Effective Methods to Restore Deleted or Lost Files from Your USB Flash Drive

How to recover files from USB flash drive

In today’s digital age, USB flash drives have become an essential tool for storing and transferring data. However, due to various reasons such as accidental deletion, formatting, or virus infection, you might lose important files from your USB flash drive. Don’t worry; there are several methods to recover files from a USB flash drive. In this article, we will discuss some of the most effective ways to retrieve your lost data.

1. Use File Recovery Software

The most common and straightforward method to recover files from a USB flash drive is by using file recovery software. These programs are designed to scan your USB drive and restore deleted, lost, or formatted files. Here are some popular file recovery software options:

– Recuva: A free and user-friendly file recovery tool that supports various file formats and can recover data from USB flash drives, hard drives, memory cards, and more.
– EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: This software offers a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy to recover files from USB flash drives and other storage devices.
– Stellar Data Recovery: A comprehensive data recovery tool that supports a wide range of file formats and can recover data from USB flash drives, hard drives, SSDs, and more.

To use file recovery software, follow these steps:

1. Download and install the chosen file recovery software on your computer.
2. Connect your USB flash drive to the computer.
3. Open the software and select your USB flash drive as the recovery source.
4. Start the scanning process and wait for the software to complete.
5. Preview the recovered files and select the ones you want to restore.
6. Choose a location to save the recovered files and click “Recover.”

2. Check the Recycle Bin

If you have deleted files from your USB flash drive, they might still be in the Recycle Bin. To recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin, follow these steps:

1. Connect your USB flash drive to the computer.
2. Open the Recycle Bin and look for the deleted files.
3. Right-click on the deleted files and select “Restore.”
4. The files will be restored to their original location on the USB flash drive.

3. Restore from Backup

If you have a backup of your USB flash drive, you can simply restore the files from the backup. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Connect your USB flash drive to the computer.
2. Open the backup file or folder where you have stored the data.
3. Copy the files from the backup and paste them back onto your USB flash drive.

4. Use System Restore

If your USB flash drive has been affected by a virus or malware, you can try using System Restore to roll back your computer to a previous state before the issue occurred. To use System Restore, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “sysdm.cpl” and press Enter to open the System Properties window.
3. Go to the “System Protection” tab and click “System Restore.”
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point and restore your computer to a previous state.

By following these methods, you can recover files from your USB flash drive and retrieve your lost data. Remember to regularly backup your important files to prevent data loss in the future.