Deleted important files from your USB flash drive? Accidentally formatted the wrong drive? Here are our top picks for USB drive recovery software tested across all major data loss scenarios:
#7 Open Source:PhotoRec — Unlimited free, portable, all platforms
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Can You Recover Deleted Files from a USB Drive?
Yes — deleted files can be recovered from a USB drive in the majority of cases. USB flash drives (also called pen drives, thumb drives, or flash drives) use FAT32 or exFAT file systems. When a file is deleted from a USB drive, the device marks that storage space as available but does not immediately erase the actual file data. The deleted file content remains on the USB drive until new files are written over it.
There is one important difference between USB drive deletion and computer hard drive deletion: files deleted from a USB drive on Windows do NOT go to the Recycle Bin. They are permanently deleted immediately — which is why many users think USB data loss is unrecoverable. It is not. The data is still there, and dedicated USB drive recovery software can find and restore it.
The golden rule applies here as everywhere: stop using the USB drive the moment you realise files are missing. Remove it from the computer, do not plug it back in until you have recovery software ready, and never save anything new to it before completing the scan.
USB Recovery Works Well For
Accidentally deleted files from USB drive
Formatted USB drive (quick format)
USB showing as RAW or unformatted
Corrupted USB — files disappeared
Virus or malware deleted USB files
Incomplete file transfer — files missing
When Software Cannot Help
USB drive not detected anywhere — physical damage
Bent or broken USB connector
Water damaged or burnt USB drive
NAND flash chip failure
USB heavily reused after deletion — data overwritten
Low-level (full) format — much harder to recover
Best USB Drive Recovery Software — Full Ranked List
1
Stellar Data Recovery
#1 Best Overall
Best USB Drive Recovery Software Overall
Free Limit: 1 GB free | Platforms: Windows, Mac
USB Types: USB flash drives, pen drives, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB-C drives | File Systems: FAT32, exFAT, NTFS
Pros
1 GB free recovery — most generous free limit for USB recovery
Recovers from formatted, corrupted, and RAW USB drives
Supports FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS — all three USB file systems
Deep scan reads every sector of USB drive for maximum file recovery
Available for Windows and Mac — works with USB drives on both platforms
Preview files before recovering — no wasted recovery attempts
Works with all USB types: USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB-C
Cons
1 GB free limit — large USB drive recoveries need paid plan
Deep scan on 128 GB+ USB drives can take 1–2 hours
No portable version — must install on computer (not the USB being recovered)
Verdict: Stellar Data Recovery is the best USB drive recovery software for most users. The 1 GB free limit covers the majority of everyday USB recovery scenarios, and the wizard-style interface makes it easy for anyone to run a USB scan and recover deleted files without technical knowledge.
Recovers USB drives showing as RAW or unrecognised by Windows
AI-powered scan engine locates files on corrupted USB drives other tools miss
Recovers Outlook emails, PST files, and documents from USB drives
Works on Windows 11/10/8/7 and macOS with all USB formats
Cons
2 GB free cap — large USB recoveries need paid subscription
Deep scan slightly slower than Stellar on large USB drives
Subscription pricing less economical than one-time purchase tools
Verdict: EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is the best USB recovery software for beginners and first-time users. The 2 GB free limit is the highest of any USB recovery tool, and the three-step guided process is so simple that anyone can recover their USB drive files without reading any instructions.
USB Types: USB flash drives, USB-C drives, USB hard drives, pen drives | File Systems: FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, EXT2/3/4
Pros
95–97% USB recovery success rate in independent testing — best on this list
Byte-to-byte backup — create a safe image of the USB drive before scanning
S.M.A.R.T. monitoring warns if USB drive is failing before full data loss
Recovery Vault proactively protects USB files before deletion occurs
Works on USB drives formatted for Windows, Mac, and Linux
One-time $89 licence covers both Windows and Mac versions
Cons
Only 500 MB free on Windows — limited for testing larger USB drives
Higher upfront cost vs competitors
Slightly more complex interface than EaseUS for complete beginners
Verdict: Disk Drill delivers the highest USB drive recovery rate (95–97%) of any tool on this list. The byte-to-byte USB drive backup feature is essential for failing drives — create a safe copy of the entire USB drive first, then scan the backup image instead of the original, protecting data during recovery.
