How to Recover Files from USB not Recognized-9 Working Solutions to Fix

Are you having issues with your USB flash drive not being recognized by Windows? If yes, you're in the right place. This guide will walk you through how to recover files from USB not recognized and offer 9 proven and practical methods to repair undetected USB.

Aria

By Aria / Updated on May 29, 2025

Share this: instagram reddit

Causes for USB not Recognized or Detected

USB drives are one of the most common and convenient devices for transferring data between different systems. However, it’s not uncommon to encounter situations where a USB drive isn't recognized by your computer. This can be extremely frustrating, especially when the data stored on it is crucial. Here are several common causes:

USB Cannot be Recognized

  • Faulty USB Port or Cable: Sometimes, the USB port might be dirty, damaged, or malfunctioning, which prevents the computer from recognizing the USB drive.
  • Outdated or Missing Drivers​: If the USB drivers on your computer are outdated or missing, the system may fail to detect newly connected devices.
  • Corrupted USB Drive: The USB drive itself may become corrupted, making it unrecognizable to the system.
  • USB Drive Not Formatted Properly​: If the USB drive has an incorrect format or a file system issue, the computer won't be able to detect it.
  • Device Conflict or Interference: Other connected devices or software conflicts can also prevent the USB drive from being recognized. You can try disconnecting other external devices and see if the USB drive can be detected.
  • Virus or Malware​: Malware or viruses can cause your USB drive to malfunction or become undetectable.

How to Recover Files from USB not Recognized

When your USB drive isn't recognized by your computer, it's a stressful situation. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to attempt data recovery before fixing the recognition problem. Keep in mind that some methods used to fix the issue may erase all the data on the USB drive. So, ensuring data security first is a wise choice.​

MyRecover stands out among numerous free file recovery software for Windows with its impressively high data recovery success rate of up to 99%. If the problem isn't caused by severe hardware failure, you can try these recovery methods to retrieve your files. Here are some outstanding features of MyRecover:​

⭐No command line needed-based on intuitive graphical user interface, making recovery accessible even for non-professionals.​
⭐Highter recovery success rate-handle more complex data loss cases like virus attack, system crash, etc.​
⭐Flexible Scanning – Deep scan and Quick Scan modes available to choose from.​
⭐Supports More OS– Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7 and Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 and more.​

4 steps to recover files from USB not recognized

step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer. And connect the USB to computer.​

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/Server
Secure Download

step 2. Launch it and select the USB drive to scan for lost files, click "Scan".​

Select Drive to Scan

step 3. Choose the files you want to recover and click "Recover".​

Select Files to Recover

step 4. Select a safe location to save the recovered files.

Select Destination to Save Files

How to Repair USB Flash Drive not Detected

After recovering data from an unrecognized USB drive, it's time to focus on fixing it. There are several troubleshooting methods you can try to resolve the issue. ​

Solution 1. Check the Connection​

Sometimes, a USB drive may not be detected simply because it isn't properly connected. This is the most straightforward check and is a good starting point. Try unplugging it and reconnecting it firmly. Also, try different USB ports to rule out a port - specific issue. If your USB drive still doesn’t show up, test it on another computer. This will help determine if the issue is with the USB drive itself or the computer's USB ports.​

Solution 2. Assign the Drive Letter​

If your USB drive is physically connected, but you don’t see it in File Explorer, it might not have an assigned drive letter. This can prevent your computer from detecting it. ​

Step 1. Right-click on the Windows Start button and select Disk Management.​

Step 2. Look for the USB drive in the list. If it’s listed without a drive letter, right-click on the drive and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths".​

Change Drive Letter

Step 3. Click on "Add" and assign a new letter for the drive, then click "OK".​

Solution 3. Update or Reinstall USB Drivers​

As mentioned before, outdated or malfunctioning USB drivers can cause detection problems. You can update or reinstall the drivers as follows:​

Step 1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.​

Open Device Manager

Step 2. Expand the “Disk Driver" category and right click the USB drive, and select "Update driver".​

Update Driver

Step 3. Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software". If no updates are found, right-click the drive again and select "Uninstall device." After uninstalling, restart your computer, and Windows will automatically reinstall the drivers.

