How to Recover Data from a Formatted Drive?

You often format your storage drive as part of regular upkeep to get rid of unwanted data or as a last attempt to fix file system corruption. But sometimes, you accidentally format the wrong drive or later find out that important files were erased in the process, which you haven’t even backed up! The good news is, in many cases, even after your data has been formatted, there are still options to recover it.

If you’ve accidentally formatted a storage device – stop using it immediately to avoid overwriting the deleted data. This matters most when the formatted partition shares a physical disk with a Windows installation that’s still running – the OS keeps writing temp files, logs, and update data to that disk, and that ongoing activity is what puts your recoverable data at risk.

We’ve compiled this guide to help you navigate this situation. It will walk you through what happens during the formatting process, when data recovery is still possible, how to go about recovering your data, and the options available to you.

Can You Recover Data from a Formatted Hard Drive? Yes, you can often recover data from a formatted hard drive. To understand how it works, you need to start with the file system index.  The file system index is a table of contents that tracks where data lives on the drive – acting as a map that indicates which parts of the drive are free or allocated. When you format the drive, the metadata inside the file system index is either cleared, reset, or completely rewritten, depending on the type of formatting you did.

In most common cases of a quick format, the original data is still present on the disk but can’t be accessed because without the table of contents, it has become invisible to the system. Files are permanently wiped only when new data overwrites the old one (or, on SSDs, when the TRIM command erases them), and until that happens, you still have a shot at recovering it.

Formatting can broadly be of two types: High-level formatting and low-level formatting. Low-level formatting is done by the OEM itself.

As an everyday Windows user, you usually perform high-level formatting, which itself is of two types:

• A Quick Format does not scan the drive for bad sectors and only deletes the file allocation table to create a fresh file system structure. On HDDs, this leaves the sectors containing the original data untouched, though on SSDs, the TRIM command can erase that data almost immediately.
• Full Format resets the file system index, scans the entire drive for damaged sectors, and actively overwrites every single sector with zeros. Once the sectors containing data are overwritten with zeros, the file are permanently gone.

SSD Specifics: How TRIM Affects Data Recovery

Another important factor is the type of drive you’re using. If the formatted drive is an SSD, then there’s one extra factor, TRIM, which affects your chances of recovery. Most modern SSDs support the TRIM command to optimize performance. When you delete a file or format the SSD, the OS can send a TRIM command to the drive, instructing it to erase the flash memory blocks that stored your data. While this feature allows SSDs to write new data faster without first having to erase those blocks later – it significantly reduces the chances of recovery. Therefore, always check if TRIM is enabled on your PC before attempting recovery.

How to Check if TRIM Is Enabled on Your PC

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Run fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify.
• Check the result: DisableDeleteNotify = 0 means TRIM is enabled. 1 means it’s disabled.

Internal vs External SSDs

The likelihood of recovery further hinges on how the SSD is connected to your PC.

• Internal SSDs: TRIM is enabled by default on most modern systems, which makes data recovery difficult after formatting.
• External SSDs: Whether TRIM reaches the drive comes down to the USB bridge chipset in the adapter or enclosure, not the file system you formatted it with. Many USB-to-SATA and USB-to-NVMe adapters lack UASP/SCSI UNMAP support so they never forward the TRIM command in the first place, which is why formatted external SSDs often have better recovery odds than internal ones, whether they’re NTFS or exFAT. If your adapter does support UASP, treat the drive like an internal one: TRIM may already have run.

The other important consideration is which type of SSD connector is being used. While both SATA and NVMe SSD interfaces support TRIM, they differ in terms of communication speed. Since NVMe interfaces communicate at significantly greater speeds with the OS, it follows logically that TRIM operations would be completed significantly quicker than those performed using SATA. Therefore, where recovery attempts are made on a formatted NVMe SSD, the potential timeframe for recovery could also be reduced.

The chances of recovery decrease further when you format your SSD during a Windows reinstallation because the OS starts writing its own installation files to the SSD, which could overwrite files that were still recoverable prior to that event.

While the above factors pose challenges, recovery is still possible if the drive was quick formatted as TRIM hasn’t yet erased the affected blocks, and no new data is written to the SSD. That’s why acting immediately gives you the best chance of getting your files back.

