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USB Flash drive not seen on Laptop running Windows 11

Anonymous
2024-03-23T19:29:41+00:00

How can I retrieve data files on a USB flash drive that does not show up on my Windows 11 laptop? I think the USB flash drive may be damaged or corrupt. I also attempted to connect it to my android phone, and it doesn't show up there either. The flash drive contains photos and files that I really don't want to lose if there is anyway to retrieve them.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-03-24T02:59:48+00:00

    Hi,EliBiek

    Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

    I'm sorry to hear that neither Windows 11 laptops nor Android phones recognize USB flash drives. Here are some steps you can take to try to retrieve data from a potentially damaged or corrupted USB flash drive:

    1.Check the USB connection: Make sure the USB port you are using is working properly. Try connecting the USB flash drive to a different USB port on our laptop.

    2.Using a different computer: Try connecting the USB flash drive to another computer to see if it is recognized. This will help determine if the problem is with the USB drive itself or the laptop.

    3.Check Disk Management (Windows):

    • Press Windows Key + X and select Disk Management.
    • Look for the USB flash drive in the list of drives. If it appears but does not have a drive letter assigned, you may need to assign a drive letter to access it.

    If none of these steps help to retrieve data from the USB flash drive and the data on the USB flash drive is critical, it is advisable to stop trying to access it further to prevent any further damage. Recovering data from a physically damaged drive is very complicated and you may consider seeking the help of a professional data recovery service. They have specialized tools and expertise to recover data from damaged storage devices.

    Best Regards

    Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2024-03-29T22:04:17+00:00

    Flash USB does not show on computer

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2024-12-01T09:43:34+00:00

    My USB drives work perfectly well on other systems. I always expected my external drives to show automatically. That is what USB drives is supposed to be about !

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2024-03-30T00:42:28+00:00

    Thank you. I tried all the suggestions but no luck. I'll need to take it to a tech professional.

    Thanks for your help.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2024-08-26T16:52:13+00:00

    How can I retrieve data files on a USB flash drive that does not show up on my Windows 11 laptop? I think the USB flash drive may be damaged or corrupt. I also attempted to connect it to my android phone, and it doesn't show up there either. The flash drive contains photos and files that I really don't want to lose if there is anyway to retrieve them.

    Thank you for any help you can offer.

    usb not seen on my laptop

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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