How to Recover Data After Accidental Quick Format?

Ever wondered what happens to files when formatted? When something is formatted, the OS restructures the file system. The file system that reads the hard drive is affected, which makes the files invisible and inaccessible. 

Data can only be said to be deleted when new data is written. Hence, your formatted drive still has your data and can be recovered after an accidental quick format.

But what actually is a quick format, and how does it affect the data? Does formatting make the data unrecoverable? Is it permanent or not? How to recover data after accidental quick format? In the article ahead, we’ll answer all your questions and provide a list of the top data recovery software. So, let’s begin!

Quick Answer: Recovering data after a quick format is highly possible using data recovery software such as Notchox. Because a quick format only deletes the file reference (index table) rather than overwriting, the data still remains on the drive, giving a high success rate of data restoration.

How to Recover Data After Accidental Quick Format?

A quick format only removes file system references rather than erasing actual data, making data recovery highly likely using the built-in OS and data recovery tools. Data recovery tools scan the disk and rebuild the file system, which helps in the restoration of data.

So if you’ve accidentally lost data due to a quick format, no need to panic, as yes, the data can be recovered! The only thing to take note of is to make sure you don’t write the storage after the format.

There are a lot of data recovery software available in the market, but the best one depends on a number of factors, like:

• Formats it supports
• Drive-friendly retrieval
• Selective recovery
• Data recovery time

Method 1: Windows File History

This is Microsoft’s official data recovery solution. This is used to recover data, including photos, videos, files, etc., from HDD, SSD and USB drives after quick formatting. Windows File History can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. 

This is a command-line tool and does not allow complex operations. The files that have been overwritten, files from cloud storage (like OneDrive) or network file shares can not be recovered. In this case, you must use any data recovery software.

Steps to recover data using Windows File History:

1. Open File Explorer on your computer and go to the folder that once had the deleted file.

   

2. Right-click on the folder and select Restore Previous Versions.

   

3. Click the Previous Versions tab that lists available versions of the file or folder to restore.

   

4. Select the desired file or folder to be restored. Click Restore.

   

5. Click Restore to confirm.

   

Method 2: Using Data Recovery Software

Based on your requirements, you can choose the data recovery software like Notchox, Disk Drill, Recuva, R-Studio, Stellar, etc.

Once you have selected the data recovery tool, the major part is already done. Ensure you have a safe location to store your recovered data.

Follow these steps to recover files using data recovery software.

Note: The data recovery steps vary from software to software.

1. Install the Software on the Device: Follow the installation steps and install the software on your PC, mobile or laptop.
2. Scan the Drive for Lost Data: The next step is to scan the device. Let the software do its work and wait for the scan to be completed. The software will execute the recovery process and extract the data.
3. Preview the Data: If your files aren’t damaged, you will see your data in a new window. Now you can choose what to do with the data: keep or delete it.
4. Recovery: Now, when you finalise the data, the recovery process starts. The finalised data is recovered.
5. Restore to a New Location: Select the safe location for your recovered data. Now, you may safely access your data.

Top 5 Data Recovery Software You Can Rely On

The market is full of data recovery tools, software, and services. Prepare a checklist based on your requirements and purchase the software accordingly.

Here are the top 5 data recovery software leading the US market:

Notchox

Notchox is the best among the data recovery software, known for its digital resilience. Trusted by tech giants across the world, it has a 99% success rate. It serves solutions across all OS: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. With an average data recovery time of 15-30 Minutes, Notchox stands out among the rest.

Recovery Solutions:

• Photos Recovery
• Corrupted File Recovery
• Email Recovery
• Document Recovery
• Video Recovery
• Partition Recovery

If you are looking for secure, deep scan and drive-friendly retrieval, to recover lost, deleted or corrupted files, Notchox is the best choice.

Disk Drill

Disk Drill is a flexible data recovery tool that allows you to recover data. It uses a deep mix of quick scanning methods to reconstruct data even from damaged or corrupted partitions.

Recovery Solutions:

• Data Recovery for Mac
• Data Recovery for Windows
• Video Recovery
• Audio Recovery
• Images, Photos and Graphics Recovery
• Document Recovery

Disk Drill is a good choice if you want to recover data lost accidentally, a crashed hard disk, a virus infection, a lost partition, etc. It offers data recovery services for both Windows and MacOS.

Recuva

Recuva is another software that lets you recover deleted files quickly and easily. Recuva provides deep scan file recovery and priority technical support. It is developed by Piriform (part of Gen Digital, formerly known as CCleaner).

Recovery Solutions:

• Advanced file recovery
• Windows Data Recovery
• Virtual hard drive support
• Automatic updates
• Priority Support

Recuva is best for accidental file deletion, emptied recycle bins and quick file restoration. It offers a deep scan for buried files and is helpful in recovery from damaged disks.

UFS Explorer

UFS Explorer is an effective data recovery software for all types of storage media. Being a powerful and professional data recovery software, it offers a wide range of software based on data recovery type.

Recovery Solutions:

• Standard Recovery
• RAID Recovery
• Network RAID
• Professional Recovery

UFS Explorer is popular among IT specialists and forensic experts for its high success rates when dealing with the most complex and advanced storage technologies.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

EaseUS is a simple-to-use data recovery software that includes a quick scan, free preview and file filter. It provides data recovery across 2000+ Storage devices and 1000+ file types.

Recovery Solutions:

• Partition Recovery
• Email Recovery
• Manual Data Recovery Service
• Photo Recovery
• Document Recovery
• Video Recovery
• Online File Recovery

It is recognized for its 99.7% recovery rate. Free users can recover up to 2GB of data, while Pro version users get unlimited recovery.

Can Data be Recovered After Accidental Quick Format?

Yes, the data can be recovered after formatting, given some conditions. Formatting may happen on any device, computer, mobile, tablet, camera, external hard drive, etc.

• Firstly, make sure your hard disk or drive isn’t damaged. 
• Secondly, once formatted, stop accessing the drive, as this may only worsen the case because the data is safe until new data is written. 
• Next, perform data recovery as soon as possible.

Formatting storage involves preparing it for use by creating a file system and organizing the data structure. This process establishes how the OS will store retrieved files.

When you format a device, the system typically offers 2 methods:

• Quick Format
• Full Format

Let’s have a deeper look at the formatting methods.

Difference Between Quick Format and Full Format

Feature	Quick Format	Full Format
Definition	Removes a file from the partition, but it does not overwrite or check for any bad sectors	Erases the data, checks for bad sectors and rebuilds the file system
Speed	Very fast	Slow
Data Retention	Data remains; only the index is removed	Data is overwritten
Recovery Chance	High	Low/ Difficult
Bad Sector Scan	No	Yes
Data Erasure	Data is not erased and can be recovered.	Data is overwritten, making it difficult to recover.
File System Reset	Resets the file system; no deep cleaning	Resets and rebuilds the file system
Use Case	Quick reuse	Fixing errors
Suitable for	Reusing drives, USBs, and temporary storage	Initialising new drives, fixing errors, and data removal

Conclusion

The data can often be recovered after accidental quick formatting because only the file access is deleted, not the actual data, and no drive data has been written. When accidentally formatted, stop using the drive immediately and use data recovery software. 

This blog explains how to recover data after accidental quick format and lists the top data recovery software for ease. 

Tip: Make sure to keep a backup of data to prevent damage from accidental formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)