[8 Solutions] Cannot Open USB Flash Drive Windows 11 / 10

USB Thumb Drive Won't open, Even Though Detected!

Why You Cannot Open USB Flash Drive in Windows?

There are several reasons why a USB flash drive may show up in File Explorer but fail to open in Windows 11/10/7. Aside from hardware issues or defective drives, the most common causes include:

🔴Improper removal or sudden disconnection: unplugging the drive during data transfer, or when the USB port is unstable, can damage the file system.

🔴Corrupted file system or partition errors: if the drive becomes RAW or its partition table is damaged, Windows will fail to read it.

🔴Drive letter conflicts: when another device is using the same drive letter, the USB may appear but remain inaccessible.

🔴Outdated or faulty USB drivers: missing, corrupted, or incompatible drivers can stop Windows from recognizing the drive properly.

🔴Write protection: physical switches or software restrictions may block access or formatting.

🔴Encryption (e.g., BitLocker): without the correct password or recovery key, the drive cannot be opened.

🔴Power management settings: features like USB selective suspend may cut off power to the device, causing disconnects.

🔴Unsupported file system: drives formatted with ext4, APFS, or other non-Windows file systems will not be readable without extra drivers.

8 Solutions to "Cannot Open USB Flash Drive" in Windows 11 or 10

If your USB flash drive is detected by Windows but cannot be opened, there are multiple solutions depending on the underlying cause. Below, we outline effective methods to restore access to your drive, with step-by-step guidance for each.

1. Repair a Corrupted File System

A corrupted file system can prevent Windows from reading the drive. Repairing it can restore access without data loss.

Step 1. Input "cmd" in the search bar next to the Start Menu, right click the Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator".

Step 2. Type chkdsk g: /f /r (replace g: with your USB drive letter) and press Enter.

Step 3.Wait for the scan and repair process to complete. Try opening the drive again in File Explorer.

2. Rebuild a Damaged Partition Table

A broken partition table can prevents a USB drive from opening in Windows. In such cases, you can use the open-source tool TestDisk to repair or rebuild the partition table.

Step 1. Download, install and launch TestDisk (run "testdisk\_win.exe" as Administrator).

Step 2. A command-line interface will open. Use the arrow keys to navigate. Select your USB drive.

Step 3. TestDisk will prompt you to select the partition table type. For most modern computers and USB drives, the default choice [Intel] (for Intel partition scheme, which handles both MBR and GPT) is correct.

Step 4. On the next menu, select "Analyse" and press Enter.

Step 5. Then, TestDisk will now perform a quick scan and display any partitions it finds. They are often listed with their correct file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32) and size.

Step 6. Use the arrow keys to highlight the lost partition you wish to recover. Follow the prompts to rewrite the partition table.

Step 7. TestDisk will ask for confirmation with a prompt like, "Write partition table, confirm? (y/N)." Type y (for 'yes') and press Enter.

Once the writing process is complete, quit TestDisk. Physically unplug and then reconnect the USB drive to Windows. The drive should now be accessible again in File Explorer.

3. Assign Another Drive Letter

If you cannot open USB flash drive on Windows due to drive letter conflicts, you can assign a new letter.

Step 1. Open Disk Management (Win+X → Disk Management).

Step 2. Right-click the USB drive → Change Drive Letter and Paths.

Step 3. Click Change, select a new letter, and confirm.

Access the drive using the new letterto check if the problem persists.

4. Update or Re-install USB Driver

Outdated or corrupted drivers can prevent recognition. Thus, you can try updating or reinstallingthe drivers.

Step 1. Open Device Manager (Win+X → Device Manager).

Step 2.Expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers", find your USB device.

Step 3. Right-click → "Update driver or Uninstall device".

Reconnect the drive and let Windows reinstall the driver automatically.

5. Remove Write Protection

Write protection, whether enabled by a physical switch or software settings, can prevent a drive from being modified or formatted. The following methods will help you disable it to restore normal access.

First, check for a physical switch on the USB drive and turn it off: Locate the switch on the side of the USB drive and slide it to the opposite position to disable write protection.

If there is no physical switch or the issue persists, the drive may have a logical write-protection attribute set, which can be removed using DiskPart.

Step 1. Press "Win+X"and select"Command Prompt (Admin)".

Step 2. Type diskpart (to open DiskPart)→ list disk → select disk X → attributes disk clear readonly.

Try accessing the drive again.

6. Unlock a BitLocker-Encrypted Drive

If a drive is encrypted with BitLocker, it cannot be accessed without the correct password or recovery key. Unlocking it temporarily suspends this protection.

Step 1. Search for "Manage BitLocker" in the Start Menu.

Step 2. Find your USB drive in the list of drives. Click on "Turn off BitLocker".

Step 3. The system will now initiate the decryption process. After successful authentication, the drive will unlock and appear as a normal volume in File Explorer.

7. Optimize Power Management Settings

The Windows "USB selective suspend" feature may power down USB ports to save energy, which can cause external drives to disconnect unexpectedly and then you cannot open USB flash drive as normal. Disabling this feature for the relevant hubs can ensure a stable connection.

Open Device Manager, expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers". Right-click "USB Root Hub → Properties → Power Management".

Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". Click "OK" and reconnect your drive.

8. Reformat to a Compatible File System

If the drive uses a file system that is not recognized by Windows (e.g., APFS, ext4) or has become corrupted, reformatting it to a compatible format like NTFS or exFAT can restore access.

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After you have recovered necessary data using MyRecover, you can now reformat the USB flash drive that cannot open vis Management: right-click the USB drive → Format. Choose NTFS or exFAT as the file system.Confirm and wait for the process to complete.

Now, you can open the USB flashdrivesuccessfully.

To Conclude

A USB flash drive that cannot be opened is a common issue, but it's rarely hopeless. By carefully following the solutions in this guide, from basic checks to advanced repairs, you stand a great chance of regaining access to your device and files.

Remember, if all attempts to fix the drive fail and you need to reformat it, always try to recover your files first with a tool like MyRecover. It is a quite powerful data recovery tool, allowing you to recover files from corrupted, damaged or deleted drive partition, virus-affected device, or even restore data from crashed system.