Data Recovery | 9 Minutes Reading
How to Recover Data from an SSD After Formatting?
Is It Possible to Recover Data from an SSD After Formatting? This is one of the most common question that users are asking just after they formatted their data from SSD drive. Formatting an SSD can make your files disappear in seconds but the fact is – it does not always mean that they are immediately gone forever.
Formatting an SSD can make your files disappear within few seconds but that does not mean in every case they are immediately lost forever. In some situations you may still be able to recover your data from an SSD after formatting this is particularly if you stop using your drive immediately and the SSD has not cleared the old data through TRIM.
If you are wondering how to recover data from an SSD after formatting then the most important thing is to avoid writing anything new to your formatted SSD. Do not install Windows, copy files or install recovery software on the same affected drive. The sooner you stop using it the greater your chances of finding recoverable data.
Table of Content
- Can You Recover Data from an SSD After Formatting?
- What Happens When You Format an SSD?
- How Does TRIM Affect SSD Data Recovery?
- Quick Format vs Full Format on an SSD
- Quick Format
- Full Format
- What Should You Do After Accidentally Formatting an SSD?
- How to Recover Data from an SSD After Formatting
- What If the SSD Is Not Detected After Formatting?
- Final Answer
Can You Recover Data from an SSD After Formatting?
The simple answer is Yes, Recovery of your data from an SSD after formatting is possible sometimes but I would say recovery is not guaranteed. Unlike a traditional hard drive here an SSD uses flash memory and can employ the TRIM command to indicate to the drive which blocks are no longer needed. Your chances of recovery of data from SSD drive mainly depend on the following scenarios:
- Whether TRIM has processed the deleted data
- If the SSD was quickly or fully formatted
- Any new data has been written to the drive
- Whether the SSD is still detected by Windows
- If the file system or partition is damaged
- When the SSD has a hardware or controller problem
This is why data recovery from SSD after formatting should be attempted as soon as possible. If TRIM has already cleared the relevant memory blocks in this case software will not be able to recover your original files.
Reading Suggestion: If you want to Recover Deleted Files from a Hard Drive After Formatting then you must consider this dedicated guide to solve this issue.
What Happens When You Format an SSD?
When you format the SSD Windows removes or recreates the file-system information that tells the operating system where your files are located. As a result your documents, photos, videos and other files may no longer appear in File Explorer. However formatting and permanently clearing the essential flash memory are not always the same thing.
This is why recover data from a formatted SSD can sometimes be possible with specialized recovery software. The software scans available storage for file system information and recoverable file data that may still be accessible.
However SSD technology makes this more complicated than the Data Recovery from Hard Drive. TRIM and background SSD processes can make previously deleted data unavailable much faster.
How Does TRIM Affect SSD Data Recovery?
TRIM is one of the biggest factors in data recovery from formatted SSD cases.
When Windows deletes files from a compatible SSD then it can send a TRIM command to tell the SSD that certain blocks are no longer needed. The SSD can then prepare those blocks for future use. Once the relevant data has been cleared now then normal recovery software will no longer be able to find the original files.
This means recover data from an SSD after formatting is more likely to succeed when your affected data has not already been cleared by TRIM or overwritten by new activity.
Do not assume that every formatted SSD is unrecoverable but also do not assume that recovery software can bypass TRIM. If TRIM has already removed your relevant data at this stage recovery is not possible.
Quick Format vs Full Format on an SSD
The type of formatting also matters when you want to recover data from an SSD after formatting. Check below the complete difference between Quick and Full format.
Quick Format
A quick format mainly recreates the file system structures without deliberately checking for errors in each storage block. In some cases recoverable file data may remain after the operation.
Full Format
A full format performs additional checks and it is depending on the Windows version and storage configuration that can make recovery more difficult.
However with SSDs the situation cannot be judged only by the words “quick” or “full.” TRIM, SSD firmware, garbage collection and subsequent drive activity can have a major effect on whether the old data remains recoverable or not.
So if you need how to recover data from an SSD after formatting do not continue experimenting with different formatting operations. Just start recovery as soon as possible.
