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Jedidiahin's avatar
Jedidiahin
Iron Contributor
Aug 07, 2024

How to Recover Deleted Files from USB Drive for Free?

I accidentally deleted important files from my USB drive. These files are crucial for an ongoing project, and I'm hoping to recover them as soon as possible. I’ve tried a few basic recovery steps, bu...
switchbest's avatar
switchbest
Copper Contributor
May 26, 2025

Windows’ built-in tools like File History and Backup and Restore mainly work with internal drives. They don’t automatically back up removable USB drives unless you set them up manually beforehand. So, if you didn’t configure backups for your USB, these tools won’t recover deleted files from it.

Now, for recovering deleted files from a USB drive, Windows File Recovery is a free official tool from Microsoft that can help in many cases. Here’s a simple guide on how to use it:

  • Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
  • Run it as administrator.
  • Use a command like: winfr E: C:\RecoveryFolder /regular /n *

(Replace E: with your USB drive letter and choose a folder on your PC for recovery.)

  • Wait for the scan and recovery to finish.

If Windows File Recovery doesn’t find your files, you might want to try other pro tools like 4DD1G Data Recovery, which offer user-friendly options for scanning and recovering data from USB drives. I’ve used it myself, and it worked pretty well for me.

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