Search Automatically for updated Driver Software

Solution 4. Error Checking in File Explorer for a Corrupted USB​

If your USB drive appears but isn’t working properly, it may be corrupted. You can use the built-in Error Checking tool in Windows to scan and repair file system errors on the drive.​

Step 1. Double click "This PC" icon to open File Explorer and right-click on the USB drive (if it's visible).​

Step 2. Select "Properties" and go to the “Tools” tab.​

Step 3. Under the “Error-checking” section, click “Check”. Windows will scan the drive for errors, following the instructions to repair detected issues. Then you can recover files from the corrupted USB drive.

Error Checking

Solution 5. Scan with Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Defender is an excellent utility for detecting and eliminating viruses and malware. When your USB drive fails to be recognized due to infection by viruses or malware, running a scan with Windows Defender can help remove any malicious software affecting the USB drive.​

Step 1. Type "Windows Security" in the start menu and open it. ​

Open Windows Security

Step 2. Under "Virus and threat protection", click on "Quick scan". Then it will start scan the virus and malware on your computer. If any threats are detected, follow the prompts to remove them and restart your computer.​

Quick Scan

Step 3. If it's necessary, select "Full scan" to perform a deep scan for the computer.

Full Scan

Solution 6. Turn Off Power Saving for USB Boot Hub​

Windows includes a power-saving feature that might inadvertently disable USB devices to save power. It may cause the USB drive to be disabled or not recognized properly. Disabling this feature could help resolve detection issues.​

Step 1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.​

Step 2. Expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers" and right-click on each USB root hub, choose "Properties".​

Choose Ubs Controllers

Step 3. Select "Power management" tab and uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power", click "OK".

Power Management

Solution 7. Disable the USB Selective Suspend Setting​

Windows has a feature called USB Selective Suspend that can automatically disable USB devices to save power. This is similar to the power - saving setting adjustment mentioned earlier. By disabling the USB selective suspend feature, you can prevent the system from putting the USB drive into a suspended state, which may cause recognition issues.​

Step 1. Right-click the Start button and select "Power Options".​

Power Option

Step 2. In the opened "Power & Sleep" window, Choose "Additional power settings".​

Additional Power Settings

Step 3. Then click on "Change plan settings" and "Change advanced power settings".​

Change Plan Setting

Step 4. Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting, select "Disabled" and click "Apply".​

Disable USB Selective Suspend Setting

Solution 8. Run the Hardware Troubleshoot​

Windows has built-in troubleshooters that can automatically detect and fix issues related to USB devices. You can follow these steps to diagnose hardware issues.​

Step 1. Press the Windows key + X and select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)".​

Windows Powershell

Step 2. In the PowerShell window, type the command "msdt.exe - id DeviceDiagnostic" and press "Enter".

Hardware Troubleshoot Command

This will open the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter, which will scan your system for issues and attempt to resolve them.

Solution 9. Format RAW USB Drive​

If the USB drive has a RAW file system and can't be accessed, formatting it may make it usable again, but note that this will erase all data on the drive. So, that's why we repeatedly emphasize the importance of recovering data from an undetected USB drive first.​

Step 1. Open Disk Management as described before.​

Step 2. If the USB drive is labeled as RAW, right-click on it and select "Format".​

Step 3. Select the appropriate file system (usually NTFS or FAT32) and mark the "Quick Format" option, then follow the instructions to format the drive.​

Quick Format

🌟Tips:

Again, Formatting will erase all data on the drive, so only proceed if you’re okay with data loss or have already backed up your files.​

When formatting a USB drive, checking the "Quick Format" option can help you recover data from the quick formatted drive using MyRecover, even if you haven't previously recovered the files or have no backups.

 

Conclusion

By following these solutions, you should be able to recover files from not recognized USB flash drive and fix most USB flash drive detection issues. If the issue persists, there may be a deeper hardware problem with your USB drive. Contacting professional support or replacing the faulty hardware might be necessary.

Before attempting to fix the issue of an unrecognized USB drive, don't forget to recover the files first using a professional data recovery tool—MyRecover. The Professional and Technician versions of MyRecover can also meet more advanced requirements, especially when you are a professional or an enterprise user. It offers a pre-recovery file preview feature, which helps you determine whether the files are exactly what you want to recover.

Aria
Aria · Editor
I've been specializing in the data recovery industry for years. I am dedicated to translating intricate software features and functions into plain - language explanations, enabling everyone to understand how to utilize the data recovery software effectively and retrieve their valuable data with confidence. My overarching professional objective is to bridge the gap between complex data recovery technologies and users of all skill levels. Through my work, I strive to eliminate the common anxiety associated with data loss, thereby providing a reliable method for safeguarding digital assets.