Losing important files on a USB flash drive can be frustrating, especially when you don’t have backups. Fortunately, it is possible to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive on a Mac, even without paying for data recovery software.
In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss how to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive on a Mac for free using TestDisk and PhotoRec. We will cover:
- Why files get deleted from a USB drive
- How to avoid permanent deletion
- Free data recovery options for Mac
- Step-by-step guide to using TestDisk
- Step-by-step guide to using PhotoRec
- Tips for successful file recovery
Follow along as we dive into the details and how you can get those important files back.
Why Do Files Get Deleted from a USB Drive?
Before looking at how to recover deleted files, it helps to understand why they may have been deleted in the first place. Here are some of the most common reasons files vanish from USB drives:
- Accidental deletion – This can occur by accidentally deleting files in the Finder, emptying the Trash, or using keyboard shortcuts like Command + Delete.
- Corruption – If the drive is ejected improperly during a transfer, the USB drive’s file system can become corrupted. This can make files inaccessible.
- Formatted drive – If the USB drive is reformatted, all data will be deleted. This includes full formatting or quick reformatting.
- Physical damage – Dropping or physically damaging the USB drive can result in data loss and deleted files.
Knowing why files may have been deleted or lost can help determine the best approach for recovering them.
Avoiding Permanent Deletion of USB Drive Files
Before attempting to recover deleted files from a USB drive, it’s crucial to avoid overwriting them. When files are deleted on a USB drive, they aren’t immediately erased from the storage media. Instead, the space they occupied is marked as available to be overwritten by new data.
Any activity on the USB drive that saves new data could overwrite deleted files and make them unrecoverable. Here are tips to avoid permanent deletion:
- Avoid saving new files to the USB drive
- Don’t install or re-install apps on the USB drive
- Don’t reformat or repartition the USB drive
- Don’t run cleaning utilities like disk cleanup apps
The key is to stop actively using the USB drive with deleted files to minimize the chance of overwriting data. This gives the best shot for recovery software to find deleted files intact.
Free Data Recovery Options for Mac
Since USB drives are commonly used to transfer files between Macs and Windows PCs, we need data recovery software that can work on Mac volumes formatted with APFS or HFS+, as well as FAT32 and exFAT formats used on Windows.
Many good commercial Mac data recovery apps exist from companies like EaseUS, Stellar, and iBoysoft. However, purchasing software may not appeal to everyone.
Fortunately, there are also some great free deleted file recovery options for Mac:
- TestDisk – Open source deleted file recovery software with deep scanning capabilities to find lost files. It repairs partitions and boot sectors too.
- PhotoRec – Companion to TestDisk focused on recover photos, videos, documents, and other files.
- Disk Drill – Feature-packed recovery app with a free option to preview recoverable files.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – Popular recovery app with a free version to recover up to 2GB of files.
For in-depth file recovery, we recommend TestDisk and PhotoRec. They are free, open source, and offer excellent deep scanning features to thoroughly search USB drives and restore deleted data.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using TestDisk
TestDisk is a powerful free, open source data recovery application designed to recover lost partitions and repair non-booting disks. It also has excellent file recovery capabilities.
Let’s go through the step-by-step process of using TestDisk to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive on Mac.
Step 1: Download TestDisk
TestDisk is available for free from the official website. Download the latest .dmg file for Mac OSX.
Step 2: Extract and Open TestDisk
Open the TestDisk .dmg file and extract the TestDisk .app application. Copy TestDisk to your Applications folder. Then double-click to launch TestDisk.
Step 3: Select Media
TestDisk will scan all connected drives and partitions. Select the USB flash drive you want to recover files from and press Enter.
Step 4: Select Partition Table Type
Most USB flash drives use the FAT32 or exFAT file systems. Select the corresponding partition table type. Intel for FAT32 or EFI/GPT for exFAT.
Step 5: Analyze and Quick Search
Allow TestDisk to analyze and quickly scan the drive. Review the found partitions and verify your USB flash drive is being properly identified.
Step 6: Deep Search for Deleted Files
Select Advanced > Filesystem Utils. Choose the FAT file system (FAT16/32 typically for USB drives). TestDisk will scan every sector for recoverable deleted files.
Step 7: Save Deleted Files
When the scan finishes, deleted files and folders will appear for you to browse and recover. Select all files you want to restore and save them to another safe location like your Mac’s hard drive.
That’s it! Using TestDisk, you can thoroughly scan a USB drive and restore your important deleted data on Mac for free.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using PhotoRec
PhotoRec is another powerful free, open source data recovery tool focused on pictures, videos, documents, and media files. Here is how to use PhotoRec step-by-step for recovering files from a USB flash drive.
Step 1: Download PhotoRec
Since PhotoRec comes bundled with TestDisk, you can use the same TestDisk downloader to get PhotoRec. It’s available here from the official website.
Step 2: Extract and Open PhotoRec
Open the TestDisk .dmg file and extract the PhotoRec application. Copy PhotoRec to your Applications folder. Double-click to launch PhotoRec.
Step 3: Select Device
PhotoRec will detect any connected storage devices or partitions. Select the USB flash drive you want to recover deleted files from.
Step 4: Select File System
Choose the file system used on your USB flash drive. This is typically FAT32 or exFAT for most USB drives.
Step 5: Select File Types
PhotoRec supports recovering hundreds of different file types and file extensions. Select the desired types to target or choose “Other” to recover all files.
Step 6: Select Destination
Choose where you want to save the recovered deleted files. Select a folder on your Mac’s hard drive or another safe external drive.
Step 7: Start Recovery Process
PhotoRec will now scan the entire USB drive sector-by-sector and restore all recoverable files based on file type. Wait for the process to finish.
Step 8: Check for Your Files
Navigate to the destination folder and verify your deleted files were recovered successfully from the USB drive.
Using PhotoRec, you can deeply scan storage devices like USB flash drives and restore deleted photos, videos, documents, and other important files on your Mac for free.
Tips for Successful Data Recovery from USB Drives
To maximize your chances of recovering deleted files intact, follow these useful tips when using TestDisk, PhotoRec, or other data recovery software:
- Stop using the USB drive immediately after deletion
- Try connecting the USB drive to another Mac
- Scan overnight since deep scans take time
- Save recovered files to another location
- Don’t save new data to the USB drive
TestDisk and PhotoRec make it possible to efficiently recover deleted files from USB drives on Mac for free. With some guidance, you have the potential to rescue important photos, documents, and other data you thought was gone forever.
Conclusion
Recovering deleted files from a USB drive on Mac is achievable with TestDisk and PhotoRec even without expensive data recovery software. By avoiding overwriting the deleted files and using the deep scanning capabilities of these tools, you can rescue your lost data.
Follow the step-by-step guides to download and run TestDisk and PhotoRec on your Mac. Set the file recovery preferences and target the USB drive. With some patience during the scanning process, you’ll maximize the chances of getting those important files back.
While no method can guarantee recovery, TestDisk and PhotoRec give you the best shot without any cost. Implement the tips provided here and you can avoid lost productivity or memories the next time you experience accidental deletion from your USB drive.