Unformat USB | How to Unformat Flash Drive

Have you accidentally formatted your USB drive without backing up its contents? Don't panic, and all hope is not lost. Here, we provide multiple methods to guide you on how to unformat a USB drive in Windows 10/11, macOS, and Linux. With some simple steps, you can retrieve your precious data.

Table of contents

Part 1: A Brief Overview of What Formatting Is

Part 2: Precautions Before Unformatted USB Flash Drive

Part 3: How to Unformat a USB Drive in Windows 10/11 (3 Ways)

Part 4: How to Unformat a Flash Drive on Mac (2 Ways)

Part 5: How to Unformat USB in Linux

Part 6: Tips to Prevent Accidental Formatting of USB in the Future

Part 7: FAQs

A Brief Overview of What Formatting Is

Formatting, in the context of a storage device like a USB drive, refers to the process of preparing the disk for data storage. It essentially creates a new file system that allows your operating system to read and write data on the flash drive.

When a flash drive is formatted, it undergoes 3 main processes:

• 🗞️ Erasing Existing Data: All data stored on the flash drive will be deleted during formatting. This doesn't mean the data is permanently loss (unless a secure erase option is used), but the links to access the data are removed, making it appear as if the drive is empty.
• 💽 Mark Damaged Sectors: During formatting, the system checks for sectors on the USB drive that are bad or unusable, marking them as such if any are found. This helps prevent data from being written to these bad sectors in the future.
• 📑 Setting Up the File System: The thumb drive is structured so the operating system can understand and manage it. Standard file systems include NTFS/FAT for Windows, HFS+ for Mac, and ext4 for Linux.

In summary, although formatting a flash stick will cause all data to disappear, you still have a chance to recover them even without a backup. However, before starting to unformat flash drive, you can follow the following tips to increase the success rate.

Precautions Before Unformatted USB Flash Drive

Before attempting to unformat USB, it's essential to take several precautions to protect your data and maximize the chances of successful recovery:

• ⛔ Stop Using Your Flash Drive: As soon as you realize you've accidentally formatted your USB drive, stop using it immediately. Any additional data written to the disk could overwrite the space where your original files were stored, making recovery more difficult or even impossible.
• ⚙️ Don't Reformat It: Don't format it again without ensuring the success of the unformat flash drive. This will cause recoverable files to become corrupted. Even if you find the lost file, the system still cannot recognize it.
• 💢 Evaluate Your Options: There are multiple methods to unformatted USB flash drive, including software tools and professional services. Evaluate the pros and cons of each to determine the best course of action for your situation.
• 🔍 Be Careful with DIY Recovery: Although format recovery software is your best option in most cases, follow all instructions carefully. Any improper use can sometimes lead to further data loss.

How to Unformat a USB Drive in Windows 10/11

Losing data due to accidentally formatting a flash drive can be a frustrating experience, but there is hope. Fortunately, there are ways to recover what you thought was lost for good. They are:

Method 1. Use a Professional Tool

Without a backup, data recovery software is your best choice if files are lost in any way. They use unique algorithms to retrieve any data ever stored on the thumb drive. Here, you can try iBeesoft Data Recovery. Here are some of its key features:

Here are the detailed steps on how to use iBeesoft Data Recovery to unformat flash drive in your PC:

1. Plug your thumb drive into your computer. Make sure the computer recognizes it.
2. Open iBeesoft data recovery software after downloading and installing it.
3. Select your flash drive in the disk list and click the "Scan" button that appears.
4. After completing the scan, select the recoverable files in the file list and click the "Recover" button.
5. Select a location to save the recovered files in the newly appeared window.

Method 2. Use Windows File Recovery

It is a command-line utility that can recover deleted files in Windows 11 and 10. Here's a general guide on how to use Windows File Recovery to unformat USB free:

1. Download and install it from the Microsoft Store.
2. Run Windows File Recovery as administrator.

3. ype "winfr #: *: /x /y:JPEG,PDF,ZIP."