Free Limit: Unlimited free | Platforms: Windows only
USB Types: USB flash drives, pen drives, USB thumb drives | File Systems: FAT32, exFAT, NTFS
Pros
Completely free with no recovery limit — recover any amount of USB data
Portable version — run directly from another USB without installation
Wizard mode guides beginners through USB recovery step by step
Traffic light system shows USB file recoverability before recovering
Deep scan for formatted and corrupted USB drives
Trusted by millions of Windows users for USB drive recovery
Cons
Windows only — no Mac version for USB recovery
Not updated since 2016 — aging exFAT support can miss newer USB drive files
Limited RAW photo format support from USB drives
Lower recovery rate than premium USB tools on formatted drives
Verdict: Recuva is the best completely free USB drive recovery software with no limit on Windows. For everyday USB recovery — accidentally deleted documents, photos, or videos — Recuva handles the job at zero cost. The portable version is particularly useful: run it from a second USB drive without any installation required.
USB Types: USB flash drives, pen drives, USB thumb drives | File Systems: FAT12/16/32, exFAT, NTFS
Pros
1 GB free USB recovery
Scenario-based mode — select data loss type for faster targeted USB scan
Bootable USB recovery media creation — recover USB data even when Windows won't boot
Load previous scan results — no need to rescan the USB drive
Filter recovered USB files by type, date, and size
Stable and reliable on large USB drives without crashes
Cons
Windows only — no Mac version
1 GB free limit
Slower deep scan than Stellar and Disk Drill on large capacity USB drives
Verdict: MiniTool Power Data Recovery's standout feature for USB recovery is its bootable media creation — if Windows itself won't start, you can boot from a USB stick running MiniTool and scan your corrupted USB drive from outside the operating system. Essential for severe USB drive failure scenarios.
USB Types: USB flash drives, pen drives, USB thumb drives | File Systems: FAT32, exFAT, NTFS
Pros
2 GB free recovery — matches EaseUS on free limit
Fastest USB scan speed of all tools on this list
Very lightweight — minimal impact on computer performance during USB scan
Portable version available — no installation required
Traffic light recoverability indicator per file
Simple, clean interface — easy for first-time USB recovery users
Cons
Windows only — no Mac version
Cannot recover files larger than 2 GB even in paid version
No file repair for corrupted USB photos or videos
Weaker performance than Stellar and EaseUS on formatted USB drives
Verdict: Wise Data Recovery is the fastest USB drive scanning tool available — ideal for failing USB drives where you need results quickly before the drive becomes unreadable. The 2 GB free limit and portable version make it a practical choice for Windows users who need fast, no-install USB recovery.
Verdict: PhotoRec is the best completely free open-source USB recovery tool for technically confident users. Zero cost, zero limits, and 480+ file type support make it unbeatable for technical USB recovery tasks. However, the command-line interface and lack of filename preservation make it impractical for everyday home users.
How to Recover Deleted Files from a USB Drive — Step by Step
Follow these steps to recover deleted or formatted files from any USB flash drive using Stellar Data Recovery free:
Step 1 — Stop Using the USB Drive Immediately
Remove the USB drive from the computer, phone, or device. Do not copy new files to it, do not open it in File Explorer, and do not let Windows scan it. Every new file write can overwrite deleted data permanently.
Step 2 — Do Not Format the USB Drive
Windows and Mac may display a prompt saying the USB drive needs to be formatted. Click Cancel. Formatting the USB drive before scanning will make recovery significantly harder. The unformatted state is better for recovery software.
Step 3 — Download and Install USB Recovery Software
Download Stellar Data Recovery from the official website. Install it on your computer hard drive — never install on the USB drive you are trying to recover from. For Windows users with no spare drive space, use Recuva's portable version which requires no installation at all.
