How to Recover Files After Formatting in Windows 10 Using Two Methods [Updated]

Overview of Restoring Files After Formatting Windows 10

Scenario 1: “I accidentally formatted my hard drive in Windows 10. Is it possible to recover some files as the hard drive has been formatted?”

Scenario 2: “One of my partitions got formatted after updating Windows 10. Strange. How do I recover formatted partition in Windows 10?”

Accidentally formatting a hard drive partition is one of the primary issues that most ordinary users may come across in Windows 10. So, what should you do if you accidentally formatted a hard drive partition in Windows 10? Can anyone solve the problem of how to recover files from a formatted Windows 10 partition?

Read on, and you'll get a comprehensive guide on how to recover files after formatting Windows 10 right here.

What should you do after accidentally formatting a hard drive? Here are two tips that can immediately guide you to restore all formatted data in Windows 10. Once you've lost files after formatting a hard drive partition, remember:

• ❌ Stop using the partition immediately.
• ?️ Do not save new files to the formatted hard drive partition.

Keep reading, and we'll show you how to recover a formatted drive in Windows 10. We'll introduce two methods to help you recover deleted files from a hard drive:

Method 1: Recover Files After Formatting in Windows 10 Using Data Recovery Software If you accidentally formatted your hard drive, SD card, or another storage device on Windows 10 and need to retrieve your lost files, you can try using data recovery software. Here's a simple approach: 1. **Select a reliable recovery tool**: First, download and install a reputable data recovery software like Recuva, tools Data Recovery Wizard, or Stellar Data Recovery. Make sure to get the software from its official website for safety. 2. **Download and install**: Visit the chosen software's official website and download the version compatible with Windows 10. Complete the installation process. 3. **Launch the software**: Run the installed data recovery program, which will typically display a welcome screen and main function options. 4. **Choose the device to scan**: In the software, select the drive or device that you formatted. If unsure, the software usually shows all connected storage devices for you to choose from. 5. **Start the scan**: Click "Scan" or a similar button to initiate a deep scan. This may take some time depending on the size of the drive. 6. **Preview and recover files**: After scanning, the software will list the found files. You can preview certain file types (like images and documents) to confirm their recoverability. Select the files you want to restore and click the "Recover" button to save them to a secure location. 7. **Backup important files**: To prevent future data loss, remember to regularly back up essential files to an external storage device or cloud service. Keep in mind that data recovery is not always 100% successful, especially if the disk has been overwritten or damaged. Act promptly to recover your files, as new data writes might decrease the chances of successful recovery.

Using a format recovery software should be your first option because many regular users have no idea how to recover data from a formatted hard drive for free in Windows 10. We recommend that you try the Data Recovery Wizard tool, which handles data loss issues professionally, such as file recovery from a formatted Windows 10 partition. You can click the button below to download the free trial of Data Recovery Wizard.

The major features of the Tool for Formatting Recovery are as follows:

• Recover Formatted Hard Drive, USB flash drive, SD card, and external hard drive, etc.
• Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10, and it can also recover data from the latest versions of Windows.
• Retrieve Deleted Photos from Hard Drive, with support for video, audio, and email recovery as well.

To help you understand how to use this software, you can watch the following video:

• 00:05 How to format a hard drive
• 01:50 Why you might need to format a hard drive
• 02:31 How to recover a formatted hard drive

3-Step Guide to Restore Data from Formatted Windows 10 Hard Drive:

Note: To ensure a higher chance of successful data recovery, install the data recovery tool on a different disk from the formatted one.

Step 1. Launch Disk Drill. Select the hard drive partition you accidentally reformatted and click “Scan.”

Step 2: The disk formatting recovery software will start scanning all lost data and files. After the scan, you can click "Filter" to filter files of a specific type for quick access. Alternatively, click "Search File or Folder" to select the data you want to retrieve.

Step 3: Preview the scanned files, and then select the ones you want to recover. Click “Restore.” Choose a new location to save your files, then click “OK.”

Don't forget to share this tip on social media to help other users learn about these tools!

Method 2: How to Use Data Recovery Services to Restore a Formatted Drive in Windows 10

You can easily find data recovery services in the US through Google Maps, as well as in other countries. If you don't want to go to a local repair center, it's best to contact a data recovery service tool. Our professional data recovery engineers will take care of your issue and restore your files.

Tool-formatted Data Recovery Service

Contact our experts for a free evaluation now.

Consult with our Tool Data Recovery specialists for one-on-one manual recovery services. After a free diagnosis, we offer the following services:

• Repair damaged RAID configurations, unbootable Windows OS, and corrupted virtual disk files (e.g., .vmdk, .vhd, .vhdx)
• Recover/repair partitions after accidental formatting and repartitioned drives (on Windows 10 systems)
• Unformat hard drives and repair RAW drives (including BitLocker encrypted drives)
• Fix disks that have become GPT protected partitions

Here are some tips on how to safeguard your hard drive data in Windows 10: 1. **Regular Backups**: Enable the built-in Windows Backup feature to create regular backups of your important files. You can set it up to automatically save copies of your files to an external hard drive or a network location. 2. **Update Your System**: Keep your Windows 10 operating system up to date with the latest security patches and updates. This helps protect against potential vulnerabilities that could compromise your data. 3. **Antivirus Software**: Install a reputable antivirus program and keep it updated to protect against malware and viruses that can damage or steal your data. 4. **Strong Passwords**: Use strong, unique passwords for all user accounts and ensure the operating system's user account control is set up properly to prevent unauthorized access. 5. **Encryption**: Use BitLocker, Windows 10's built-in encryption tool, to encrypt your hard drive. This ensures that even if your device is stolen, the data remains inaccessible without the decryption key. 6. **Cloud Storage**: Sync your important files with a cloud service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. This provides an offsite backup and allows you to access your files from anywhere. 7. **Disk Health Monitoring**: Regularly check the health of your hard drive using tools like the Windows Error Checking utility or third-party software. Early detection of issues can prevent data loss. 8. **Limited User Accounts**: Avoid using an administrator account for daily use. Instead, create standard user accounts which have fewer privileges and can limit potential damage from malware or accidental changes. 9. **Firewall**: Ensure your Windows Firewall is enabled to block unauthorized access to your system and data. 10. **External Drives Care**: If you use external drives, store them safely when not in use, and consider using hardware-level encryption for added security. By following these guidelines, you can significantly enhance the protection of your Windows 10 hard drive data.

