Can You Recover Files from a Corrupted USB?

What causes USB to become corrupted?

USB drives can become corrupted for various reasons, leading to data loss or making the drive unusable. Here are some common causes of USB corruption:

1. Improper ejection or removal

When you remove a USB drive without safely ejecting it first, it disrupts ongoing read/write processes, which can corrupt the file system.

2. Sudden power loss or power surge

Power fluctuations while transferring data or when the USB is plugged in can lead to corruption. A sudden power loss during data transfer can make files incomplete or damage the drive’s structure.

3. Virus or malware infection

USB drives are often used across multiple devices, which makes them vulnerable to viruses and malware. Malware can corrupt files, damage the file system, or make the drive unusable.

4. File system errors

Errors in the file system, such as bad sectors, can make it difficult or impossible for the operating system to read data from the USB. This is often caused by physical wear or issues with how data is stored.

5. Physical damage

USB drives are small and can be damaged physically due to dropping, bending, or exposure to water. Any physical damage to the connectors or internal components can corrupt the data.

To avoid corruption, always safely eject your USB drive, avoid using it on untrusted devices, and regularly back up your data.

Can you recover files from a corrupted USB?

Yes, it is possible to recover files from a corrupted USB drive. When a USB drive becomes corrupted, it often prevents the operating system from accessing the data normally, but the data itself may still be intact. Specialized data recovery software can often read and retrieve these files, as they’re designed to bypass certain types of corruption.

Additionally, if the corruption is due to logical errors rather than physical damage, the chances of a successful recovery increase. However, attempting DIY solutions without expertise might worsen the issue, especially if the USB is physically damaged. It's important to stop using the corrupted USB to prevent further data loss and enhance recovery success rates.

How to recover files from a corrupted USB using data recovery software

As long as Disk Management can recognize your USB and display the correct storage size, recovery software should work—even if File Explorer can't access it.

For this task, AOMEI FastRecovery stands out for its reliability, intuitive design, and powerful features. It’s highly recommended for recovering files from flash drives, with robust support for FAT32 and ExFAT file systems. AOMEI FastRecovery’s advanced scanning algorithms help retrieve as much data as possible, and it even assesses each file’s recoverability, allowing you to identify those affected by USB corruption.

Here’s how to perform corrupted USB drive recovery with AOMEI FastRecovery:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

How to regain access to files on a corrupted flash drive

In addition to using third-party data recovery tools, you can repair a corrupted USB flash drive and restore file access with the following four methods:

Method 1. Assign a Drive Letter

If your USB drive shows up in Disk Management but not in File Explorer, it might simply need a drive letter assigned to it. Assigning or changing the drive letter can resolve this issue.

Step 1. Right-click the Start menu and select Disk Management.

Step 2. Find your USB drive, right-click it, and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths.

Step 3. Click Add, then select a new drive letter from the dropdown menu.

Step 4. Click OK to confirm.

Step 5. Once done, check if the drive appears in Windows Explorer. If it still doesn’t show up, try restarting your computer and check again.

Method 2. Reinstall/Update the drivers

To repair a corrupted USB flash drive, you can try reinstalling or updating the device.

Step 1. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.

Step 2. Expand the Disk drives section, right-click on your USB drive, and choose Uninstall device. (If uninstalling doesn’t resolve the issue, try choosing Update driver instead.)

Step 3. Restart your computer, and the USB drive will reinstall automatically.

Step 4. Check if the issue is resolved afterward.

Method 3. Try CHKDSK

This section covers how to recover corrupted files from a flash drive using the Command Prompt. The CHKDSK tool in Windows is designed to inspect and repair issues like bad sectors, directory errors, lost clusters, and cross-linked files. This powerful tool can be accessed through Command Prompt with the appropriate syntax.

Follow these steps to use CHKDSK. Keep in mind that scan time will vary based on the USB drive’s storage size—larger drives will take longer.

Step 1. Connect the USB drive to your computer.

Step 2. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type cmd, and click OK.

Step 3. In the Command Prompt window, enter chkdsk C: /f /r, replacing C with your USB drive’s letter.

Step 4. Windows will then scan the USB drive for errors, identify any bad sectors, and offer options to fix them if possible.

Method 4. Using Windows Disk Check

The Windows Disk Check tool can help detect and fix file system errors on your USB flash drive, potentially allowing you to recover corrupted files. Follow these steps to repair your USB drive:

Step 1. Connect the USB drive to your computer.

Step 2. Open My Computer or This PC from the desktop and locate the USB drive.

Step 3. Right-click the USB drive, select Properties.

Step 4. Go to the Tools tab and click on Check under Error checking. Windows will begin scanning for and fixing any detected errors.

Step 5. After the process completes, try accessing the USB drive again to see if the corrupted files are now accessible.

Conclusion

Can you recover files from a corrupted USB in Windows 11/10? This post has given a full answer. When USB drives are failing, data recovery tools like AOMEI FastRecovery provide a reliable way to recover lost files, while built-in methods like assigning a drive letter, reinstalling drivers, using CHKDSK, and performing Disk Checks can also help restore file access.