How to Recover Files from WD My Passport External Hard Drive for Free

User Case

WD My Passport is a popular series of portable external hard drives manufactured by Western Digital (WD). These drives are designed for data storage, backup, and easy file transfer. They are compact, lightweight, and often come with features like password protection, hardware encryption, and automatic backup software. WD My Passport drives are widely used for personal and professional data storage, offering various storage capacities to suit different needs.

Why Data Get Lost from My Passport External Hard?

Data loss from a WD My Passport external hard drive can be frustrating and worrying, especially if the drive contains important documents, photos, or work files. Understanding the common causes of data loss can help you prevent such incidents and improve your chances of successful recovery. Here are some typical reasons:

• Accidental Deletion: Files may be mistakenly deleted without backup.
• Formatting Errors: Unintentional formatting can erase all stored data.
• File System Corruption: A corrupted file system can make data inaccessible.
• Virus or Malware Attack: Malicious software can corrupt or delete files.
• Bad Sectors: Damaged storage sectors can make files unreadable.
• Power Surges or Sudden Shutdowns: Unexpected power loss during file transfer can damage data.
• Hardware Failure: Physical damage or component malfunction may lead to data loss.
• Improper Ejection: Disconnecting the drive without safely ejecting it may corrupt data.

To minimize further data loss risks,please stop using or saving any new data to the My Passport external hard drive.

How to Recover Files from My Passport External Hard Drive?

According to the possible reasons why you lose important data from your WD My Passport external hard drive, the recovery method may vary. Here’s how you can attempt to recover your lost files based on different scenarios:

1. Accidental Deletion or Formatting

If you’ve accidentally deleted files from your WD My Passport hard drive, you may be able to restore them directly from the Recycle Bin. However, if you’ve already emptied the Recycle Bin or formatted the external hard drive, there’s still hope. In such cases, you can use "Windows File Recovery", a powerful data recovery tool developed by Microsoft, to help retrieve your lost data effectively.

Step 1: Go to the Microsoft Store. Search for "Windows File Recovery" and click "Download" to install it on your computer.

Step 2: Connect your WD My Passport to your computer. Find the installed Windows File Recovery app and run it as administrator.

Step 3: In the Command Prompt window, enter the following Recovery Command to recover data from WD My Passport external hard drive free: winfr [source drive:] [destination drive:] /mode /switches

For example, if your WD My Passport is drive H: and you want to recover files to a folder named test in D: drive, use this command: winfr H: D: \test /extensive

Explanation:✎...

H: The source drive (WD My Passport)

D: The destination drive (where recovered files will be saved)

/extensive: Deep scan mode for formatted or corrupted drives (you can replace it with “/regular”mode for recently deleted files.)

Step 4: Press "Y" when prompted to confirm the recovery process. Wait for the scan to complete. The recovered files will be saved in the designated destination folder.

Once recovery is complete, review the restored files and organize them in your preferred location.

2. File System Corruption

Corruption can make your data inaccessible even though it’s still on the drive. In this case, try the following to recover My Passport external hard drive:

Step 1. Open “Command Prompt”(CMD) as Administrator.

Step 2. Type chkdsk "g: /f` /r" (replace g with your WD Passport drive’s letter) and press “Enter”.

Follow the instructions to repair the corrupted file system.

3. Hidden or Missing Files

If your files appear to be missing but are actually hidden on your WD Passport external hard drive, you can follow these steps to make them visible again:

1. Double click "This PC" or "My Computer" to open "File Explorer."

2. Navigate to the folder where your files are missing.

3. Click the "View" tab at the top.

4. Check the box next to "Hidden items" to enable the display of hidden files and folders. .

Then, your hidden files should be visible. If the files remain hidden, use the Attrib command instead:

1. Open "Command Prompt" as Administrator.

2. Type the following command and press "Enter":

attrib -h -r -s H:\Photos\*.* /s /d (Replace H:\Photos with your actual drive letter and folder path.)

Explanation:

-h: Removes the hidden attribute.

-r: Removes the read-only attribute.

-s: Removes the system file attribute.

/s: Applies the command to all subfolders.

/d: Includes directories in the process.

4. Virus or Malware Attack

For virus-related data loss, use trusted antivirus software to scan and remove threats. Afterward, attempt file recovery using dedicated recovery software.

One-Stop Solution for All WD My Passport Data Loss Scenarios

As you can see, different causes behind data loss from your WD My Passport external hard drive require different recovery methods. Trying multiple solutions one by one can be time-consuming and frustrating. Fortunately, there’s a more efficient way: MyRecover.

MyRecover is an all-in-one data recovery tool designed to handle various data loss scenarios, including accidental deletion, formatting, corruption, virus attack, raw partition, power outage corrupted dataloss and more. With its powerful scanning algorithms and user-friendly interface, MyRecover makes file recovery fast, easy, and effective no matter the cause.

MyRecover

Free Data Recovery Tool

•  User-Friendly Interface: Three-step recovery process (Scan → Preview → Recover) with no command-line skills required.
• Dual scanning modes: "Quick Scan" instantly retrieves recently deleted files. "Deep Scan" analyzes physical sectors to recover data from formatted or damaged drives.
• 1000+ File Formats: all types of images, videos, audios, documents, archives and more.
• Broad Device Compatibility: fully optimized for WD My Passport drives and other external storage devices.
• OS and File System Compatibility: work seamlessly with Windows 11/10/8/7 and Server and major file systems (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT).

Download Freeware

100% Secure

Here’s thecomplete step-by-step guide to recover data from your WD My Passport external hard drive for free using MyRecover:

Step 1: Visit the official MyRecover websiteand download the free version. Double-click the installer and follow the prompts to complete installation.

Step 2: Open MyRecover. All connected drives will appear on the main interface. Select your WD My Passport drive from the disk list and click "Scan".

Step 3: It will a quick scanto findrecently deleted files (fast, ideal for accidental deletion). You can also switch to “Deep Scan”, whichsearches entire sectors for formatted or lost partition data (time-consuming but thorough).

Step 4: After scanning, recoverable files will be categorized (documents, photos, videos, etc.). You can use filters (name, type, date) to locate specific files.

Step 5. Tick the target files you want to recover and click "Recover."

If you want to preview them before recovery, plese upgrade to Professional Edition.

Step 6: Choose a save locationto save recovered data.

Please be patient while the process completes. The recovery may take longer if you're restoring a large amount of data. If your WD My passport external hard drive shows RAW in the Disk Management or missing in your Windows File Explore, the MyRecover’s "Partition Lost Recovery" can handle it effortlessly.

Conclusion

Facing data loss on your WD My Passport drive can be stressful, but swift action and the right tools, you can easily recover files from My Passport external hard drive. Always prioritize stopping drive usage immediately to prevent overwriting data. Whether opting for built-in utilities like Windows File Recovery or streamlined solutions like MyRecover, ensure recovery efforts align with your specific scenario. If your drive shows signs of physical damage (clicking noises, overheating, etc.), avoid DIY solutions, instead, please consult professionals.