Stop and Assess Your Situation Before Doing Anything

Once you have formatted the drive, your next action can make or break your prospects of a successful recovery. Stop all write operations to the formatted drive and first check what type of drive you’re using:

• If it’s an HDD: Avoid using the drive and proceed with data recovery as soon as possible. Your files can be recovered as long as new data doesn’t overwrite them.
• If it’s an SSD: Check whether TRIM is enabled, if yes, the recovery window is very short. Disconnect the drive immediately and begin recovery without delay.

If you used the option to format the drive during the windows reinstallation process, do not proceed with the installation, if possible. The operating systems installation will write hundreds of files to the drive, and this can very quickly overwrite recoverable data – especially when using an HDD. Also, be cautious when using disk utility programs, such as CHKDSK, DiskPart, etc. to fix problems with the storage device. While disk utility programs can help repair many types of storage related issues, once you run them, they can alter the file system or overwrite recoverable data.

Look at the physical state of the drive. If you hear clicking, grinding, or beeping sounds coming from the drive, or if the drive is no longer recognized by your computer, stop immediately! All these indicators typically represent that the drive is failing physically, and if you continue to access the drive you may make things worse. In most cases in which a physical failure is evident, it is best to contact a professional data recovery service rather than attempt recovery via software.

After reviewing the status of both (the physical condition of) the drive and ensuring it is no longer being accessed, you can begin to explore safe recovery options beginning with determining if a back-up already includes copies of your lost files.

How to Recover Data from a Formatted Storage Drive?

Now that you have an understanding about how formatting affects your data, and what factors are at play regarding the potential for file recovery, you may start to recover your files using the methods outlined. We suggest attempting the methods provided in sequence as follows: first, look to use backups and then use native recovery tools in Windows, and lastly, utilize specialized data recovery applications.

1.      Restore from File History Backup

File History is a Windows backup feature which can restore lost files – including those that are deleted while formatting. It creates automatic backups of important locations like docs, pictures, videos, desktop, etc. But it works only if File History was enabled before the files were lost.

• Go to Control Panel > System and Security > File History and click Restore personal files.

• Use the on-screen left/right arrow buttons at the bottom of the window to browse through backup versions and locate your files.
• Select the files you want to recover.
• Click Restore to the move the files to a secure location.

2.      Restore Using Previous Versions (Shadow Copies)

The System Protection feature allows Windows to take automatic snapshots of your files & folders, which are saved in the background and can be used to restore files to an earlier state. If a restore point or shadow copy was created before the drive was formatted, you may be able to recover your files. This only works if System Protection was already enabled on the affected drive before the format.

Important: Configuring Shadow Copies via System Protection is fully supported only on Windows 10/11 Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education.

• In File Explorer, find the folder or drive that stored the lost file.
• Right-clickthe folder and select Properties.

• Click Previous Versions tab. 

• Select the version you want to retrieve, and click Restore.

3.      Use Backup & Restore (Windows 7)

The (Windows 7) in the label is just legacy branding, Backup & Restore feature is still available in both Windows 10 & 11, and works just as well. If you had previously set it up to create full or incremental backups of your system, you can use it to restore files that were lost after the drive was formatted. It’s a reliable option, but only if the backup was created before the format.  

• Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

• Click Restore my files. 

• Click Browse for files.
• Select the files you want and click Next.

• Choose the location where you want to move the files and click Restore.

• Click Finish to confirm.

4.      Check Cloud Backup

Cloud platforms like Google Drive and OneDrive feature a trash mechanism which is similar to Windows Recycle Bin. When a file synced to the cloud gets deleted, it is moved to this temporary location rather than being permanently erased. Note, however, that most of these platforms will automatically clear your files from Trash (for ex. Google Drive keeps deleted files for 30 days), so act accordingly.

Note: OneDrive Personal clears trash after 30 days; OneDrive for Business (work/school accounts) retains deleted files for 93 days.

Here’s we’ll show you how to recover files from Trash in Google Drive:

• Go to Google Drive storage and sign in with your credentials.
• Click Trash in the left panel.

• Right-click the file you want to restore and click Restore.

