Hard-drive recovery steps

How to Unformat a Hard Drive and Recover Deleted Files?

You cannot truly undo a format with a single switch, but the old files may still be recoverable. The best route depends on whether the drive is healthy, overwritten, backed up, or physically failing.

By Ditchnet Articles Editorial Team Published · Updated
Quick answer

Stop writing to the formatted hard drive immediately. Install Disk Drill on another disk, scan the affected physical drive, preview the results, then recover files to separate storage. If the drive clicks, disconnects, or disappears, do not keep scanning it.

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Do not format, repair, initialize, defragment, or run CHKDSK on the affected drive. Every write can overwrite recoverable data. Never save recovered files back to the same physical device.

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Scan a Formatted Hard Drive → Disk Drill

Scans formatted or lost partitions · Previews found files before recovery · Available for Windows plus macOS

✓ Windows & macOS ✓ File preview ✓ Byte-to-byte backup
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When Not to Scan a Formatted Hard Drive Yourself

Skip direct software recovery if an HDD clicks, scrapes, fails to spin normally, or repeatedly drops offline. Those symptoms point to hardware trouble, where each power cycle may make the damage worse.

Also pause if the missing material is legally sensitive, the only copy of paid client work, or worth far more than a lab evaluation. A careful first attempt matters more than trying five utilities in a row.

Why Quick Formatting Does Not Always Destroy Every File

A quick format usually creates fresh file-system structures while much of the old file content remains in sectors that are now marked available. Recovery software searches those sectors or reconstructs recognizable file types.

A full overwrite is different. Once new data occupies the same sectors, software cannot recover the previous bytes. SSD cleanup features such as TRIM can also reduce the recovery window sharply.

Which Formatted Drive Recovery Method Fits Your Situation?

Start with the drive's physical condition, then consider backups plus your comfort with recovery tools.

Method Best for Time Success rate
1. Scan the Formatted Drive With Disk Drill TRY FIRST Healthy, detectable formatted drives ~15–60 min ● 82%
2. Create and Scan a Byte-to-Byte Disk Image Readable yet unstable storage ~1–12 hr ● 78%
3. Restore the Missing Files From a Backup Files included in an older backup ~5–45 min ● 98%
4. Run Windows File Recovery From the Command Line Free recovery on Windows ~20 min–several hr ● 58%
5. Send the Drive to a Data Recovery Lab Physical failure or priceless data ~3–14 days ● 70%

Top 5 Methods to Recover Files From a Formatted Hard Drive

01

Scan the Formatted Drive With Disk Drill

Best first move when the drive still appears in Windows or macOS

~15–60 min
Difficulty Easy
You need Disk Drill plus a second drive
Works for Windows, Mac

Formatting usually replaces file-system records rather than restoring the disk to its earlier state. Disk Drill can scan the remaining data, preview recoverable files, then save selected items to a separate device.

  1. Stop using the formatted drive. Do not copy files to it, install software on it, or format it again.
  2. Install Disk Drill on a different disk. If the formatted device was your system drive, connect it to another computer or boot from another drive first.
  3. Open Disk Drill, select the physical disk that contains the formatted partition, then click Search for lost data.
  4. Let the full scan finish. Check Deleted or lost, Reconstructed, plus any discovered partitions.
  5. Filter by file type or date, then preview several important files. A working preview is a useful sign, though it cannot guarantee that every recovered file will be intact.
  6. Select the files, click Recover, then save them to a different physical drive.
Disk Drill Review ↗
i If the disk disconnects, clicks, freezes the computer, or reports a rapidly rising error count, stop scanning it directly and use Method 2 or Method 5.
Open the official Disk Drill site
02

Create and Scan a Byte-to-Byte Disk Image

Safer for an unstable drive that can still be read

~1–12 hr
Difficulty Moderate
You need Disk Drill plus ample storage
Works for Windows, Mac

A disk image captures readable sectors in a file so the original device does not need to endure repeated recovery scans. This is a sensible precaution for an aging HDD, flaky USB drive, or memory card that occasionally disconnects.

