How to Recover Deleted Files from USB without Software [Free Methods]

Deleted Files from USB Not in Recycle Bin? Why?

When you delete files from a USB drive, they don't go to the Recycle Bin because the Recycle Bin is a feature designed for files deleted from your computer's internal storage. USB drives, external hard drives, and other removable storage devices operate differently, and Windows does not route deleted files from these devices to the Recycle Bin by default. So, you cannot directly restore deleted USB flash drive files from Recycle Bin as normal.

Instead, when you delete a file from a USB drive, it is typically marked as "deleted" and the space it occupies becomes available for new data. However, the file itself is not immediately erased from the drive. It remains on the USB drive until new data overwrites it.

How to Recover Deleted Files from USB without Software?

Although you cannot restore deleted files from pen drive by Recycle Bin, there are two other methods to help with the USB file recovery without downloading any software. They are:

Method 1. Windows File History

If you have enabled Windows File History feature before data loss and add the flash drive to the File History backup plan, you can use it to recover deleted files from USB flash drive.

Step 1. Type and search "File History" in the Windows search bar, then click "Open."

Step 2. Select "More options."

Step 3. Scroll down the page and click on "Restore files from a current backup."

Step 4. In the File History window, you can select a file/folder, multiple files/folders, or all folders from the backup drive to restore it. Finally, click the "Restore" iconto start restoring your files.

Method 2. Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery, developed by Microsoft, is designed to recover lost files that have been deleted from your local storage device (including internal drives, external drives, and USB devices) and can’t be restored from the Recycle Bin.

Step 1. Download it from Microsoft store and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup process.

Step 2. Select Windows File Recovery from the start menu and choose "Run as administrator."

Step 3. In the opened Command Prompt window, you can run the following command to restore data deleted from USB flash drive.

winfr H: D: \test /regular[recover files from H partition to a "test" folder in D partition]

If you want to perform a deeper scan and recover data from formatted or corrupted USB flash drive, use the "extensive" mode: winfr H: D: \test /extensive

To recover specific types of files such as txt files, add "n" parameter: winfr H: D: \test /extensive /n*.txt

Ultimate Solution: Recover Deleted Files from USB with Freeware[MyRecover]

While Windows File History and Windows File Recovery are free options to recover deleted files from USB without software, they have significant limitations: File History requires prior setup (most users don’t enable it for USB drives), while Windows File Recovery relies on complex command-line inputs, which can be intimidating for non-technical users.

This is where MyRecover shines—specialized data recovery freewaredesigned to simplify USB recovery with zero technical hassle. Its key advantages over above two tools including:

💥No Pre-Backup Needed: Recovers files even if you never enabled File History or have made any other backup.

💥Intuitive Interface: No command-line commands—just point, click, and recover.

💥Broad Compatibility: Works with all USB brands (SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, etc.) and file systems (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT).

💥Deep Scan Technology: Retrieves files lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, or corruption.

How to Recover USB Files in 4 Clicks with MyRecover

Step 1. Download & Install: Get MyRecover from the official site (no admin rights required).

Step 2. Scan Your USB: Launch MyRecover and select your USB drive. Click “Scan”to initiate a quick scan.

Step 3 (Optional). If necessary, you can switch to "Deep Scan" manually.

Step 4. Recover Instantly: Select what you need and click Recover. Save them to a secure location (not the original USB).

To preview and verify recoverable files (documents, photos, videos, etc.) before restoring, please upgrade to Professional edition.

To Sum Up

While with built-in tools like File History and Windows File Recovery, you can recover deleted files from USB without software,their limitations—such as mandatory pre-backups or command-line complexity—make them impractical for most users.

MyRecover eliminates these hurdles entirely. With its intuitive interface, deep-scan technology, and compatibility across all USB brands and file systems, it’s the fastest, most reliable way to recover lost data—no backups or technical skills required. Whether your files were accidentally deleted, formatted, or corrupted, MyRecover ensures they’re retrieved safely and efficiently.