5.      Use Windows File Recovery (Command Line)

Windows File Recovery is a free Microsoft tool that can recover files from a formatted drive when no backup exists. It scans the drive directly and attempts to pull back deleted files but the catch is that it’s command-line only and requires sound technical expertise, so not ideal for beginners. Windows File Recovery offers two different modes depending on your file system and recovery scenario:

Regular Mode: Only supports NTFS file system

Extensive Mode: Ideal for FAT32 or exFAT drives, older deletion, formatted drive, or corrupted NTFS volumes

It works on Windows 10 (2004 and later) and Windows 11. Here’s the workflow:

• Download and install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
• Open it. It’ll launch as a Command Prompt window.
• Use this basic command structure: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches].

• Let the scan run.
• Once done, check your destination folder for recovered files.

6.      Use Data Recovery Software

If you don’t have a backup, dedicated data recovery software is usually the most effective way to recover data from a formatted drive. It performs a deep scan of the storage device to locate recoverable files that are no longer accessible through the file system.

Stellar Data Recovery Professional helps you recover files deleted after formatting, including docs, audio, photos, videos, and much more. It is compatible with all the standard Windows file systems—NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, ReFS, etc., and supports recovery from all types of storage devices.

• Launch Stellar Data Recovery Professional on your PC.
• On the What to Recover screen, select the type of data you want to recover.
• Click Next.

• On the Recover From screen, select the drive volume in which you want to search for lost files.

• Click Scan. A screen displaying the scanning process will appear.

• Recovered files will be displayed for you to Preview.

• Select the files you want to retrieve and click Recover to save them at a desired location.

When Software Won’t Work: Consider a Professional Recovery Lab

Data recovery software is capable of recovering files from a variety of accidentally formatted drives, but it’s no magic bullet. There are cases where the data is not recoverable via software and if you attempt to recover it yourself, you will potentially decrease the chances of successful recovery. A professional data recovery lab should be considered when:

• Your hard drive is making clicking, grinding or beeping sounds indicating possible physical damage to the drive.
• The drive is not detected by your computer or is displayed as having a different capacity than it actually does.
• The SSD has already been executed with the trim command and software cannot find your files.
• Additional hardware issues have occurred on the drive prior to formatting, or during or after formatting.
• The data being recovered is business-critical, irreplaceable, too valuable to risk losing.

When expert help is required for any reason, Stellar Data Recovery Lab Services can recover data from storage devices affected by accidental deletion, file system corruption, physical failure, and incorrectly formatted storage media. Stellar engineers utilize specialized tools and work in cleanrooms to retrieve data from hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), RAID arrays, NAS devices, USB flash drives, memory cards and other types of storage devices.

How to Prevent Data Loss due to Accidental Format?

Data loss from an accidental format can often be undone, but a few simple safeguards will make protecting your files far easier next time.

• Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule. Keep three copies of your data on two separate types of storage media and keep one copy offsite. This way you’ll have a backup regardless of whether one of your devices fails or gets formatted.
• Automatically back up your files. Enable File History or Backup and Restore, which will allow your computer to create backups of your files at set time intervals. Having these backups will make recovering your data after an Accidental Format significantly easier.
• Use cloud sync services. Services such as OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox will automatically create a backup of all files saved into their respective synced folders. This creates another avenue for recovering data if your main hard drive is formatted.
• Clearly label your drives. Labeling your internal and external hard drives with clear descriptions will minimize the chance of accidentally formatting the wrong drive while installing new Windows.
• Disconnect secondary drives before reinstalling windows. Remove all external drives and disconnect any non-essential internal drives when reinstalling Windows to reduce the chances of incorrectly formatting either a partition or a full disk.
• Take extra precautions with SSDs. Since the TRIM command can permanently erase deleted data shortly after formatting, keep automatic backups or cloud sync enabled at all times.

Summing Up

Accidentally formatting a drive doesn’t always mean your data is gone forever. In most cases, especially after a Quick Format on an HDD, your files remain on the drive until they’re overwritten. This gives you a real chance of recovery. But factors like TRIM on SSDs, a Full Format, or continued use of the drive can greatly minimize your chances of recovery. Stop using the formatted drive immediately and choose the recovery method that best suits your specific case.

Most importantly, don’t wait until after a data loss incident to think about backups. Following a sound backup strategy and taking a few preventive precautions can save you from the stress, cost, and uncertainty of recovering data from a formatted drive.

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