computer and detected. Follow the next steps to perform formatted data recovery on Windows computer.

Step 1. Select the "SD Card" section after launching the Recoverit Data Recovery program.

launch recoverit usb data recovery

Step 2. Select the formatted USB flash drive which you connect to the computer and click on Scan to start scanning the drive.

Step 3. The formatted flash drive data recovery software will start to scan the device to search your data.

scan the flash drive

Step 4. After the scanning, you can preview some recovered files. Select your files and retrieve them back by clicking "Recover" button. (please do not save any data on the formatted drive, or it will lose again.)

preview the files

The formatted Data Recovery software can easily to get your format data back, it also can recover lost files from other storage media like computer hard drive, Mac, SD card, USB drive, digital camera, etc. Download Recoverit Data Recovery software as below and try it for now.

Free Download | Win Windows Version Free Download | Mac Mac Version

Security Verified. 3,591,664 people have downloaded it.

How to Recover Data from USB Drive Using CMD?

For Windows users, they still can use the command prompt to recover data from a USB flash drive. Here are the steps:

Press Win+R to launch the Run box. Type in cmd and press Enter to open Command Prompt. And run it as administrator.
Type in the following command and press Enter to process:
chkdsk C: /f/x/r (replace C with the drive letter of the formatted USB drive.)

run chkdsk

When the process completes, the files should be recovered to the previous folder. If it doesn’t work, we still recommend you use the data recovery software to get the lost data back.