This method attempts to fix your USB drive without erasing its data.
You may need to click > next to This PC first in order to view the flash drive.
For example, you might need to confirm that you want to repair the drive by clicking Scan & Repair. Once the repair is complete, click Close to finish. If your flash drive’s problems were driver or software-related, it should work now.
If you don’t see your USB flash drive, click the View menu and choose Show All Devices first. [2] X Research source
When you’re finished scanning, click the Eject icon next to the drive in Finder, or click and drag the drive to the Eject icon in the Dock.
Formatting your USB drive will erase everything that’s on it.
NTFS - The default Windows operating system format. This format only works with Windows. FAT32 - The most widely compatible format. Works on Windows and Mac but has a storage limit of 32 gigabytes. exFAT (Recommended) - Works on Windows and Mac and has no storage limit. If you’ve formatted your drive before and you’re positive that it isn’t broken, you can also check the Quick Format box.
If your Mac doesn’t have a USB port, you can purchase an adapter. Formatting your drive will erase everything that’s on it.
If you don’t see your USB flash drive, click the View menu and choose Show All Devices first.
Mac OS Extended (Journaled) - The default Mac format. Only works on Mac. Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) - Encrypted version of the default Mac format. Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled) - Version of the default Mac format that treats files with the same name differently if there are case differences (e. g. , “file. txt” and “File. txt”). Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled, Encrypted) - A combination of the three above formatting options for the Mac format. MS-DOS (FAT) - Works on both Windows and Mac computers, but has file size limit of 4 gigabytes. ExFAT (Recommended) - Works on both Windows and Mac computers. Has no storage limit.
When you are finished, click the eject icon next to the drive in the Finder, or click and drag the drive to the Eject icon in the Dock when on your desktop.
Don’t use force or excessively bend your USB, as that will cause more damage.
If the port looks clean but still doesn’t work, try using your flash drive on a different port or computer. If it works, you’ll know that something is wrong internally with that specific USB port on your computer.
If the flash drive’s internal storage is damaged, your only viable option is to take the drive into a professional repair service. The prices for data recovery can vary from $20 - $850 based on the severity of damage done to the drive, and the type of recovery required.
A soldering iron with solder and flux An old USB cable Wire cutters/strippers A small flathead screwdriver A magnifying glass or jeweler’s loop
Solder pads are the 4 bits of solder that connect the prongs of the USB connector to the copper lines in the circuit board. If the connector has broken away without causing damage to the PCB or solder pads, continue to the next step.
Windows - Open Start, click the File Explorer icon, and click your flash drive’s icon. Mac - Open Finder and click your flash drive’s icon. If the flash drive doesn’t connect to your computer, you can try taking it to a tech department to see if they can still pull the files off of it.
