Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf files on a corrupted USB drive matter, stop using the drive and recover files to a different drive before trying to repair it. Formatting, initializing, or running a repair utility can change file-system information. Start by checking for another copy, then choose recovery steps based on whether Windows or macOS can see the USB.
What to do first when a USB drive is corrupted
- Stop writing to the USB. Do not save, copy, or delete files on it, and do not format or initialize it just to dismiss a prompt. A recovery attempt is not guaranteed to restore every file.
- Check the connection once. Try a known-good USB port or another computer. If the drive is physically damaged, repeatedly disconnects, or is not detected, stop repeated scans and consider professional assessment.
- Look for another copy. Check your computer, cloud folders, email attachments, and backups before scanning the drive. If File History was configured on Windows, it may let you restore earlier versions; it cannot restore files that were never copied or versioned. Microsoft’s backup and recovery guidance explains these options.
Recovering files and repairing a drive are different tasks. Recovery aims to copy files off the USB while preserving the source; repair tools modify file-system information to try to make the drive usable again. If the files are the priority, attempt recovery first and save results elsewhere.
Recover files from a corrupted USB in Windows
Use Windows File Recovery
Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery is a command-line app for Windows 10 and Windows 11 that can attempt recovery from USB devices. It requires a separate destination drive: the source USB and the destination must not be the same drive. Use a different internal or external drive with enough free space, not another folder on the USB being scanned.
Choose a mode according to the file system and what happened to the files. Microsoft’s guidance recommends:
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| Situation | Mode |
|---|---|
| NTFS; files deleted recently | Regular |
| NTFS; files deleted some time ago, the drive was formatted, or the file system is corrupted | Extensive |
| FAT or exFAT | Extensive |
Microsoft’s file-system table describes FAT/exFAT as common on flash or USB drives and gives under 4 GB as an example; it also lists NTFS for external and USB drives and gives over 4 GB as an example. Those are examples, not a rule for identifying every USB’s file system. If you do not know the file system, do not infer it from capacity alone.
Run a recovery command carefully
- Install Windows File Recovery from Microsoft Store if it is not already installed. Confirm the USB’s drive letter and the destination drive letter in Windows before running anything; do not guess.
- Open the app’s current instructions and choose the mode and any file-name, path, or wildcard filters that fit your case. Microsoft’s illustrative syntax for an Extensive scan is
winfr source-drive: destination-drive: /extensive. Replace both drive placeholders with the verified letters and follow Microsoft’s current syntax guidance. - Review the recovered files on the destination drive. Keep the original USB unchanged while you assess whether the files you need were recovered.
Microsoft’s current instructions and download are on its Windows File Recovery page. Its page notes that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025: PCs running it still work, but Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for that version.
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Can you recover files from a USB that says it needs to be formatted?
Do not accept the format prompt if you need files from the drive. Formatting changes the drive’s file-system information and is not a file-recovery step. If Windows can see the device and assign it a drive letter, Windows File Recovery may be an option; for a corrupted NTFS file system, Microsoft’s guidance calls for Extensive mode, and FAT/exFAT recovery also uses Extensive mode. Save recovered output to a different drive.
If Windows cannot see the device or it repeatedly disappears, do not keep attempting scans. Check the connection once with a known-good port or computer; if the problem persists or the data is irreplaceable, consider a professional recovery assessment.
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How to recover files from a RAW USB drive
“RAW” is commonly shown by Windows when it cannot identify the USB’s file system. Do not format the drive to clear the status if the files matter. If the USB remains visible with a drive letter, a Windows File Recovery attempt may be reasonable; use the actual file-system and corruption context where known, and save output to another drive. The available guidance does not establish a separate RAW-specific recovery mode, so do not assume a particular mode solely from that label.
Should you run CHKDSK on the USB?
Not as the first step when recovering the files is the priority. CHKDSK repairs file-system errors; it does not guarantee recovery of the files you want. Microsoft’s CHKDSK documentation says /f fixes errors, while /r locates bad sectors and attempts to recover readable information; /r includes the function of /f. Microsoft also warns that repairs to FAT file systems usually change the file allocation table and may cause data loss.
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Use CHKDSK only when repairing the file system is the goal—for example, after you have a backup or no longer need to prioritize recovery. It modifies file-system information. If you decide to proceed, verify the drive letter first and consult Microsoft’s current instructions for the relevant options. The /x option forces a dismount when necessary and includes /f; it is not a reason to run a repair on an unverified volume.
Use First Aid for a USB on a Mac
Disk Utility’s First Aid can check and repair some formatting and directory-structure problems, but Apple says it cannot detect or repair every disk problem. If files are the priority, copy what you can access to another drive before trying repairs.
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- Open Disk Utility and choose View > Show All Devices.
- Select a volume on the USB and click First Aid to check it.
- Continue with the USB’s containers and then the storage device, running First Aid on each applicable item.
Apple’s Disk Utility repair guidance says that if the disk is reported as about to fail, Disk Utility cannot repair it; back up what you can and replace the device. If First Aid fails, back up any accessible data before reformatting or trying other repair steps.
When to stop DIY recovery
Stop if the USB is physically damaged, becomes intermittently unavailable, or holds files that are too valuable to risk with further attempts. A reputable professional data-recovery service may be worth considering for specialist assessment. No recovery tool or service can promise that files will be recovered, and do not open the flash drive yourself.
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