Step 4 — Select the USB Drive and File Types
Connect the USB drive to your computer
Launch Stellar Data Recovery and select file types to recover (All, Photos, Documents, Videos)
Select the USB drive from the list of available drives — it may appear even if not visible in File Explorer
Step 5 — Run Quick Scan or Deep Scan
Quick Scan: Searches the USB file system directory — finds recently deleted files in 5–15 minutes
Deep Scan: Reads every raw sector of the USB drive — finds files after formatting, corruption, or older deletions. Takes 20–120 minutes depending on USB capacity
Step 6 — Preview, Select and Recover
Browse scan results and preview files before recovering
Select the files you need and click Recover
Save to your computer hard drive — not back to the USB drive
After successful recovery, format the USB drive before reusing it
Understanding your USB drive's file system helps choose the right recovery tool and understand the recovery difficulty:
File System
Max File Size
Compatibility
Common On
Recovery Difficulty
FAT32
4 GB per file
Windows, Mac, Linux, cameras, TVs
USB drives under 32 GB, older drives
Easy — all tools support FAT32 well
exFAT
16 EB per file
Windows, Mac (modern), Linux (with driver)
USB drives over 32 GB, SD cards
Moderate — fewer metadata backups
NTFS
16 EB per file
Windows native, Mac read-only by default
USB drives used primarily on Windows
Easy — rich metadata, good recovery
Check your USB file system: On Windows, open File Explorer, right-click the USB drive and select Properties — the file system (FAT32, exFAT, or NTFS) is shown at the top. On Mac, open Disk Utility and click the USB drive — the format is shown in the right panel.
USB Drive Recovery Tips — Maximise Success Rate
Act immediately: The sooner you scan after deletion, the better. Every minute the USB drive is in use, new files can overwrite deleted data
Use a USB 3.0 port: Plugging a USB 3.0 drive into a USB 2.0 port slows the scan dramatically. Use the blue USB 3.0 port on your computer for faster scanning
Create a drive image first: Disk Drill's byte-to-byte backup creates a safe copy of the entire USB drive. Scan the image instead of the original — this protects data if the drive starts failing during the scan
Do not save recovered files to the same USB: Always save recovered files to your computer hard drive or a different USB drive
Do not format when prompted: Windows may ask to format an unrecognised USB drive — always click Cancel and run a recovery scan first
Use a portable recovery tool: Recuva portable or Wise portable can be run from a second USB drive — no installation on the affected drive needed
Try multiple tools if first fails: Different recovery tools use different scanning algorithms — if Recuva misses files, try Stellar or EaseUS
How to Protect Your USB Drive Data
Always eject safely: Use Safely Remove Hardware on Windows or drag to Trash on Mac before unplugging — never pull out during transfer
Back up USB contents regularly: Copy important USB files to your computer or external drive — USB drives are not reliable long-term storage
Use quality brands: SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, and Lexar have significantly lower failure rates than unbranded USB drives
Keep 10–15% free space: Full USB drives are more prone to write errors and file system corruption
Scan for viruses: USB drives are a common malware vector — scan with antivirus before opening files on a new computer
Frequently Asked Questions — USB Drive Recovery Software
Yes — deleted files can be recovered from a USB drive in most cases. When files are deleted from a USB drive, the device marks that storage space as available but does not immediately erase the file data. The files remain physically on the USB drive until new data overwrites them. The critical rule: stop saving new files to the USB drive immediately after accidental deletion. Every new file written can permanently overwrite your deleted data. Use USB drive recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery (1 GB free) or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (2 GB free) to scan and recover the deleted files.
If your USB drive is not recognised by Windows or Mac: (1) Try a different USB port on the same computer. (2) Try the USB drive on a different computer to rule out a port issue. (3) Check Device Manager (Windows) — if the USB appears there but not in File Explorer, it may show as RAW or have no drive letter. (4) If Windows asks to format the USB, click Cancel — do not format. (5) Open Stellar Data Recovery or EaseUS, select the USB drive from the list — it may appear even if not visible in File Explorer. (6) Run Deep Scan. If the USB does not appear in the recovery software at all, the drive may have physical damage requiring professional recovery.