  1. Prepare a healthy destination drive with free space equal to or greater than the full capacity of the formatted device.
  2. Open Disk Drill, choose its Byte-to-byte Backup tool, then select the affected physical disk.
  3. Save the image to the healthy destination drive. Do not place the image on the source disk.
  4. Leave the source device alone after imaging completes. Disconnect it if you no longer need direct access.
  5. Return to Disk Drill's recovery area, attach or load the image, then run a lost-data scan against that image.
  6. Preview the results, select the needed files, then recover them to a separate folder on healthy storage.
i Imaging is not a repair. It preserves the source's readable state so recovery attempts can be made against a copy.
03

Restore the Missing Files From a Backup

Fastest reliable option when File History, Time Machine, or cloud versioning was active

~5–45 min
Difficulty Easy
You need A backup made before formatting
Works for Windows, Mac, cloud storage

A backup avoids uncertain sector recovery entirely. Check local backups plus cloud services before running a long scan, especially if the formatted drive held synchronized work folders or photo libraries.

  1. Disconnect the formatted drive unless it is required to start the computer.
  2. Check OneDrive, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another sync service for deleted-item bins plus earlier file versions.
  3. On Windows, open the folder that previously held the files, right-click it, then choose Restore previous versions if File History was enabled.
  4. On a Mac, open the former file location, launch Time Machine, then move back to a backup dated before the format.
  5. Restore a small sample to a new folder first. Open each file to confirm that the backup contains usable data.
  6. Restore the remaining folders, then make a second copy before reorganizing or reformatting any disks.
i A backup created after files disappeared will not contain the older data unless version history was retained.
04

Run Windows File Recovery From the Command Line

Free Windows option for a readable NTFS, exFAT, FAT, or ReFS device

~20 min–several hr
Difficulty Advanced
You need Windows File Recovery plus a second drive
Works for Windows 11, Windows 10

Microsoft's Windows File Recovery can search local storage when no backup exists. It has no visual browser or preview step, so it makes more sense for readers who are comfortable entering commands plus sorting the recovered output afterward.

  1. Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store without writing to the formatted source drive.
  2. Connect a healthy destination drive. The source plus destination must use different drive letters.
  3. Open Windows File Recovery as administrator.
  4. For a broad formatted-drive search, run an Extensive-mode command such as winfr E: F: /extensive /n *.jpg /n *.docx , replacing E: with the source plus F: with the destination.
  5. Press Y when asked to begin, then leave both drives connected until the process finishes.
  6. Open the automatically created recovery folder on the destination drive, sort the results by type, then test important files.
i Use narrow extension or folder filters when possible. A broad search can produce a large pile of renamed files.
View Microsoft's Windows File Recovery guide
05

Send the Drive to a Data Recovery Lab

The right choice for physical damage, failed detection, or irreplaceable data

~3–14 days
Difficulty Easy to submit
You need A reputable recovery lab
Works for HDDs, SSDs, flash media

Software cannot fix failed heads, damaged platters, burned electronics, or a device that no longer communicates reliably. A lab may work with donor parts plus specialized imaging hardware, though cost can be substantial.

  1. Power the drive off if it clicks, grinds, repeatedly spins down, smells burned, or vanishes during reads.
  2. Do not open an HDD enclosure. Dust that looks harmless in a room can damage exposed platter surfaces.
  3. Record what happened, including the format type, operating system, drive model, encryption status, plus any recovery attempts already made.
  4. Contact two or three established labs. Ask about evaluation charges, return-media costs, privacy handling, plus what happens if recovery fails.
  5. Pack the powered-off device in an anti-static bag with firm padding. Use a tracked shipping method.
  6. Review the lab's file list or recovery report before approving the final recovery whenever that option is offered.
i For unique business records, family archives, or evidence, avoid repeated DIY scans before getting a lab opinion.

