Index
All Data Recovery Guides
Every Refindo guide in one place. Start from a topic or jump straight to the exact failure you're seeing.
Written by the Refindo Recovery Team · Updated
The recovery topics below cover platforms, devices, and file types end to end. The disaster guides that follow are organized by the message or symptom you ran into, from a drive that turns RAW to an APFS volume that disappeared. Each one explains what to avoid, when recovery is realistic, and how to scan before writing anything back to the source.
Common Drive Symptoms
Start with the exact symptom when a drive fails. These guides cover the high-risk moments where formatting, repair, or another mount attempt can reduce recovery quality.
External hard drive not showing up on MacFinder is missing the drive, the Mac is not recognizing the external hard drive, or it only appears in System Information.External hard drive not mounting on MacDisk Utility sees the device, but the volume is greyed out, unmounted, unreadable, or unsafe to repair first.Recover Files from a Formatted USB DriveA USB stick or flash drive was quick-formatted and needs a scan before reuse.Samsung T7 or T7 Shield not mounting on MacCheck password protection, Samsung Portable SSD software, USB-C cable, APFS, exFAT, and TRIM before formatting.
Recovery Topics
Free Data Recovery SoftwareFile RecoveryRecover Deleted FilesWindows Data RecoveryMac Data RecoveryPhoto RecoveryCamera RAW RecoveryVideo RecoveryRecover Deleted PhotosFormatted Drive RecoveryPartition RecoveryUSB Drive RecoveryFlash Drive RecoveryHard Drive RecoveryExternal Hard Drive RecoverySD Card RecoveryRecycle Bin and Trash RecoveryAPFS RecoveryexFAT RecoveryNTFS RecoveryRecover Word DocumentsRecover Excel FilesRecover PDF FilesData Recovery GlossaryBest Data Recovery SoftwareDisk Drill AlternativeEaseUS Data Recovery AlternativeRecoverit Alternative4DDiG AlternativeRecuva AlternativeExternal Hard Drive RepairUSB Drive RepairRecover Files from SD CardHow Refindo WorksData Recovery SafetySupported File SystemsData Recovery PricingSeagate Data RecoveryWD Data RecoverySanDisk RecoverySamsung SSD Recovery
Mac / External SSD
13 guidesExternal SSD Not Mounting on MacWhat to do before formatting, repairing, or reusing the drive.SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD Not MountingSafe recovery steps for Extreme and Extreme Pro SSDs.Mac External Drive UnreadableHandle the unreadable disk prompt before initialize or erase.Disk Utility Cannot Repair This DiskWhat to do after First Aid fails on macOS.The Disk You Attached Was Not ReadableDo not initialize the disk before checking recoverable files.Mac Disk Disappeared After RebootCheck the device safely before creating new volumes.SSD Shows Up but Cannot OpenRecover files before forcing the volume to mount.External Hard Drive Not Showing Up on MacCheck Finder, Disk Utility, USB power, and recovery options before erase or repair prompts.External Hard Drive Not Mounting on MacRecover files before First Aid, force mount, erase, or format actions.Samsung T7 or T7 Shield Not Mounting on MacCheck Samsung Portable SSD software, USB-C, APFS, exFAT, and TRIM before reformatting.Seagate External Drive Not Showing UpCheck connection and recover files before repair.External Drive in Disk Utility but Not FinderDecide whether it's hidden, unmounted, or unsafe to repair.Recover Data from an Erased Mac External DriveScan before saving anything new to the erased drive.
Mac / External HDD
1 guidesWindows / External
8 guidesExternal Hard Drive Not Showing Up on WindowsCheck File Explorer, Disk Management, and Device Manager before formatting.USB Drive Not Showing Up on WindowsCheck Disk Management and drive letters before formatting.SD Card Not Detected on WindowsRule out the reader and drive letter before formatting.Disk Unknown, Not Initialized on WindowsDo not initialize the disk before recovering your files.Drive Not Accessible: The Parameter Is IncorrectScan before formatting or running chkdsk on the drive.You Need to Format the Disk Before You Can Use ItDo not format; scan the drive for recoverable files first.Windows Was Unable to Complete the FormatRecover files before fighting a drive that won't format.Seagate External Drive Not Detected on WindowsCheck power and detection before formatting the drive.
APFS
10 guidesAPFS Volume DisappearedRecover data from a missing APFS volume before rebuilding anything.APFS Container RecoveryScan before repairing or recreating APFS container structures.Recover Deleted APFS VolumeWhat matters after an APFS volume is removed.Encrypted APFS RecoveryScan only after macOS has unlocked a readable APFS volume.APFS External Drive Not Mounting on MacSafe Mac recovery steps for an unmountable APFS disk.APFS Volume Not MountingRecover files before changing APFS structures.APFS Drive Unreadable on MacDo not initialize the APFS disk before recovery.Recover Formatted APFS DriveStop writing to the APFS device and scan immediately.FileVault Drive Not MountingScan only after macOS unlocks and exposes readable storage.Mac SSD Deleted Files RecoveryUnderstand TRIM before assuming deleted files are recoverable.
NTFS
9 guidesNTFS Drive Became RAWScan the RAW volume before formatting or running chkdsk.CHKDSK Is Not Available for RAW DrivesWhat the message means and how to recover instead.Recover Files After CHKDSKFind files chkdsk deleted or moved into found.000 folders.Recover a Formatted NTFS DriveScan before new files overwrite the formatted volume.NTFS File Recovery: Recover Deleted FilesStop writing to the drive before deleted records are reused.The File or Directory Is Corrupted and UnreadableScan before chkdsk rewrites the damaged NTFS structures.Lost Partition Recovery on WindowsScan for the missing partition before recreating it.Recover Permanently Deleted Files on WindowsShift+Delete isn't the end. Scan before the space is reused.Recover Files After Emptying the Recycle BinEmptied doesn't mean erased. Scan before new writes.
exFAT
10 guidesRecover Formatted exFAT Drive Before New WritesScan before reusing an exFAT SSD, USB drive, or SD card.exFAT Drive Not MountingRecover files before running repair commands.exFAT CorruptedStabilize the device and scan before repair.USB Drive Not Showing Up on MacAvoid format prompts and scan the device safely.USB Drive Says It Needs FormattingDo not format before scanning recoverable files.exFAT Drive Says It Needs FormattingDo not format before a recovery scan.Recover Deleted Files from exFAT DriveStop using the exFAT drive before deleted clusters are reused.RAW USB Drive Recovery: Scan Before FormattingScan the RAW USB before formatting, CHKDSK, or repair.Recover Files from a Formatted USB DriveStop using the USB drive and scan before new writes overwrite files.External Drive Turned RAWRecover data before converting or formatting the drive.
SD Card
5 guidesSD Card Says It Needs FormattingDo not format before scanning photos and videos.SD Card Turned RAWScan the RAW card before formatting or repair.Camera Says Card Cannot Be AccessedRemove the card and scan it before recording again.SD Card Not Recognized on Mac or MacBookCheck the reader, then scan before formatting.SD Card Shows Empty but Has FilesDo not format, repair, or record new media until you scan the card.
Photos
1 guidesNot sure where to start?
Scan the drive for free first. Refindo previews the files it can recover before you decide to restore anything, so you can confirm what is recoverable without committing.