To recover data from a formatted USB drive: (1) Stop using the USB drive immediately after realising it was formatted. (2) Connect the USB drive to your computer. (3) Download Stellar Data Recovery free and install on your computer — not the formatted USB drive. (4) Launch Stellar, select All Files or Photos/Videos, then select the formatted USB drive. (5) Run Deep Scan — this scans raw sectors and finds files even after formatting. (6) Preview recovered files and click Recover. Save to your computer — not back to the formatted USB. Quick formatting (not full/low-level format) leaves data intact and has very high recovery success rates.
Files deleted from a USB drive on Windows do NOT go to the Recycle Bin by default. Unlike files deleted from the C: drive (internal hard drive), files deleted from USB drives are permanently deleted immediately — they bypass the Recycle Bin. This is why you need data recovery software to recover USB drive deletions. On Mac, files deleted from a USB drive while it is connected go to the Trash and can be restored normally from there. On Windows, you must use USB recovery software like Stellar or Recuva to recover files deleted from a USB drive.
The best free USB drive recovery software with no limit is Recuva (Windows only, unlimited, portable). For the highest free limit with a graphical interface, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard free offers 2 GB. For the best scan engine with 1 GB free, Stellar Data Recovery is the top choice. For completely unlimited free recovery on all platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux), PhotoRec is the best open-source option though it requires command-line knowledge. For Windows users needing the fastest USB scan speed with 2 GB free, Wise Data Recovery is the quickest scanner.
USB drive recovery time depends on drive capacity and scan type. Quick scan on a 32 GB USB drive: 5–15 minutes. Deep scan on a 32 GB USB drive: 20–40 minutes. Deep scan on a 64 GB USB drive: 30–70 minutes. Deep scan on a 128 GB USB drive: 45–120 minutes. Scan speed also depends on the USB generation: USB 3.0 and USB-C drives scan significantly faster than USB 2.0. Always use a USB 3.0 port on your computer when scanning large USB drives — using a USB 2.0 port for a USB 3.0 drive will dramatically slow the scan.
Data recovery software can only recover files from USB drives that are detected by the computer — even partially. If the USB drive powers on, is detected in Device Manager, or shows any sign of life, software may still work. If the USB drive is completely undetected — not appearing anywhere in Device Manager, making clicking sounds, or showing physical damage (bent connector, broken casing, water damage) — software cannot help. Physical damage requires a professional data recovery lab with clean room facilities. Professional USB recovery costs $300–$1,500 depending on damage severity but has a high success rate for non-catastrophic physical damage.
To prevent USB drive data loss: Always eject safely — use the Safely Remove Hardware option in Windows or drag to Trash on Mac before unplugging. Never unplug while files are being transferred. Keep backups — copy important USB files to your computer or external drive regularly. Avoid full USB drives — keep at least 10–15% free space to reduce write errors. Use quality brands — SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, and Lexar USB drives have lower failure rates than unbranded drives. Scan for viruses — USB drives can be infected by malware that deletes or encrypts files. Use antivirus software and avoid inserting USB drives into untrusted computers.
Conclusion — Best USB Drive Recovery Software
For most users, Stellar Data Recovery is the best USB drive recovery software — 1 GB free, works on Windows and Mac, and handles all USB file systems (FAT32, exFAT, NTFS) with a clean, beginner-friendly interface. For the highest free limit (2 GB) and easiest guided recovery, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is the top choice. For the highest USB recovery success rate (95–97%), Disk Drill with its byte-to-byte backup feature is the best professional option.
Remember: files deleted from a USB drive on Windows do NOT go to the Recycle Bin. USB recovery software is the only way to get them back once deleted. Act quickly, stop using the USB drive, and save all recovered files to a different drive. For more data recovery guides, see our complete data recovery software hub.
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