How to Recover Files from Formatted Hard Drive Free on Windows 11

Can you recover a formatted hard drive be recovered on Windows 11?

Yes, you can. Hard drive formatting is the process of preparing a hard disk for its first use. It consists of three processes: low-level formatting, partitioning, and high-level formatting, which is the process of creating a new file system enabling users to store data in separate partitions; it just deletes files rather than completely wiping data from the hard drive.

In other words, formatting does not delete the data; it only designates the partitions on the drive as accessible, and the saved data is retained until fresh data is put to the disk.

So, using a professional data recovery tool, you can retrieve data from a formatted hard disk. This is also why you should cease writing to the formatted hard disk if you wish to retrieve data from it.

Furthermore, the format type (rapid format vs. complete format) affects the speed of data recovery. The rapid format merely deletes files from the hard disk and rebuilds the file system, leaving data on the drive. The complete format not only deletes data from the disk but also overwrites it with zeros. As a result, data recovery from a completely wiped hard disk is extremely difficult.

Fortunately, the "Full Format" option is not enabled by default when formatting a hard disk in Disk Management. If you mistakenly format a hard drive/SSD with the "Quick Format" option, a data recovery application can help you retrieve files quickly.

Free recover files from formatted hard drive on Windows 11

You can use free built-in tools to have a try. Here are File History and Previous version you can choose.

1. Use File History to recover files from formatted hard drive

File History is a built-in feature that was introduced with Windows 8. With better user experiences in Windows 10 and 11, it has become a vital tool for Windows users to backup and file recovery.

It may back up your data to a specific hard drive on a monthly, daily, or even hourly basis, as well as browse and revert to a prior version of chosen files or folders. Even to save disk space, it only generates backups when a file or folder changes.

Step 1. Type "File History" in the search box and choose "Restore your files with File History" from the result.

Step 2. Next, search for the file you want to restore, confirm the file, and tap on the green "Restore" button.

Step 3. Then select "Replace the file in the destination" to begin the recovery.

2. Restore to previous versions to recover files from formatted hard drive

Restoring from Previous Versions is a free method for recovering files that were mistakenly changed on Windows. If you've already set up restore points or activated File History, you can simply access prior file versions. This procedure entails taking periodic snapshots of your system's settings, so that if a file is altered, an older version may be discovered in these points or File History backups.

Step 1. Find the file or folder you want to recover in File Explorer. Right-click and choose "Restore Previous Versions". Then pick the right version from the list under "Previous Versions".

Step 2. Click "Restore" to recover it to its original location.

Recover files from formatted hard drive on Windows 11 with Data Recovery Software

Many people do not back up their data before formatting a drive, thus you must understand how to restore a formatted disk without a backup. In this circumstance, a professional data recovery application, such as AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, has a good possibility of retrieving files from a formatted hard disk. It is a dependable data recovery software for Windows.

It allows users to recover files from deleted, formatted, or malfunctioning internal and external hard drives connected to a Windows PC, regardless of whether the hard drive is formatted in FAT, exFAT, NTFS, HFS+, APFS, or another format. This program can also recover data in a variety of forms, such as video, audio, photo, document, email, and archive, allowing users to recover them all at once and rapidly. 

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Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Click on "Recover" from the top menu, then select "Recover Data".

Step 2. Choose the USB drive that contains the lost files and click "Start Scan".

Step 3. After the scanning process is complete, a list of all deleted files will be displayed. Tick the checkboxes next to the lost files you want to recover, then click "Recover".

Step 4. Select a destination path to save the recovered files.

Step 5. Once the recovery process is finished, navigate to the chosen path to locate and access your recovered files.

Conclusion

You should now have a decent knowledge of how to recover files from a formatted hard disk in Windows 11. File History, while basic, is an excellent option for recovering formatted hard disk data free on Windows 11. Regardless, if you want a dependable and quick file recovery tool, AOMEI Partition Assistant can recover as many files as possible while also providing additional useful capabilities in various scenarios, such as disk cloning, GPT/MBR data safe conversion, app mover... There is also a Server edition for Windows Server systems.

FAQs about recover files from formatted drive

Can I recover files after formatting my hard drive?

Yes, in many cases, files can be recovered after a hard drive has been formatted. Formatting removes the file system structure but often leaves the actual data intact until new data overwrites it.

How does formatting affect data on a hard drive?

Formatting erases the file system metadata on the hard drive, making it appear empty. However, until new data is written over the old data, the actual files may still be recoverable.

How soon should I attempt file recovery after formatting my hard drive?

The sooner you attempt recovery, the better. If you continue using the formatted drive, new data may overwrite the old files, making recovery more difficult.

Are there any risks associated with file recovery from a formatted hard drive?

There is a risk of partial or unsuccessful recovery, especially if new data has overwritten the sectors where the old files were stored. It's crucial to avoid using the formatted drive as much as possible until recovery is attempted.

Can I recover files from a quick format or only a full format?

Both quick and full formats can be recovered. Quick format simply removes the file system metadata, while a full format performs a more thorough wipe. Recovery chances are generally higher with quick formats.

Is it possible to recover all types of files after formatting?

The success of recovery depends on various factors, but in general, most file types such as documents, photos, videos, and more can be recovered if the drive hasn't been extensively used after formatting.