The Best 12 USB Flash Drive Recovery Tools

Whoops! Did you delete some important stuff from your USB drive by mistake? Don’t panic! Here is the key: stop using the drive right away!  New files you save can overwrite the ones you lost, making them impossible to get back. But the good news is there are special USB recovery software out there that can help you undelete those files. 

In this guide, we have put together 12 of the best data recovery programs for flash drives that can help you get your stuff back easily!

What Is USB Data Recovery Software?

A USB data recovery software to help you retrieve your lost files from your USB drive This software is designed to scan your storage device using advanced algorithms to locate any remnants of deleted files that are still hidden on the drive.

Now, keep in mind that this method may not work if files have been extensively overwritten. However, it can still be very useful in many situations and can save you a lot of stress and headaches. There are a variety of both free and paid options available, so you can choose a program that fits your specific needs and budget.

Can A USB Flash Drive Be Recovered?

Yes, a USB flash drive can be recovered. However, one important thing to note is that the chances of successful data recovery greatly increase the sooner you use the software after the files have been deleted. 

So, don’t hesitate if you think you have lost some important files, give these 12 USB data recovery software a try and see if they can help you retrieve your lost data!

Best USB Flash Drive Recovery Software in 2024 [Safe & Easy]

If you are looking for one of the best USB recovery software that is safe and easy to use, we recommend using Glarysoft File Recovery. 

Glarysoft File Recovery is a handy tool that helps you get back deleted files from your computer and flash drive for free. It can recover photos, videos, documents, and more. Here’s how it works: first, it scans your device to find the lost files. Then, it lets you preview and recover them. Plus, with the free version, you can recover up to 2GB of data.

Glarysift File Recovery Features

• Recovers Various File Formats: It can recover various file types including documents, pictures, videos, emails, and more.
• It Filters Files for Easy Searching: It allows you to sort the recovered files based on file type, name, size, and creation date which can be helpful when searching for specific files.
• Supports a Variety of File Systems: Glarysoft supports scanning FAT, NTFS, and NTFS + EFS file systems, which cover a wide range of file systems used in Windows.
• Recovers Compressed Files: This USB recovery software can recover compressed, fragmented, or user-encrypted files on the NTFS file system. This is a powerful feature as it can recover files even if they were compressed, fragmented (broken into pieces across the drive), or encrypted by the user.

Steps on How to Use Glarysoft File Recovery 

Step 1. Download and install Glarysoft File Recovery on your PC, and launch it. Plug in your USB drive, select its location on your PC, and click “Scan.”

Step 2. It may take up to a few minutes for Glarysoft to finish scanning your USB drive and display the results. 

Step 3. You can preview the recovered files, select the ones that you want to restore, and click on “Recover.”

Step 4. Once the files are recovered, click on “View Recovery”  to view the recovered files.

And that is how to use Glarysoft File Recovery to recover deleted files from your USB flash drive.

Other USB Flash Drive Recovery Softwares

Now let’s have a look at some other USB recovery software:

1. Recuva

Recuva is a tool designed to recover deleted files from your computer’s hard drive, recycle bin, digital camera card, or MP3 player. It can even recover files from damaged or newly formatted USB drives. Recuva comes in free and paid versions. Recuva’s paid version includes features like automatic updates and priority support.

Features of Recuva

• Recovers Data from a Range of Devices: It recovers deleted files from your computer’s hard drive, recycle bin, digital camera card, or MP3 player.
• Works with a Wide Range of Data Formats: It can also recover music file formats, pictures, documents, emails, and many more files from damaged or newly formatted USB drives.
• Advanced Features: It comes with features like automatic updates and priority support.
• Free and Paid Versions: Recuva comes with a free as well as paid version.

2. Disk Drill

The next USB recovery software on our list is Disk Drill. It is a data recovery software for Windows that can recover deleted files from various devices including hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more. It supports a wide variety of file types including photos, videos, documents, audio files, and more.

