Introduction
Losing files from a reformatted USB drive is a common problem that many of us face. As USB drives become cheaper and more versatile, we tend to store more and more valuable data on them. But when the drive is accidentally reformatted, those files can seem lost forever. Fortunately, recovering files from a reformatted USB drive is possible with the right tools and techniques. In this article, I will share my personal experience and walk you through the steps I took to successfully recover my files in 2024 after reformatting a USB drive.
How USB Drives Get Reformatted
USB drives are prone to getting accidentally reformatted in several ways:
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Connecting the drive to another device: When you connect your USB drive to another computer or device like a smart TV, it may prompt you to reformat the drive to a compatible file system. If you accept, all data will be deleted.
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Using disk utility software: Tools like Disk Utility on Mac or Disk Management on Windows allow reformatting drives. It’s easy to select the wrong drive and erase it.
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Malware or accidental command: Malicious software can reformat drives. Or a stray command like “format /fs:ntfs” can wipe a drive.
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Power failure: An unexpected power outage while writing to a drive has a small chance of corrupting the file system, requiring a reformat.
So it’s good to be very careful when connecting and managing USB drives to avoid accidental reformatting. But if it happens, don’t panic! The data is likely still recoverable.
Recovering Files from a Reformatted USB Drive
When a USB drive is reformatted, the files are not immediately erased. The space they occupied is just marked as available to write new data. As long as you avoid writing new files to the drive, recovery software can restore the original data. Here are the steps I followed to recover my files in 2024:
1. Stop Using the Drive Immediately
The first step is to avoid saving any new files to the reformatted drive. Any newly written data could overwrite the old files and make them harder to recover. So eject the drive from your computer and do not use it for anything else until recovered.
2. Use Data Recovery Software
Many data recovery programs are available in 2024, both free and paid. I chose Recuva since it’s popular and free. Install and open the software on your computer. Select the USB drive and choose to do a deep scan. This thoroughly searches the drive for recoverable data.
3. Select Files to Recover
Once the scan completes, the software shows recoverable files. I was able to preview image and document files. Select the files you want to restore, being careful not to choose partial file fragments.
4. Choose a Recovery Location
I suggest recovering files to a different drive than the USB itself, so they are not overwritten. I recovered to an external hard drive but you could also use another USB drive or your computer.
5. Allow Time for the Recovery
Depending on the amount of data, recovery can take a while. Be patient and do not interrupt the process. My 16GB drive took a few hours to fully recover 10GB of data.
Tips to Avoid Reformatting USB Drives
Here are some final tips to avoid accidental reformatting:
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Back up your data regularly – Don’t store the only copy on a USB drive.
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Check settings before connecting drives – Some devices may try to auto-format.
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Be careful with disk utility tools – Verify you have the right drive selected.
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Physically lock the drive if possible – Some have read-only locks to prevent formatting.
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Use “Safely Remove” feature – This avoids corruption from disconnecting early.
Conclusion
Accidentally reformatting a USB drive can be scary but recovery is often possible. Just avoid further drive usage, use data recovery software, select files to restore, choose a safe location, and allow time to recover. Follow best practices for drive connections and management to avoid reformatting in the first place. With proper precautions, you can minimize risk and recover lost USB drive data if needed.
