Guide: How to Recover Deleted Files from OTG PenDrives?

Learn how to recover deleted files from OTG pendrives via two different pen drive data recovery software on this page. Besides, there’re related USB data & partition recovery tips.

Penny

By Penny / Updated on April 2, 2024

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Can we recover deleted data from pen drives?

A pen drive also refer to USB flash drive is a portable device that allows users to save and transfer data among computers. Thanks to OTG/USB OTG, a specification allows USB devices to be attached to computers, greatly improving reading and writing speed.

usb-drive

In brief, although the pen drive is a small data storage device, it provides a large amount of capability. After deletion, it could be problematic for partial users to recover.

   
   
   
 

I mistakenly deleted some files from my pen drive last week. However, I didn’t realize it. Until this week, I found it. So how do I recover data from a USB pen drive? Thanks.

Please don’t be calm because you can still recover deleted files from flash drives before newly added data overwrite your deleted files.

Moreover, feasible solutions are essential to a successful USB data recovery process. If it happens to be your concern, please read further to get practical ways.

How to recover deleted files from OTG pendrives?

Since few users have taken proactive measures like disk backups to protect their USB data, they might have no choice but to seek assistance from professional pen drive data recovery software.

Option 1. Recover deleted files from OTG pendrives with pen drive data recovery software

How to recover deleted files from OTG pen drives with ease? There’ll be no better way than using one of the best data recovery software for Windows-MyRecover.

Supported by AOMEI Tech and provided with an intuitive GUI (graphical user interface), MyRecover aims to recover deleted & missing files from USB drives within three steps.

After deletion, please avoid writing new files to your OTG pendrives because any added files could overwrite the deleted & lost files. Once overwritten, it could be difficult to get them back.

Key features of MyRecover:
  • High-efficiency: Recover MS Office files, WPS files, folders, compressed files, images, audio, songs, videos, and websites, from internal and external HDDs, USBs, SD cards, etc.
  • Advanced scanning method: MyRecover runs Quick Scan & Deep Scan automatically to search all the recoverable files. Specify the filename, saved path, date, or size to filter your needed files.
  • Convenience: Retain the original filename, path, and format for the deleted files.
  • Excellent compatibility: Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems and be compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Server PC.
Download Software Windows 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Step 1. Connect your pen drive to the Windows PC and launch MyRecover. Then hover the mouse over your pen drive and click Scan.

select-usb-to-scan

Step 2. MyRecover will automatically scan your selected OTG pen drive. You can also preview or filter your needed pen drive data according to Document Type, Name, Path, or Date.

  • Name: Type the filenames of your desired files to narrow the search area.
  • Date modified: Set the date (today, yesterday, last 7/30 days, and so on).
  • Size: Filter the file size (<128KB, 128KB~1MB, 1MB~ 512MB, etc).

scanning-usb

Step 3. Go to the Missing Files Folder and select the files you want to restore. Then click the “Recover x files” button.

select-lost-images-to-recover-from-usb

Notes:✎...
After recovery, please remember to save your retrieved USB files in another drive rather than the original OTG pen drive.
MyRecover can recover your 30MB of files for free each time. If you desire to recover a large number of deleted & missing files from USB flash drives, upgrading MyRecover to the Professional or Technician edition is a more cost-effective choice.   

Option 2. Recover deleted files from OTG pendrives with Windows File Recovery

Is there another way to recover deleted files from flash drives freely? It turns out there is.

Windows File Recovery is designed to recover lost files from internal and external hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, SSD, and other local storage devices. But this command –line software can discourage many users from adopting it because there’s no GUI (graphical user interface) for you.

In other words, it’s inevitable for you to resemble the basic command line winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches] according to the file type and other factors.   

Notes:✎...
Windows File Recovery only works well with Windows 10 and above.   
This command-line software cannot recover cloud storage and network files.

How to recover deleted files from pendrives via CMD? Let’s show how it works.

Step 1. Figure out the file system of your OTG pen drive: Connect your OTG pen drive to the computer and press Win + E to open File Explorer > click This PC > right-click on your connected USB > select Properties.

check-file-system-usb-drive

Similarly, you can also refer to the following form to check the file system.

File system

Examples

FAT and exFAT

SD cards, flash or USB drives (< 4GB)

NTFS

Computers (HDD, SSD), external hard drives, flash or USB drives (> 4GB)

Step 2. Select the basic “Regular” or “Extensive” mode after learning the file system of your USB drive and data loss scenarios.

  • Basic (extensive & regular) modes and advanced (Signature & Signature) modes can support NFS, ReFS, exFAT, and FAT32 file systems.

File system

Scenarios

mode

NTFS

Deleted recently

Regular

NTFS

Deleted for a while

Extensive

NTFS

Formatted disk

Extensive

NTFS

corrupted disk

Extensive

FAT and exFAT

Any

Extensive

Step 3. Select some switches among the following switches.

Switch              

Description

Supported          modes

/y:

Recover specific extension groups, comma-separated

Signature

/p:

Saves a log file of the recovery operation in a different location than the default location on the recovery drive (for example, D:\logfile).

All

/a

Overrides user prompts, which is useful in a script file.

All

/u

Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin.

NTFS Segment

/k

Recovers system files.

NTFS Segment​​​​​

/g

Recovers files without primary data streams.

NTFS Segment

/e

To keep your results manageable and focus on user files, some file types are filtered by default, but this switch removes that filter. 

NTFS Segment

/e:

Specifies which file types are filtered.

NTFS Segment

Step 4. Go to Microsoft Store and click “Get” to download this tool on your Windows 10/11 computers. Then “Open” it.

microsoft-store-get

Step 5. How to recover deleted files from USB drives? Let’s take recently deleted PDF files as an example.

Please enter “winfr F: D: /regular /n*.pdf" in the window. 

winfr-regular-external-hard-drive-files

Step 6. Please copy the above command line in the command prompt window. To start the process, press the “y” key. To stop the thumb drive data recovery process, press the “Ctrl + C” keys.

Related Q&A about USB drives & USB data recovery

How to recover deleted files from OTG pendrives? If you’re unwilling to type the CMD and prefer easy-to-follow operating steps, MyRecover could be your top choice. Apart from that, there’re some related tips about USB drives.

Penny
Penny · Editor
Penny works as an editor at AOMEI Technology, while she's a tester and editor for AOMEI Data Recovery Tools. She enjoys helping users with data recovery issues on Windows and iPhones using simple and practical solutions. Outside of work, she has a strong affection for pets, particularly giant pandas.