What Should You Do After Accidentally Formatting an SSD?
If you accidentally format the wrong SSD or partition then your first approach should be to stop using it immediately and avoid any new write activity and follow these precautions before using recovery software to recover your lost files from SSD drive:
- Do not save new files to the formatted SSD.
- Do not install Windows on the affected SSD.
- Do not install recovery software on the same SSD.
- Avoid copying or moving files to the drive.
- Disconnect the SSD if you do not need to use it.
- You need to connect it to another working computer when possible.
- And start the recovery process using another storage location.
These precautions are very important because new write activity can overwrite your existing data and reduce the chances of recovering files from the formatted SSD.
How to Recover Data from an SSD After Formatting
If Windows still detects the SSD and the problem appears to be logical rather than the physical then you can Download and Install dedicated and secured SSD recovery software as it is the most practical first option. Here is a simple approach for how to recover data from an SSD after formatting.
Step 1: Connect Your Formatted SSD
You need to connect the formatted SSD to a working Windows computer. If it is an internal SSD you should avoid booting or installing software from that affected drive.
Step 2: Now Install Recovery Software
Install our recovery software on a different healthy drive just remember do not install it on the formatted SSD.
Step 3: Select the SSD Partition
Now open the software in order to Recover Data from an SSD After Formatting and select the SSD partition where your files were lost. Make sure you select the correct drive before starting the scan.
Step 4: Run a Formatted Scan
For how to recover files after formatting SSD you need to choose the formatted scan option when the software provides it.
Step 5: Preview the Recoverable Files
After scanning you can preview your listed files before saving them. Check important documents, photos, videos and other files to confirm that they are actually recoverable.
This is an important part of the steps to file recovery from SSD after formatting because finding a file name does not always mean that the file itself is usable.
Step 6: Save the Recovered Data to Another Drive
You can now select the required files and save them to a different healthy drive. Do not save recovered files back to the formatted SSD.
What If the SSD Is Not Detected After Formatting?
If Windows does not detect the SSD at all then this situation is completely different and you need to first check these following things before:
- Disk Management
- BIOS/UEFI detection
- SATA or USB connections
- Another USB port or enclosure
- Another computer, if available
If you notice that SSD is appearing in Disk Management but has a missing RAW or unallocated partition then you can Recover Data from an SSD After Formatting with the help of software based recovery. If the SSD is completely absent from BIOS/UEFI or repeatedly disconnects well then you should avoid repeated scans and troubleshooting that could stress your device. A controller or hardware problem may need professional recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can You Recover Files from a RAW SSD?
Yes you can in some cases. A RAW SSD generally means Windows cannot recognize the current file system correctly. If your important files are still stored on the drive then do not immediately format it again. You can use our recovery tool to locate all your recoverable data.
Q2. Can You Recover Data from an NVMe or M.2 SSD?
Yes the same general recovery principles apply to modern SSD types such as NVMe and M.2 drives also.
If you need to recover data from an SSD after formatting and the affected drive is an NVMe or M.2 model then you should avoid reinstalling the operating system or writing new data to it before attempting recovery.
Q3. Can You Recover Data from a Formatted SSD?
Yes in some cases you can but recovery fully depends on type of formatting, SSD condition, TRIM status and also if your new data has been written to the drive. You should stop using your formatted SSD as soon as possible and avoid installing new software or saving files to it before attempting recovery.
Q4. Can I Recover Data from an SSD After Reinstalling Windows?
Yes the recovery chances are still possible but the condition is same if there is any new data written during Windows installation then this can decrease the chances of recovery. If you need to recover data from an SSD after formatting you must stop using the drive and avoid any further write operations before starting the recovery process.
Final Answer
Can data be recovered from an SSD after formatting? Well the answer is yes you can recover data from an SSD after formatting but you also need to understand that recovery of ssd data is time sensitive because TRIM can make deleted or formatted data permanently unavailable. If you accidentally formatted an SSD then you must stop using it immediately and avoid writing anything new to the drive. If the SSD is still detected by Windows you can use the suggested dedicated recovery wizard and scan your drive for recovery.