Discover the methods to retrieve lost data from exFAT drives in this comprehensive guide, offering helpful insights into exFAT file recovery.
Do you experience anxiety when important data is lost? Many users are urgently seeking methods of exFAT file recovery. Some also want to recover exFAT partitions after the deletion or disk formatting.
The good news is that exFAT data recovery is not an elusive concept; it is entirely possible.
Whether you have recently lost data stored on an exFAT drive, you might wonder about the feasibility of exFAT data recovery.
Luckily, it is indeed achievable. Moreover, you don't have to possess expert knowledge to recover your data; the process is relatively straightforward.
This guide will provide a step-by-step walkthrough for performing exFAT recovery, enabling you to retrieve your valuable data promptly.
Firstly, let’s dive into the definition and advantages of exFAT devices. Also, it is necessary to figure out why files are lost from exFAT drives before solutions.
The exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) format is specifically designed for flash memory devices like USB flash drives and SD cards. It is widely utilized by large storage devices, such as external hard drives, due to its seamless compatibility with Windows and Mac computers.
There are several reasons why the exFAT file system outshines its counterparts:
Data loss on exFAT systems can occur due to various factors, including:
Any of these factors, whether minor or major, can lead to data loss, emphasizing the importance of promptly initiating the data recovery process.
Multiple methods exist to assist you in recovering data from exFAT hard drives. We have curated 2 tried-and-tested techniques, ensuring successful exFAT data recovery.
As deleted files from exFAT devices (like USB flash drives & SD cards) bypass the Recycle Bin, traditional recovery methods become ineffective.
Employing trusted third-party software is the most efficient and straightforward approach to overcoming this challenge. But selecting reliable and professional USB or SD card recovery software is crucial for safety and efficiency.
These specialized tools simplify the recovery process across various file formats. Our top recommendation is MyRecover, the industry's leading data recovery software.
MyRecover ensures a seamless exFAT file recovery process in just three simple steps:
Step 1. Installation and launch of MyRecover > connect the exFAT drive > hover the mouse over the drive, and click Scan to Scan. Here we will take exFAT USB drive as an example.
Step 2. Utilize sorting options such as Date modified, Type, Size, etc., to preview and locate your files quickly.
Step 3. Navigate to the Other missing files section, select the desired files, and click Recover x files to recover data from exFAT drives.
E.g., Choose Image and select your wanted images to recover deleted photos from USB drives.
The free version of MyRecover allows users to recover up to 30 MB of files at no cost. Consider upgrading to the Pro or Tech versions for unlimited data recovery across multiple devices.
When attempting to recover files from a local hard drive, users often rely on Windows backups or attempt to restore previous versions of files.
Unfortunately, these backup functions are not suitable for memory cards and external storage media, as they only store copies of files from local drives.
Moreover, exFAT file recovery from the Recycle Bin and Windows backup tools is not possible for internal drives.
In such scenarios, Windows File Recovery—a file recovery application—can be helpful. Using different recovery modes and switches, this command-line utility scans the hard disk for deleted and missing files.
Follow these simple steps to utilize Windows File Recovery:
Step 1. Insert the SD card using a card reader and access the Properties of the SD card drive in "This PC" to identify the file system in use.
Step 2. Choose the appropriate recovery mode based on the drive type (use the extensive mode for non-NTFS drives).
| 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. Utilize switches to filter the files you wish to target.
| Switches | Meaning | Supported mode(s) |
| /n | Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc. | All |
| /y: | Recovers specific extension groups. | Signature |
| /k | Recovers system files. | NTFS Segmentโโโโโ |
| /segment | Segment mode; recovers files under NTFS drives using file record segments. | Segment |
| /signature | Signature mode; recovers files under all file system types using file headers. | Signature |
| /u | Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin. | NTFS Segment |
Step 4. Visit the Microsoft Store > click Get to install Windows File Recovery.
Step 5. Enter the command to scan the hard disk, specifying the source and destination drives. If it warns you: Windows File Recovery failed to create destination folder, it indicates that the command syntax is wrong; turn to the tutorial to correct it.
Example command: winfr F: D: /extensive /n *.jpg
This command will facilitate the recovery of lost pictures from the SD card, with all recovered photos stored in the specified destination drive.
If seeing Windows File Recovery stuck at 99%, check the tutorial to fix it.
A1: Yes, it is possible to recover deleted files from an exFAT drive using specialized data recovery software. Tools like MyRecover offer reliable solutions to recover deleted data from exFAT drives in just a few simple steps.
A2: Data loss on exFAT systems can occur for various reasons, including accidental or intentional file deletion, formatting of the exFAT drive, system errors, bad sectors, virus attacks, and drive corruption. It is vital to initiate the data recovery process promptly to maximize the chances of successful recovery.
A3: The exFAT file system offers excellent compatibility across different operating systems, including Windows/Linux/Mac. Unlike NTFS, exFAT allows read and write access to data on Windows and Mac platforms, making it a versatile choice for storage devices such as external hard drives/USB flash drives/SD cards.
A4: While some built-in backup and recovery options may be available for local hard drives, recovering data from exFAT drives often requires third-party software. Reliable tools like MyRecover and Windows File Recovery provide effective methods for exFAT data recovery, ensuring a higher chance of successful file restoration.
A5: Yes, during the deep scan process, exFAT recovery tools can detect fragmented files on the drive. Fragmentation is common in exFAT devices due to frequent data writing and deletion. You can recover fragmented files and restore them to their original state using specialized recovery software, ensuring a comprehensive data recovery experience.
This article introduces what is the exFAT file system, the edges of the exFAT file system, the causes of file loss from these devices, as well as the solutions to get back your files from the exFAT storage device.
Losing data from your exFAT hard drive, USB flash drive, or SD card can be annoying, but there is no need to worry because MyRecover offers the most effective solutions to recover data from exFAT drives.
Download this software now and regain access to your valuable exFAT data.