Choose the Safest Recovery Route for Your Formatted Drive

Disk Drill is the most practical first move for a healthy drive that remains visible to the computer. Scan the physical device, inspect previews, then recover selected files elsewhere. Use a disk image for unstable media, restore from backup when one exists, or stop DIY work entirely if the hardware shows signs of failure.

Top pick Disk Drill
Keep the formatted drive untouched until you have a second device with enough room for an image plus the recovered files.

Formatted Hard Drive Recovery Questions

How do I unformat a hard drive after I accidentally formatted it?
Stop using the drive right away so new data does not overwrite the old files. Then run a file recovery tool or contact a data recovery service if the drive is physically damaged.
Can I recover deleted files after formatting a drive on Windows?
Yes, if the drive has not been heavily used since the format. Use recovery software from another drive, then scan the formatted drive for lost files.
What is the first thing I should do after formatting the wrong hard drive?
Disconnect the drive or stop writing to it immediately. Every new save, install, or download lowers the chance of getting your files back.
Is quick format easier to reverse than full format?
Usually yes. A quick format often leaves more recoverable data behind, while a full format can remove more file traces and reduce recovery results.
What recovery software works best for an unformatted drive?
Choose a tool that can scan for lost partitions, raw files, or formatted volumes. The best option is one that lets you preview files before you recover them.
Can I recover files from an external hard drive after formatting it?
Yes, if the drive is still readable. Connect it to a computer, avoid copying anything to it, then run a deep scan from recovery software.
How long do I have before deleted files are gone for good?
There is no fixed deadline, because it depends on how much the drive is used after formatting. Recovery becomes less likely as soon as new data starts overwriting the old space.
Should I install recovery software on the formatted drive itself?
No, install it on a different drive. Installing onto the formatted drive can overwrite the very files you want to recover.
What file types can usually be recovered after a format?
Common types like photos, documents, videos, spreadsheets, plus archives are often recoverable. The exact result depends on how much of the original data still remains on the disk.
Can I recover a formatted hard drive without software?
Sometimes, if you have backups, cloud sync copies, or previous versions saved elsewhere. Without a backup, software is usually the most practical next step.
How do I tell if my hard drive is physically damaged instead of just formatted?
If it clicks, disappears from the system, shows repeated read errors, or makes strange grinding noises, the problem may be physical. In that case, stop testing it and consider a professional lab.
Is free recovery software good enough for a formatted drive?
It can be, especially for a recent quick format or simple file recovery. Paid tools usually offer deeper scans, better previews, plus more recovery control.
What should I avoid doing after a drive format if I want my files back?
Do not save new files, reinstall the operating system on that drive, or run heavy repair tools on it. Those actions can overwrite recoverable data fast.
Can I recover deleted files from an SSD after formatting it?
Sometimes, but SSDs are harder because TRIM can clear data blocks very quickly. If the SSD has been used after formatting, your chances may drop fast.
How do I recover only specific folders from a formatted drive?
Scan the drive, then filter results by file name, type, or folder path if the software supports it. Preview first so you only restore what you need.
What is the difference between formatting recovery, file recovery, plus partition recovery?
File recovery looks for deleted files, while partition recovery tries to find lost drive structures. If the whole volume disappeared after formatting, partition recovery may be the better first attempt.
Can I use the same computer to recover files from the formatted drive?
Yes, if the operating system is installed on a different disk. Just make sure the formatted drive is not the system drive you are actively booting from.
How much does professional hard drive recovery cost after a format?
It varies based on drive condition, file system, plus how much work is needed. A lab quote is usually the best way to learn the real cost before you approve anything.
What is the safest way to recover files from a formatted drive at home?
Clone the drive first if possible, then scan the clone instead of the original. That reduces extra wear plus gives you a backup copy if the recovery process goes wrong.