How to Recover Deleted Folder from USB Drive: 3 Easy Ways

This article lists 3 solutions on how to recover deleted folder from USB drive. Please keep reading to retrieve your lost USB flash drive data efficiently and easily.

Kelsey

By Kelsey / Updated on April 2, 2024

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How can I recover deleted files from USB without software free?

I found that some of the video and audio folders that had been stored in the USB were missing, and I thought they must have been deleted when I connected it to my computer a few days ago to work on documents. But they are important to me. Please tell me how to recover deleted folder from USB drive? I searched on youtube for relevant solutions but to no avail, hoping someone would help me.

USB is recognized as a small and convenient way to store, users can save all the data they need to this small flash drive, plug, and play. But unavoidably, there is also a risk of loss of data stored in USB.

Reason for USB drive data loss

There are many reasons for file loss on USB, before learning how to recover deleted folder on flash drive, you can first understand the main scenarios where files are easy to disappear:

Accidental deletion of USB data by man.

Malware infects the USB drive.

Harsh conditions, the setting environment is overheated, humid, or flooded.

USB or computer hardware failure.

There is an error with the stored software.

Where do deleted USB files go?

Once the data in USB is accidentally deleted, it means that it is permanently deleted because the external storage device is different from the hard drive of the computer, and the user cannot recover the deleted files from the Recycle Bin. So doesn't the user have a chance to get their lost files back? Of course not!

Even if you can't find your files on USB now, they may still exist in them, but the occupied storage space is marked empty. Before overwriting them in new files, users still have the opportunity to recover data from USB. All you need to do now is pause using the USB drive to store new files and try out how to recover deleted folder from USB flash drive in 3 ways.

How to recover deleted folder from USB drive

Recovering deleted or lost files from USB is not impossible, please read a little bit, here are 3 ways to recover lost data from flash drive effectively.

Way 1. Recover deleted folder from USB using CMD

Windows' command-line tools are probably far more powerful than you think. In this way, users can effectively repair the faulty USB or retrieve the files that are hidden in it. You can get back lost files and folders on USB drive through the following two parts.

Part 1. Repair USB using CMD chkdsk

If the hardware of the USB drive fails, then the probability of losing data will be large. You can enter the command line of check disk to repair USB drive, it can help users check the logical and physical errors of the specified disk, and fix the problem after your files may be retrieved.

Step 1. Plug in the USB to the computer, hold down the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, then type cmd to open the program. You can also type cmd in the Windows search box and click Run as administrator to launch it.

Step 2. Enter the command line: chkdsk "drive letter": /f, and press Enter to confirm.

Tip: The CHKDSK command is short for check disk, (The /f command will fix any logical and physical errors found on this USB drive.)

Cmd Chkdsk

Part 2. Recover hidden files on USB Drive

You may also have set files in USB to be hidden in one operation, or some programs have hidden part of the files, you can use the command prompt to recover hidden files from USB by following these steps.

Step 1. Confirm that your USB is properly connected to the computer, then press the Win + X keys and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the drop-up menu.

Step 2. Then enter the following command line: attrib -h -r -s /s /d "drive letter" :*.*, click Enter to confirm. Then your hidden USB files will be recovered.

Attrib Cmd

You should know:
-h command assigns a hidden attribute to the selected file.
-r refers to the read-only attribute: the file is readable and cannot be changed.
-s assigns system properties to the selected file.
/s means to search the specified path, including subfolders.
/d command includes the Processes folder.

Way 2. Recover deleted folder on USB from previous versions

If you haven't recovered deleted files use CMD, then they may have been deleted. File History on a Windows PC automatically saves copies of drive Chinese and folders. You can view the list of file versions or restore points in Windows File History and find out the deleted USB data. Learn how to recover deleted files from USB free with the guide below.

Step 1. Right-click on the folder in the USB drive that has prevented the loss of files and select the Properties option.

Step 2. Click on the Previous Versions option in the pop-up window and look for any missing files from the list of file versions. Select it and click on the Restore button to restore it to its original location.

Restore Previous Version

Way 3. Recover lost folder from USB with data recovery tool

But not all users have the habit of enabling File History tools, and once they lose data, they may not know how to recover deleted files in USB drive. There is a way to help users recover USB flash drive data lost due to any error. You need MyRecover.

This professional data recovery tool can help users get back all permanently deleted files on USB easily.

Supports permanent deletion file recovery, formatted file recovery, and other data recovery methods.
Supports recovering permanently deleted files, formatted files, and other lost data.
Support recovery of 200+ kinds of data, documents, videos, pictures, audio, compressed files, etc.
Recover deleted files from USB flash drives, SD cards, HDDs, SSDs, and other storage media.
Compatible with Windows 7/8/10/11 and Windows Server, supports NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS.

You should click on this secure download button and install MyRecover to your desktop and then start recovering deleted USB folders:

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Step 1. Launch MyRecover, then hover the mouse over the partition or disk where you lost data and click Scan to scan it.

external hard drive start scan

Step 2. The tool automatically enables Quick Scan and Deep Scan, which will improve the efficiency of data recovery and you can see deleted and other lost files in the list.

external hard drive scanning

Step 3. Select the files or folders you need to recover from the scan results, if you want to recover to USB, please select them as the storage location and click the Recover x files button to start the recovery task.

external hard drive recover files

In the end

This post covers 3 effective ways to solve how to recover deleted folder from USB drive. Whether your USB is damaged or the files in it are hidden, you can get back your data smoothly. The easiest way is to use a professional tool like MyRecover to recover data from all lost USB drives.

Kelsey
Kelsey · Editor
Kelsey is an English editor of AOMEI Technology. She is passionate about helping people find effective ways to deal with all problems in computer. She has great insights into data backup and recovery, disk partition and clone, and other data protection measures. She likes learn computer skills to improve herself and enjoy quality time with family and friends.