Lost Data from a USB Stick? Restore It in 3 Simple Steps!

USB thumb drives are great for storing data that you want to carry around but don’t want to upload to the cloud because you want it to be available on any computer offline. When you have data on a USB stick, you can use it practically anywhere without needing Internet access or logging into your cloud storage accounts. It’s also a great way to keep your data safe if you use encryption software and protect your files with a password.

However, just like all other storage mediums, USB thumb drives aren’t perfect. Your files can get deleted by accident, wiped away in a crash, or lost when you format the memory stick by mistake. In this article, we’re going to show you how to restore data from a USB drive in three simple steps.

Before Your Begin Recovering Deleted Files

Before you start recovering deleted files from your USB stick, you’ll need to do some prep work to ensure successful recovery.

First of all, stop using the USB stick immediately because otherwise you might overwrite the files you need to recover. Don’t forget to remove the USB drive safely before you move on to the next step.

Step 1: Download FileRestorePlus 

Once all the prep work is done, click here to download FileRestorePlus. It’s best to either download the program to your computer or to another USB drive, not the one from which you’re planning to recover files.

When the download is complete, run the .exe file. FileRestorePlus is a portable app so you won’t have to go through an installation process.

Step 2: Scan Your USB Stick

Now insert the USB stick into the PC onto which you’ve just downloaded FileRestorePlus, then open FileRestorePlus, select the USB drive’s letter and scan the memory stick for deleted files. Depending on how large the thumb drive is and how many files you have on it, the scan may take a while. Please be patient.

Step 3: Recover Deleted Files

Browse the list of files to find the data you want to recover. A green circle next to the file means that it can be restored, a yellow circle means that the file is only partially recoverable, and a red circle means it’s damaged so severely that it can’t be put back.

If the software finds too many recoverable files and you can’t spot the data you want immediately, use the “Search” feature to quickly find the files you want to put back.

If you’re trying to recover deleted files from a formatted USB stick, use the DeepScan feature. This scan mode will scan your USB drive very thoroughly and should be able to recover the files no other software can handle. Be aware that the deep scan can take a lot longer to run.

Once you’ve found all the files you want to undelete, select them and click on the “Recover File” button. You’ll be prompted to select where you want to put the restored files. Choose any location on your PC for that but don’t select the USB stick you’re recovering from because the first recovered files can overwrite the rest of the files you want to recover.

That’s it! Your files should be back safely!