Features of Disk Drill

• Works with Multiple Devices: Disk Drill can scan multiple storage devices including internal and external storage devices, local disk drives, USB flash drives, and SD cards.
• Restores a Number of File Formats: This USB recovery software can restore a variety of file formats, like APFS, FAT32, NTFS, and many more.
• Deep Scan: It offers deep scanning for lost files
• Easy-to-Use: Its user-friendly interface makes it ideal for newbies.

3. Recover Emptied Trash with Time Machine

Time Machine is not exactly a third-party tool; in fact, it is a built-in backup feature on Apple computers that allows you to automatically back up your files to an external storage device. 

Features of Time Machine

• Automatic Backup: Time Machine automatically backs up your files hourly, daily, or weekly, depending on your settings.
• Tracks File Changes: It keeps track of changes made to your files over time.
• Easy to Use: Time Machine is very easy to set up and use.
• Keeps Your Data Safe: Time Machine encrypts your backups to protect your data from unauthorized access.

4. Wise Data Recovery

Wise Data Recovery is a quick and easy-to-use tool for recovering files from USB drives. It can help you get back compressed files, audio, videos, documents, and photos. After scanning, the software rates the recoverability of the files, making it easier for you to decide which ones to restore. It also offers an advanced search feature for quickly finding deleted data. 

Features of Wise Data Recovery

• Recovers Deleted Files No Matter the Reason: Wise Data Recovery can recover deleted files due to various reasons including accidental deletion, formatting, corruption, and more.
• Supports Various Devices: It supports data recovery from various devices including hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more.
• Fast Recovery Speed: This USB recovery software boasts a fast data scanning speed to recover your lost files quickly.
• Portable: It has a portable version that you can run from a USB drive, avoiding the need for installation on a PC.

5. Pandora Data Recovery

Pandora Data Recovery is a free tool that helps you get back files you’ve deleted from flash drives. It can recover all sorts of files, even ones that are encrypted, hidden, or compressed. You can use it to preview, search, and recover files from FAT and NTFS volumes, no matter what type of file they are. Plus, it can recover audio, videos, documents, and pictures from hard drives, memory cards, and the recycle bin.

Features of Pandora File Recovery 

1. Offers Quick and Deep Scans – Pandora Recovery offers a quick scan and a deep scan for data recovery:

• Quick Scan is a fast initial scan that focuses on recently deleted files. It is ideal for recovering files you just accidentally deleted.
• Deep Scan performs a more thorough scan of the drive, searching for deeply buried file fragments. It’s suitable for recovering files that have been deleted for a longer period or overwritten to some extent.

2. Lets You Preview the Files – Before fully recovering the files, Pandora Recovery allows you to preview certain file types.

3. Works with Various File Systems – This tool recovers data from various file systems, including NTFS, the most widely used file system in Windows, as well as FAT file systems often found in USB drives and older storage devices.

4. Partition Recovery – Pandora Recovery offers a dedicated partition recovery feature to help you recover data from lost partitions. 

6. Undelete 360 Recovery

Undelete 360 Recovery is a free software that helps you recover files and documents you have deleted, even from your computer’s internal disk or other external storage devices. It can also recover files that are too big for the recycle bin or were deleted using the “cut” command.

Features of Undelete 360 Recovery

• Recovers All Sorts of Deleted Files – Undelete 360 can recover files that have been accidentally or unintentionally deleted from your computer.
• Recovers from Various Resources – It can recover files from your computer hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, pen drives, and more.
• Can Recover Entire Folders – The program can recover both individual files and entire folders that have been deleted.
• Comes with a Preview Feature – It has a preview feature that allows you to see if the file is recoverable before you attempt to recover it.

7. SysTools Pen Drive Recovery

Do you have a USB drive that is not being detected by your PC? If yes then SysTools Pen Drive Recovery is just what you need! It is a tool that helps you easily recover your lost files from your USB flash drives and hard drives with just a few clicks.

