♻️ How to Restore Data from a Formatted Pen Drive (Complete Recovery Guide)

Accidentally formatted your pen drive and lost important files? Don’t panic. In many cases, data can be recovered if you act quickly. This guide explains how to restore data from a formatted USB pen drive step by step.

⚠️ Important: Do NOT copy new data to the formatted pen drive. New data can overwrite old files and reduce recovery chances.

Can Data Be Recovered After Formatting?

• ✅ Quick Format: High chance of recovery
• ⚠️ Full Format: Partial recovery possible
• ❌ Overwritten Data: Very low chance

Tip: Stop using the pen drive immediately after formatting.

What You Need Before Recovery

• 💻 Computer / Laptop
• 💾 Formatted Pen Drive
• 📦 Data Recovery Software
• 📂 Separate drive to save recovered files

Method 1: Restore Data Using Data Recovery Software (Best Method)

Recommended Free / Paid Tools

• Recuva (Free & Easy)
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
• Disk Drill
• MiniTool Power Data Recovery

✔ Recuva is best for beginners

Step-by-Step: Recover Data Using Recuva

Step 1: Download & Install Recuva

• Download Recuva from official website
• Install it on computer (not on pen drive)

Step 2: Insert Formatted Pen Drive

• Connect USB pen drive to computer
• Wait until it is detected

Step 3: Launch Recuva Wizard

• Open Recuva
• Select file type (Pictures, Videos, Documents, All Files)

Step 4: Select Location

• Select USB Drive
• Enable Deep Scan option

Step 5: Start Scanning

• Click Start
• Wait for scan to complete

Step 6: Recover Files

• Select files you want to recover
• Click Recover
• Save files to another drive (not pen drive)

✔ Data recovered successfully (if not overwritten)

Method 2: Restore Data Using CMD (Limited)

CMD method works only if files are hidden or corrupted, not fully deleted.

• Press Windows + R
• Type cmd → Enter
• Type command:

attrib -h -r -s /s /d X:\*.*

Replace X with your pen drive letter.

Note: This method will not recover permanently deleted files.

What NOT to Do After Formatting

• ❌ Do not copy new files to pen drive
• ❌ Do not format again
• ❌ Do not install recovery software on pen drive

When Data Cannot Be Recovered

• Pen drive physically damaged
• Data overwritten multiple times
• Secure wipe / low-level format

Conclusion

Recovering data from a formatted pen drive is possible in most cases if you act fast. Using trusted data recovery software gives the best results. Always remember to keep backups to avoid data loss in the future.

✔ Backup is better than recovery. Share this guide to help others.