Recover files from a formatted USB drive or hard disk

A quick format rebuilds the file system index but leaves your data where it was. That is why quick-formatted drives are often almost fully recoverable.

A full format - the box left unchecked in Windows, or a 'slow format' - writes over the whole surface and leaves very little behind. Which one ran matters more than anything else.

Stop doing these right now

Do not copy anything onto the drive, and do not 'test' it by saving a file.
Do not run disk repair, error checking or partitioning tools on it.
Do not reformat it again 'properly' - a second, full format is the end of it.

What to do, step by step

Step 1 - work out which format ran

Windows quick format (the default): high chance of recovery, including folder names.
Full format, or a format done by a camera, TV or games console: expect file carving only, with no names or folders.

Step 2 - scan from outside

Install the recovery tool on your system disk or a USB stick, never on the formatted drive.
DMDE recovers folder structure from NTFS, exFAT and FAT32 and is the best free starting point. PhotoRec works when the file system is unrecognisable but returns files without names.
Save recovered data to a different physical disk with enough free space.

Step 3 - sort the result

Scan results after a format are large and messy. Filter by file type and date range first, then preview before you judge whether recovery worked.
A file that appears twice is normal - the old copy and a partially overwritten one.

What decides whether it works

Quick versus full format - the single biggest factor.
Drive type: an SSD may have already TRIM-ed the blocks at format time; a mechanical drive usually has not.
Whether the drive was used after formatting - even one large copy can overwrite a significant share of the old data.

Not sure where you fit?

Answer four short questions about exactly what happened and get the right order of operations for your situation. Free, and nothing is ever uploaded from your device.

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Common questions

Is a quick format really recoverable?

Usually, yes. It writes a new, nearly empty index and leaves data blocks untouched. That is exactly why secure deletion tools overwrite instead of just formatting.

Can I recover the original folder structure?

With a quick format, often yes - DMDE and R-Studio read the old index remains. After a full format you get files, not folders.

The drive shows as RAW now. Is it broken?

RAW means Windows does not recognise the file system, not that the disk is dead. It is usually the boot sector or partition table, and it is a recoverable condition - but do not let Windows "fix" it.

Offline Recovery Kit

The right order of operations - and what to stop doing right now

$14.00One-time price · A single payment. No subscription, no recurring fees.

Get the kit

This kit does not promise a result. What it promises is that you will not make it worse.
Instant delivery: the download link appears right after payment and is emailed to you.
Full refund within 14 days, no questions asked

What stays free forever — The diagnostics tool and the guides on this site are completely free. The kit is an optional add-on, not a gate to reach the tools.

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Last updated: 2026-09-30