Features of SysTools Pen Drive Recovery

• Recovers Permanently Deleted Files: Even if you have permanently deleted files from your pen drive, SysTools Flash Drive Recovery may still be able to save them.
• Recovers Data From Formatted Drives: This software can help you recover data from formatted drives.=
• Works with Corrupted Files: It also helps you restore corrupted files.
• Compatibility: SysTools is compatible with a wide range of pen drive brands.

8. Active Undelete Data Recovery

Active Undelete Data Recovery Software helps you get back deleted data from flash disks and other storage devices. It uses a unique method called “Signatures” to recover data. This means it can recognize and recover many different types of files. With its easy recovery process, Active Undelete Data Recovery makes getting your files back a breeze!

Features of Active Undelete Software 

• Recovers Data from Various Storage Devices: Active Undelete Software can recover files from hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, memory cards, and other storage devices.
• Compatible with a Range of File Systems: It can recover files from FAT, NTFS, NTFS+EFS, ReFS (Windows), HFS+ (Mac), Ext2/Ext3/Ext4 (Linux), and other file systems.
• Recovers Files from Damaged Partitions: Even if your partition has been formatted or damaged, Active Undelete Software may still be able to recover your files.
• Deep Scan: This USB recovery software can perform a deep scan of your storage device to locate and recover lost files.

9. Windows File Recovery 

Windows File Recovery is a free tool from Microsoft that helps you recover deleted files from various storage devices. It is available on the Microsoft Store and is designed to work on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Features of Windows File Recovery 

• Recovers All File Formats: It can recover a variety of file types, including photos, videos, documents, and more, from internal and external storage devices.
• File Signatures: Windows File Recovery uses file signatures to identify and recover specific file types, even if the file system is damaged.
• Supported File Systems: It supports NTFS, FAT, exFAT, and ReFS file systems, allowing it to recover files from a wide range of storage devices.
• Command Line Interface: Windows File Recovery also provides a command-line interface for advanced users who prefer working with commands.

10. TestDisk

TestDisk is a powerful open-source data recovery software designed to help recover lost partitions and fix disk-related issues. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. 

Features of TestDisk

• File Systems – TestDisk can recover lost or deleted partitions on a wide range of file systems, including FAT, exFAT, NTFS, ext2/3/4, and more.
• Recovers from Damaged Partitions – This USB recovery software can also recover individual files from damaged or formatted partitions.
• Compatibility – TestDisk is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, making it a versatile tool for recovering data on different platforms.
• Recovers Files from Damaged PCs – Lastly, this tool can be run from a LiveCD or LiveUSB, allowing you to recover data from a computer that cannot boot into its operating system due to a damaged disk or partition.

11. DMDE

DMDE is a USB recovery tool with an easy-to-use interface. It helps you recover lost or accidentally deleted data and files from your USB drive. Additionally, it can scan your portable device deeply to search for malware.

Features of DMDE

• Rebuilds Directory Structures – DMDE uses special methods to rebuild directory structures and files, even in tough situations where other software might not work.
• Located Data without Deep Scan – In cases of minor file system damage, DMDE can quickly locate data without requiring a full scan of the entire drive.
• Partition Managing – DMDE offers a simple partition manager for managing partitions on your storage devices.
• File System Compatibility – It also supports different file system features like NTFS alternate data streams and compressed NTFS files.

And that’s it; the 12 best USB recovery software to help you recover deleted files from your USB flash drives. 

The Bottom Line

If you have ever deleted files from your USB drive by mistake or due to a glitch, there’s no need to panic, as not all is lost! You can still get your data back! In this comprehensive guide, we have compiled a list of 12 of the best USB recovery software to help you restore deleted items from your USB flash drives. 

While, there are many ways to get back files you’ve lost, the easiest and best way is to use Glarysoft File Recovery. It’s a powerful tool that can find many types of files, on your flash drives and memory cards. It can also recover files you might have lost a long time ago, thanks to its special preview feature and thorough scans.