By the XFileRecover team · Published October 19, 2026
First, protect the remaining data
Deleting a file can leave its contents on the drive until the space is reused. A visible file name or a scan result alone does not prove that the original contents are intact. Recovery is never guaranteed.
- Stop copying, downloading, or saving anything to the affected USB drive.
- Install recovery software on your computer or another drive, not on the USB you want to recover.
- Prepare a different drive with enough free space for the recovered files.
- If Windows asks to format the USB, cancel. Do not format it as a recovery step.
If the device is physically damaged, repeatedly disconnects, or contains irreplaceable data, stop repeated recovery attempts and consider a professional recovery service. This guide is for a readable USB drive after accidental deletion.
Check for another copy before scanning
Look for the original document on the computer it was copied from, in email attachments, cloud storage, or an existing backup. Copy any recovered backup version to a different drive while you investigate.
If you had already backed up the relevant folder with File History or another backup tool, check that backup. Enabling a backup now will not recreate a copy that was never saved. Microsoft explains how to restore previously backed-up files with File History.
Scan the USB drive with XFileRecover
These steps follow the published XFileRecover User Guide. You need Windows 10/11 64-bit and a USB volume the app can read. Scanning and preview are free; a paid license is required to save recovered files.
1. Install away from the source drive
Get the installer from the official download section and save and install it on your computer, not on the affected USB. Open XFileRecover. Administrator access may be needed for low-level disk reads.
2. Select the correct USB volume
In the left-side Select Volume panel, choose the partition that held the deleted files. Check its drive letter and capacity before starting. If the USB has multiple partitions, choose the one where the files were stored.
3. Start with the default scan
Click Start Scan. The app checks file-system structures and deleted records; the available recovery path depends on whether the volume uses NTFS, FAT, exFAT, or another supported file system. Progress appears in the bottom status area, and results can appear before scanning finishes.
4. Find candidates and preview their contents
Use file-type categories or search by file name, extension, or path keyword. Click a file name to open the details and preview on the right. Check the content as well as the name and size. Text and images can be previewed when readable; other types may show only hex snippets.
The Quality column gives an estimate, not a promise. A familiar name, an Excellent label, or a partial preview does not establish that every part of a document, archive, or video will open correctly.
5. Save selected files to a different drive
Tick the files you want, click Recover Selected Files, and choose an output folder on another drive. For example, when recovering from USB drive E:, use a folder on your computer's C: drive or a second external drive. Check the output path before confirming.
You may be prompted to sign in or purchase a license at this point. Review the current plans before buying. Verify the saved files in their usual applications before treating the recovery as complete.
What if the scan does not find the right files?
Confirm that you selected the correct volume and try searching without the original file name. If the default stages do not find your target, consider enabling File Signature Scan, as described in the user guide. This deeper search is slower and can return numbered files without their original folders.
Signature detection is not a way to reverse overwriting. Fragmented or incomplete data can produce files that appear in results but cannot be opened. If the device cannot be read at all, this tutorial's scanning workflow may not apply.
Common questions
Can I recover USB files for free?
Restoring a copy you already have may avoid buying recovery software. XFileRecover offers free scanning and preview, but saving recovered files requires a paid license. Microsoft also offers a command-line Windows File Recovery tool; its instructions require different source and destination drives.
What if I already copied new files to the USB?
Some deleted content may have been overwritten. Stop further writes. A scan may still find other files, but software cannot promise to restore overwritten contents.
Will the original names and folders come back?
Sometimes. Surviving file-system records can preserve that information. Signature-only results often lack the original names and folder structure.
Can I use these steps after a quick format?
The app supports attempts after quick formatting, but recovery depends on remaining metadata and contents. Do not format a drive to make it scannable. If it is unreadable or physically unstable, stop and assess it before proceeding.
After recovery, verify and back up
Open important documents and images, and check more than the first few seconds of a video. Keep the verified output on another drive until you have a separate backup. Do not erase or reuse the original USB while recovery is still being evaluated.
For scan modes and file-quality labels, read the full user guide. For license questions, consult the pricing section, refund policy, or contact support@xfr.xia08.com.