Formatted or deleted files aren’t gone forever! Learn how to recover lost data from an SD card or hard drive using professional recovery tools. Whether it’s accidental deletion or reformatting, you still have a chance to restore your files.
Formatting is the process of preparing a storage device, such as a hard drive, SSD, or SD card, for use by creating a new file system. This process erases existing file structures, making the device appear empty and ready for new data. There are two main types of formatting:
Does formatting make files unrecoverable? Not necessarily. In most cases, formatted files can still be recovered unless they have been overwritten. If you perform a quick format, the actual data remains on the disk until new files overwrite it. Professional recovery tools can scan and retrieve these files. However, if a full format or multiple overwrites occur, recovery becomes nearly impossible.
Can files be recovered after formatting? Is there a way to recover files after formatting SD card, USB flash drive, or other types of drive? From the above content, we can know it is possible to recover files after formatting, but success depends on several factors, such as how the device was formatted and whether new data has been written to it.
Can I Recover Files After a Quick Format vs. Full Format?
Next, we will explain how to recover files after formatting, with and without a backup.
If you have a backup of your data via Windows File History before reformatting your storage device, you can easily restore your files. Windows File History is a built-in backup feature that automatically saves copies of your personal files, allowing you to restore them if needed. Here’s how to use it for file recovery after reformatting:
Step 1. Navigate to the folder where your files were stored.
Step 2. Right-click and select "Restore previous versions."
Step 3. Choose a backup version from before the format and click "Restore."
If you didn’t have a backup before formatting your device, you can still recover your files usingWindows inbuilt File Recovery tool and third-partydata recovery software. However, your success depends on acting quickly to prevent data from being overwritten.
Windows File Recovery is a command-line tool provided by Microsoft for recovering deleted or lost files from your storage devices. It’s especially useful for recovering files after formatting, accidental deletion, or even when files seem to vanish due to other issues. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to use it:
Step 1. Get Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store. Install it on your system.
Step 2. Search for “cmd”in the Start menu, right-click on “Command Prompt”, and select "Run as administrator."
Step 3. Run the Recovery Command: winfr source-drive: destination-folder [/mode] [/switches]
e.g. winfr C: D: /n \Users\YourName\Documents\*.xlsx
What the command does:
If the built-in tool doesn’t meet your recovery needs, third-party data recovery software offers another reliable solution. These tools are designed to scan your storage device thoroughly and recover a wider range of file types, even in more challenging scenarios such as deep scans after formatting.
To ensure an effective and complete file recovery after formatting, I recommend using MyRecover, a powerful and user-friendly Windows data recovery software designed to help you retrieve lost files after formatting, accidental deletion, or other data loss scenarios. Below is a detailed guide on how to use MyRecover effectively.
Visit the official MyRecover website or a trusted software platform.Install it on a drive different from the one you want to recover data from to prevent overwriting lost files.
Open MyRecover with administrator privileges to ensure it has full access to scan the drive.
Choose the formatted or damaged drive where you lost files.Start a Quick Scan first. If the lost files are not found, run a Deep Scan for better results.
After scanning, browse the list of recoverable files.Use the preview function to verify file integrity before recovering.(To preview all files, please upgrade to Professional or Technician edition)
Select the files you want to recover.Save them to a different drive or an external storage device to prevent data overwriting.
By following these steps, you can efficiently recover lost filesafter formatting using MyRecover.
Can you still recover files after reformatting? Now you know the answer. Formatting a drive doesn’t always mean permanent data loss. With the right recovery tools and prompt action, you have a high chance of retrieving your files. Whether using built-in Windows recovery options or advanced third-party software like “MyRecover”, the key is to “avoid overwriting data”and select the most effective recovery method.
The MyRecover can be an excellent choice to recover various types of files on Windows computer, no matter you need to restore data from corrupted drive, recover files deleted from Recycle Bin, retrieve files from crashed device, etc.
