How to Recover Lost Files on Your USB Drive in Windows 10

If you’ve been transferring files from your Windows 10 system to a USB drive and now find that the folder is unexpectedly empty, don’t panic. This guide will walk you through several steps to try and recover your lost files.

Step 1: Check the Recycle Bin

It's possible that the files didn't transfer properly and ended up in the Recycle Bin. To check, open the Recycle Bin on your desktop and see if your lost files are there. If so, you can restore them.

Step 2: Reconnect the USB Drive

A simple reconnection can refresh the view on your computer and display the files. Safely eject the USB drive and then reconnect it to your computer. This can sometimes resolve the issue.

Step 3: Use File Explorer

If the files are still missing, try checking the hidden files in File Explorer. Here's how:

Open File Explorer and navigate to the USB drive. Click on the View tab in File Explorer. Check the box for Hidden items.

Step 4: Check for Drive Errors

Drive errors can cause files to be inaccessible. Here’s what to do:

Right-click on the USB drive in File Explorer. Select Properties. Go to the Tools tab and click on Check under the Error checking section.

This process can help identify and fix file system errors.

Step 5: Use Data Recovery Software

If the above steps do not work, you may need to use data recovery software. Here are a few popular options:

Recuva: A user-friendly tool that can recover deleted files from USB drives. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Offers a free version with limited recovery capabilities. Disk Drill: An effective recovery tool that supports various file systems.

Step 6: Consult a Professional

If your files are critical and the above methods fail, consider consulting a professional data recovery service. They have specialized tools and expertise to recover lost data.

Important Tips

Stop Using the USB Drive: Avoid writing new data to the USB drive until you attempt recovery to increase the chances of success.

Backup Regularly: In the future, consider keeping backups of important files to prevent data loss.

Additional Tips for Successful Recovery

There are several factors that can result in missing files on your USB drive:

Removing the drive while data is being read or written. Failing to safely eject the USB flash drive.

To increase the chances of successful recovery, avoid using the drive further. Data stored on the disk is organized within a file system. When you instruct the operating system to delete a file, it doesn't immediately erase the file from the disk. Instead, it simply removes the reference to the file's location on the disk from its file system. This is where data recovery software becomes essential.

The Most Effective and Easy Way to Recover Missing Files on USB Drives

One of the most effective and easy ways to recover missing files on USB drives is by using Recoverit. Here's how you can use this software:

Install Recoverit on your system. Connect the USB drive to your computer. Launch Recoverit and select the USB flash drive in the Hard Drives and Locations section. It will automatically initiate a scan that is quick and thorough until the results are returned. After the scan is completed, you can select the files you want to recover and click Recover at the bottom to save the data you have chosen.

By following these steps, you should have a good chance of recovering your lost files successfully.