   # is the drive letter of the unformat flash drive

   * is the drive where the file is saved

   JPEG and more are the file types you want to recover

4. Enter "Y" to start scanning.
5. Go to drive* and find the "Recovery-Date" folder to view the data.

Method 3. Use File History

It will be helpful if you have used it to back up important data on a USB drive before formatting it. Here's how you can use File History to unformat thumb drive in Windows 11, 10, and more:

1. Connect your backup disk to your computer.

2. Click the "Windows" key and type "Restore your files with File History."
3. Click the left and right arrows to browse the backed-up files.
4. After selecting the files, click the "Restore" button to resave them.

How to Unformat a Flash Drive on Mac

Although macOS is a more closed ecosystem than Windows, there are still many options for unformat USB. Let's take a look at them next:

Method 1. Use Recovery Software for Mac

iBeesoft Data Recovery also has a version for macOS, which is the same as the Windows version in terms of performance. Therefore, it is still the simplest and most effective solution to unformat USB Stick. Here are the steps on how to use it to get your accidentally wiped data on a thumb drive on Mac:

1. Download and Install the iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac software from their official website.
2. Launch it, deselect the file types you don't need, and click the "Start" button.
3. Choose the USB drive you accidentally formatted and click the "Scan" button.
4. Once the scan is complete, it will display a list of files that can be recovered. Select the lost items and click the "Recover" button.

Tip: If your lost data is not entirely recovered, click the deep scan button at the top to extract more items.

Method 2. Use Time Machine

It is a built-in backup and restore tool for Mac. If you have used it to back up your important files, then you can use the following steps to unformat USB drive on Mac after you accidentally erase the drive:

1. Ensure your Time Machine backup disk is connected to your computer.
2. Click the "Time Machine" icon in the top bar and choose "Enter Time Machine."
3. In the Time Machine window, navigate through the timeline or different windows to find the items you wish to restore.
4. Once you've found the items, select them and press the "Restore" button.

How to Unformat USB in Linux

Linux is an open-source operating system. Although it has no user interface, it allows you to DIY at will. Because of this, it is loved by many technicians. If your computer uses a Linux system, then you can use TestDisk and follow these steps to unformat a USB flash drive free:

1. Depending on your Linux distribution, the command to install TestDisk may vary.

   For Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu, you can use sudo apt-get to install it.

   For Red Hat-based distributions like CentOS, you would first enable the EPEL repository and then install it with sudo yum.

2. Open a terminal and type "sudo testdisk" to run the program. You will need to enter your administrator's password.
3. After launching TestDisk, select the "Create" option to create a new log file.
4. Select the disk from which you unformat a thumb drive and choose "Proceed."
5. Choose the type of your flash drive table. Usually, it's "Intel."
6. Choose "Analyse > Advanced > Undelete" to search for lost data.
7. Select the find files, and choose "Copy" to save them.

Tips to Prevent Accidental Formatting of USB in the Future

Accidental formatting of USB sticks can result in the loss of essential data. Here are some tips to prevent unintentional formatting:

• 📤 Backup Your Data: To prevent future data loss, it's crucial to regularly back up your data. Use an external disk, cloud storage, or another safe location. This way, even if the USB drive is formatted, you still have a copy available.
• 📝 Properly remove your thumb drive: Whether transferring files or removing a device, you should wait for the process to complete and properly eject the USB. This prevents errors such as denied access and formatting before use due to file system damage.
• 🔒 Set Up Drive Permissions: You can set up permissions for your USB drive to restrict who can format it. This can often be done within the drive's properties in your operating system.
• ✔️ Physical Write Protect Switch: Some USB drives have a physical switch that allows you to write-protect the drive. No changes (including formatting) can be made to the USB drive when this switch is engaged.
• 🛡️ Install Antivirus Software: If you don't have an antivirus tool yet, install one to protect your flash drive from malware.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions on how to unformat a USB drive on Mac, Windows and Linux:

Conclusion

Losing important data due to an accidental format of your flash drive can be an incredibly frustrating experience. Thankfully, this article provides solutions that can help you recover lost files. Whether you're using a Windows PC, Mac, or Linux, unformat USB drive is a straightforward process requiring no advanced technical expertise. By following the proper steps, you'll be able to quickly restore your files and get back to using your USB drive as normal.