[Fixed] How to Recover Files from Corrupted USB Drive in 2024

USB drives are a popular solution for storing and transferring data. However, they can become corrupted for many reasons, including physical damage, file system errors, or virus attacks. Many users often ask, “Can you recover files from a corrupted USB drive?” The good news is there exist several effective methods for corrupted flash drive recovery.

In this post, we’ll talk about how to recover files from a corrupted USB drive, ensuring you can restore your files at a minimal cost (or even for free). Plus, we will share some basic troubleshooting steps to fix a corrupted USB drive. Let’s get going!

Part 1: Signs & Symptoms of USB Drive Corruption

Before discussing how to recover files from a corrupted USB drive, it’s important to step back and ensure that the drive is actually to blame. When many users find that their files on a USB drive are inaccessible, they often panic and immediately try various fixes without considering that the files themselves might be the culprit. In such an event, you should for surf for “How to recover corrupted files from a USB drive” on Google.

If your USB drive shows any of the following signs and symptoms, it is likely to be damaged.

• After ruling out connection issues, your drive still doesn’t show in “Disk Management” or “Device Manager.”
• The drive shows up as “RAW” or with a different name in Disk Management.
• When inserting your flash drive into the PC, you received a “You need to format the disk before you can use it” error message.
• Clicking, grinding, or rattling noises coming from the drive.
• Your computer freezes or crashes when the flash drive is connected.

Now, let’s look in more detail at how to recover a corrupted USB flash drive! As long as you choose the right recovery method, there’s a good chance to get back lost files.

Part 2: How to Recover Files from a Corrupted USB Drive?

Option A: Use a Dedicated Recovery Tool

When it comes to recovering data from logically damaged USB drives, we highly recommend using free data recovery software. One such tool is 4DDiG Free Data Recovery, which enables you to recover corrupted USB drives with just a few clicks. It works perfectly with nearly all the brands of USB flash drives, ensuring a seamless data recovery experience. Let’s glance at some of its key features:

• Regains data from various devices, including external hard disks, memory cards, USB drives, PCs/laptops, and more.
• Provides a preview feature that can help you view lost files before recovery.
• Allows users to recover data for free before making a purchase.
• Compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.
• Fast scanning speed and impressive success rate in corrupted flash drive recovery.
• Has a clean and simple interface, making it a beginner-friendly recovery option.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to recover files from a corrupted USB drive with the aid of this tool:

Step 1: First, download and install 4DDiG Free Data Recovery on your PC. Now launch it and connect your USB drive to the same computer. After that, select the flash drive from the main interface and Click on “Scan”.

Step 2: Wait patiently for 4DDiG to finish scanning. In the left panel, you can preview recoverable files by switching to Tree View or File View. To save time, 4DDiG allows you to pause or stop the scan once your target files are found.

Step 3: After you’ve selected the desired files, simply tap “Recover” and then select a safe place to save them. To avoid data overwriting, you can save them to cloud storage instead of the internal hard disk.

Option B: Use the Previous Backup

Provided you have a good habit of backing up your USB drive data regularly, then congrats, it’s pretty easy to recover a corrupted USB drive. Yes, you might find backup copies of lost files on your computer’s storage drive or in the cloud. This method is completely free, risk-free, and proven to be effective for all data loss scenarios. You just need to set up a backup plan in advance before data loss occurs and regularly update your backup files. On the other hand, the built-in backup solution in Windows also offers you an extra layer of protection.

Option C: Contact Data Recovery Services

Still, wondering how to recover files from a corrupted USB drive? We understand that dealing with data recovery on your own can be daunting, especially if your flash drive is physically damaged. So, if you’re not a tech guru, it’s often recommended to hire a professional to recover lost files for you. Compared to data recovery software, reputable data recovery services tend to have a better success rate most of the time because they are experts and possess advanced tools. On the other hand, you also should be prepared to spend big dollars on their work.

Bonus: How to Fix a Corrupted USB Drive?

Solution 1: Use the CHKDSK utility

Windows comes with a powerful command-line utility called CHKDSK, which can often be key to repairing logical errors on USB drives. Here is a guide on how to repair a corrupted USB drive via this native tool:

Step 1: Plug the affected flash drive into your PC. Once recognized, right-click on the Windows button and opt for “Command Prompt.”

Step 2: Enter the “chkdsk E: /f /r /x” command and execute it. Put in place of E the drive letter for your USB drive.

Step 3: If file system errors are the culprit of corruption, you should be good to go. Open the drive in File Explorer to see if it is now accessible.

Solution 2: Reinstall the Disk Driver

Another simple way to fix a corrupted USB drive is by reinstalling the buggy disk driver. This is particularly helpful when your drive appears in Device Manager but doesn’t pop up in Disk Management. Follow these steps to perform corrupt flash drive recovery:

Step 1: To begin, write “Device Manager” into the Windows Search box. Then, open it.

Step 2: Look for the problematic drive under “Disk drives” or “Universal Serial Bus controllers.”

Step 3: Right-click the USB drive. Next, select “Uninstall device” from the menu. Following that, reconnect the USB Drive to your computer. Now, Windows should automatically detect the drive and reinstall the necessary drivers.

Solution 3: Assign a New Drive Letter

When you plug a USB drive into your computer, it should be visible in Windows Explorer. If it doesn’t show up, there’s no need to search for “how to recover a corrupted USB flash drive” on Google. In most cases, this issue is often caused by a drive letter conflict. So, to resolve it here are the instructions:

Step 1: Run Disk Management. Then, right-click on an undetected USB drive. After this, tap “Change Drive Letter and Paths.”

Step 2: Click the “Change” button. Now, choose an unused drive letter from the dropdown list. Finally, click “OK” to confirm your choice.

Final Words

Now, forget all worries about how to recover files from a corrupted USB drive. Before performing data recovery, it’s best to diagnose whether your thumb drive has suffered logical damage or physical damage. Understanding the underlying cause is beneficial for you to find the right fix quickly. If you’re looking to recover a corrupted USB flash drive conveniently, Tenorshare 4DDiG is the one you should not miss. It can help you restore your memorable photos and other personal files without spending a lot of money, which is important for those who have a low budget.