What to do when your USB drive stops working or shows signs of failure
A USB flash drive that won't open, shows corrupted files, or makes clicking sounds is often still recoverable — but the window closes fast. The moment you notice problems, stop using the drive and move it to a computer you can dedicate to recovery. Most failing drives can be read by a different computer or with specialized software before the hardware degrades further. The key is acting before the drive becomes completely unresponsive.
Recovery depends on what's actually broken: the drive's controller (the chip that manages data), the memory chips themselves, or the file system (the organizational structure Windows or Mac uses to find your files). You can test which one without risking the drive, and different problems have different solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Stop using a failing drive when ready — every read attempt can make hardware damage worse, especially if the drive is making unusual sounds.
- Try the drive on a different computer first; many "dead" drives work fine on another machine because the problem is software, not hardware.
- File recovery software like Recuva (Windows) or DiskUtility (Mac) can often pull files from a drive that won't open normally, even if the drive is partially corrupted.
- If the drive is physically damaged, makes grinding or clicking noises, or gets hot, do not attempt recovery yourself — a data recovery service is the only option.
- Back up recovered files to a different drive when ready; a drive showing failure signs will fail completely soon.
Test the drive on a different computer first
Before you assume the drive is broken, plug it into another computer. Many drives that appear dead on one machine work perfectly on another because the problem is a driver issue, a USB port problem, or a file system corruption that one operating system can read but another cannot. If the drive shows up and opens normally on the second computer, the issue was with the first one, not the drive itself.
If the drive still does not appear in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), check the USB port you are using. Try a different port on the same computer, and try a USB hub if you have one — some hubs provide more stable power than direct ports. If the drive appears in one port but not another, the drive is likely fine and the port is the problem.
Use file recovery software if the drive appears but won't open
When a drive shows up in your operating system but you cannot open it, or you see a message asking you to format it, the file system is corrupted but the data is still there. Do not format the drive — that erases the recovery information you need. Instead, use recovery software designed to read raw data from a damaged file system.
On Windows: Recuva (free version available from Piriform) scans the drive and lists files it can recover, even if the drive won't open normally. Connect the drive, open Recuva, select the drive from the list, and let it scan. The scan takes time — sometimes an hour or more for a full drive — but it shows you what is recoverable before you commit to anything. You can then select which files to save to a different drive.
On Mac: DiskUtility (built into macOS) can sometimes repair a corrupted file system. Open Disk Utility, select the drive, and click "First Aid" — this attempts to fix the file system without erasing data. If that fails, third-party tools like Data Rescue or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can scan the drive the way Recuva does on Windows.
Recovery software works best when the drive is still recognized by the computer. If the drive does not appear at all, the hardware is likely damaged beyond what software can reach.
What to do if the drive makes unusual sounds or gets hot
A USB drive that clicks, grinds, beeps, or gets warm to the touch has physical damage — the controller is failing or the memory chips are degrading. Do not keep plugging it in. Every connection attempt can cause more damage, and heat accelerates failure. Unplug the drive and let it cool.
At this point, recovery software will not work because the hardware cannot reliably read the data. Your only option is a professional data recovery service, which involves opening the drive in a clean room and either replacing the failed component or reading the memory chips directly. This costs $300 to $1,500 depending on the damage and the service. It is worth considering only if the files on the drive are irreplaceable and valuable enough to justify the cost.
Recover files to a healthy drive when ready
Once you have accessed the files — whether through recovery software or by opening the drive on another computer — copy them to a different, working drive right away. Do not leave them on the failing drive while you decide what to do with them. A drive showing signs of failure will fail completely, often without warning.
Copy the files in small batches if the drive is slow or unstable. If a copy operation stalls or fails partway through, stop and try again with fewer files. Slow transfers are normal for a degrading drive; what matters is getting the data off before the drive stops responding entirely.
Prevent future failures with regular backups
USB flash drives fail without warning — they have no moving parts to warn you with noise or slowness, and they can degrade from heat, age, or manufacturing defects. The only protection is a backup on a separate device. Set up automatic backups to an external hard drive or cloud storage for any files you cannot afford to lose.
For files you keep on a USB drive regularly, back them up to at least one other location every month. This takes minutes and saves you from the stress and cost of recovery when a drive fails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover files from a USB drive that won't show up on any computer?
Not without professional help. If the drive does not appear on multiple computers and different USB ports, the controller or connection is physically damaged. A data recovery service can sometimes extract the data, but it requires opening the drive and costs several hundred dollars. For most people, this is only worth doing if the files are genuinely irreplaceable.
Is it safe to keep trying to plug in a failing drive?
No. Each connection attempt can cause more damage, especially if the drive is making sounds or getting hot. If a drive fails to appear or open, try it once on another computer and once on a different port. After that, stop. Repeated attempts accelerate the failure.
What does it mean if my drive shows up but says it needs to be formatted?
The file system is corrupted, but the data is still on the drive. Do not format it — formatting erases the recovery information. Use recovery software like Recuva instead to read the raw data and pull out your files.
How long does file recovery software take to scan a drive?
A full scan can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on the drive's size and how damaged the file system is. Let it run without interrupting. You can usually pause and resume scans, so you do not have to do it all at once.
Should I try to open a USB drive that is making clicking sounds?
No. Clicking or grinding sounds mean the hardware is failing. Unplug it when ready and let it cool. Continued use can cause more damage. If the files are critical, contact a data recovery service. Otherwise, the drive is likely beyond recovery.