After going through the three steps with the Data Recovery Wizard, all your lost files will be back. However, the best way to protect your data is not just to rely on recovery software for formatted or deleted recovery.

Having a comprehensive plan in place to protect your data against any disaster is also necessary and important. The tips below will show you how to back up your Windows 10 data and avoid data loss.

⭐1. Back up Windows 10 regularly

You can use Windows 10 File History or backup software to help you with this. Here, you might want to try using the Todo Backup tool, which allows users to selectively back up files, entire disk partitions, or even the currently running system in just 3 simple steps. Frequently backing up important files and data on your Windows 10 will effectively prevent sudden data loss, system crashes, or other issues.

If you want to restore files from File History, after you open the Windows File Recovery app, select File History. You have two basic modes to choose from: Standard and Advanced.

⭐2. Use professional antivirus software

Run a virus cleaner to get rid of existing viruses and malware, protecting your data and computer.

⭐3. Choose an Efficient Data Recovery Tool - Data Recovery Wizard

If you lose files due to deletion, formatting, or other reasons, stop using the source device immediately. Use data recovery software, like undelete after quick format, to solve your data loss issues, such as recovering lost partitions. The tool Data Recovery Wizard is one of the best Windows 10 data recovery software that can recover lost files from a Windows 10 hard drive and restore formatted and inaccessible data. It can recover all types of lost files from any hard drive or storage device.

How to Recover Files After Formatting in Windows 10? – FAQ

Here are some questions related to how to recover files from a formatted hard drive in Windows 10. Please continue reading for more information.

1. Can data be recovered from a damaged hard drive?

The Data Recovery Wizard can recover files in many complex situations, including from damaged hard drives. Additionally, it can recover data from a dead hard drive. You can create a bootable drive to run on a damaged or dead hard drive and retrieve your data.

Download tools Data Recovery Wizard WinPE edition on your computer. Select the hard drive you want to recover and click the 'Scan' button. Preview the files and then click the 'Recover' button to retrieve your data.

How to recover files from a formatted hard drive in Windows 10?

The steps for Windows 10 format recovery are as follows: 1. Backup important data: Before performing any recovery operation, ensure that all essential personal files and documents are backed up to an external hard drive or cloud storage. 2. Boot your computer into the Recovery Environment: - If your computer starts normally, press `Win + I` to open "Settings," then select "Update & Security" > "Recovery" > "Advanced Startup." Click "Restart Now," and your computer will enter the Recovery Environment. - If your computer fails to start normally, try pressing F8 repeatedly during boot (for newer computers, it might be F11 or F12) to access the "Advanced Boot Options." 3. Choose "Troubleshoot" in the Recovery Environment: - For Windows 10, you'll see the "Troubleshoot" option. Click on it. - Next, select "Advanced options." 4. Format and reinstall: - In "Advanced options," choose "Reset this PC." - You'll have two options: "Keep my files" and "Remove everything." Since you mentioned format recovery, choose "Remove everything." This will completely wipe your hard drive and restore it to factory settings. - Follow the on-screen instructions, select your Windows 10 edition (if applicable), and initiate the recovery process. 5. Wait for the recovery to complete: - The formatting and reinstallation may take some time depending on your hardware speed. Do not disconnect power or force a shutdown during this process. - After completion, your computer will automatically restart and boot into a fresh installation of Windows 10. 6. Set up the new system: - Follow the on-screen prompts to set up the new Windows 10, including language, region, network connection, etc. - Log in with your Microsoft account or create a new local account. 7. Install updates and recover applications: - In the new system, make sure to install all available Windows updates first for security. - Reinstall your applications and programs as needed. Please note that formatting will permanently delete all data from your hard drive, so ensure you back up beforehand. If you have a product key or an activated Windows 10, the system should typically reactivate after the recovery.

Download and run the Data Recovery Wizard on your Windows 10 computer. Select the formatted hard drive for scanning. Choose the file types you want to recover. Preview and restore the lost files.

How can I recover files from a formatted hard drive for free?

To recover deleted files for free or to restore files from a formatted hard drive, you can use the free version of a hard drive recovery software. It allows you to perform free formatted hard drive recovery on various file systems, such as FAT (FAT12/FAT16/FAT32), exFAT, NTFS, NTFS5, ext2, ext3, HFS+, and ReFS.

It enables you to recover lost data from laptop, PC, hard drive, external disk, SSD, USB drive, memory card, and the like.

4. What is the best hard drive recovery software?

If you've lost data and need to recover deleted files, you can try one of the 15 best hard drive recovery software tools:

• Data Recovery Wizard
• Stellar Data Recovery
• Disk Drill
• Recuva
• Recover My Files
• Acronis Revive
• R-Studio
• Data Rescue
• OnTrack EasyRecovery
• Wise Data Recovery Software
• and more...