FAT32 Data Recovery | Recover Files from FAT32 SD Cards and Hard Drives

In this article, we will help you recover your FAT32 File system using professional data recovery software and also guide you to repair damaged or corrupt FAT32 file system using 4 DIY methods. Keep reading!

The below picture showcases the scenario where a user happened to damage his external hard disk drive, which was formatted in the FAT32 file system, and is looking to recover data. This can happen to you as well. Waste no time. Go through this article. We have demonstrated how we recovered data from the FAT32 File system. You can simply follow the steps and recover your data as well.

What is FAT32 File System?

FAT32 is one of the earlier file systems that Microsoft introduced. FAT, which stands for File Allocation Table, has different file systems like FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32.

With both of its earlier versions being out of use, FAT32 is still used most commonly in USB flash drives, SD cards, and sometimes in hard drives.

Here is a quick comparison of Features between FAT 32 and NTFS File Systems:

File System Feature	FAT 32	NTFS
Max. File Name	Up to 8.3 characters	Up to 255 characters
Max. File Size	Up to 4 GB	Up to 16 TB
File/Folder Encryption	Not supported	Supported
Fault Tolerance	No auto-repair	Auto-detect and repair
Security	Network security	Local and network security
Compression	Not supported	Supported
Conversion	Can convert to NTFS	Cannot convert to FAT 32
Compatibility	Windows 95/98/2K/2k3/XP	Windows NT/2K/XP/Vista/7

With the FAT32 file system mostly used by external storage devices, data loss is not an uncommon issue. Before moving on to recovering deleted files from the FAT32 file system, let us have a look at some of the reasons behind data loss on FAT32 drives or partitions.

How Does Data Loss Happen in FAT32 File System?

• Accidentally formatting the drive or partition is the most common reason for data loss on FAT32 or any file system.
• A corrupt partition with a FAT32 file system can also contribute to data loss.
• An improper or failed conversion of FAT to NTFS or any other file system.
• Virus intrusion can corrupt the file system and make your hard drive faulty.
• Improper partitioning or repartitioning of the drive using disk management.

How To Recover Data From FAT32?

To recover data from a formatted USB with a FAT32 file system, use Remo Recover and follow the below-mentioned steps:

• Connect the USB drive formatted with the FAT32 file system to your computer.

• Download and install Remo Recover 6.0 on your computer.

• Launch Remo Recover software and select the USB drive and click on Scan.

• Go to Dynamic Recovery View to see the Deep Scan in progress. You can find the data of the FAT32 file system in the Lost and Found folder.

• Preview the recovered files to verify the integrity of the data.

• If you are satisfied with the recovery process, you can select the files you are looking for and save them to the desired location.

Free Methods to Repair and Recover the FAT32 File System

Below we have added 4 proven methods that can repair and recover your FAT32 file system for free:

Method 1: Repair and Recover the Corrupted FAT32 File System with Command Prompt

If you are trying to recover data from an inaccessible or corrupt hard drive, then you can try repairing the FAT32 formatted file system using CHKDSK.

CHKDSK is a command in Windows that will look for errors in the file system.

Follow the below-mentioned methods to repair the FAT32 drive using CHKDSK and recover data as well:

• Ensure the FAT32 file system drive is connected to your computer.
• Open the command prompt by typing cmd in the search bar and hitting Enter.
• Right-click on cmd.exe and select the Run as Administrator option.
• In the window, type chkdsk followed by the drive letter that is formatted with FAT32, a colon, and /f
  Eg: chkdsk h: /f Where h is the drive letter

After you enter the command and hit enter, your Windows will take several minutes to verify your FAT32 file system. By the end of it, if you see a text saying Windows has made corrections to the file system, then you have successfully repaired your FAT32 file system and recovered data.

If the repairing FAT32 hard drive didn’t help you recover data or if you have a formatted FAT32 drive, then it is recommended to make use of Remo's hard drive recovery software to restore data.

Method 2: Use System File Checker to Repair a Corrupted FAT32 File System in Windows

The System File Checker is a built-in tool in Windows that checks the health of your system files and repairs the issue if it finds any. 

Here are the steps to use the System File Checker to repair a corrupted or missing FAT32 file system:

• Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
• Type "sfc /scannow" and press Enter.

• Wait for the scanning process to complete. This may take some time.
• If any errors are found, SFC will attempt to repair them automatically.

After running this tool, restart your computer and see if the issue with the FAT32 file system has been resolved. If it's resolved, congratulations if not, then proceed to the next method.

Method 3: Recover Files From FAT32 File System Using System Restore

System Restore is a Windows built-in feature that can help recover files and system settings to an earlier state when the system was working properly. It is mainly used to restore the system files and settings, but the good part is it can also be used to recover certain files on a FAT32 file system.

Note: This method will only work if you enable system restore in the past. Also, this method is not that effective while dealing with damaged or corrupted FAT32 file systems.

Here's how to use System Restore to recover files on a FAT32 file system:

• Open the Control Panel and click on System and Security".

• Click on System and then System Protection.

• Click on System Restore and select a restore point from a time when the file system was working properly.

• Follow the prompts to complete the System Restore process.

Once the restore process is finished, check if you are able to fix the issue with your FAT32 file system. If this method also didn’t work, proceed to the next method.

Method 4: Use Windows Disk Management Tool to Recover a FAT32 File System

If you're experiencing issues with a corrupted FAT32 file system, you can try using the Windows Disk Management tool to recover it. Here's how:

• Right-click on the start menu and select Disk Management.
• Now, Find your drive with the corrupted FAT32 file system and right-click on it.
• Select Properties from the context menu.

• Go to the Tools tab and click on the Check button under the Error-checking section.

• Now, click on Scan Drive, this tool will run a scan and repair your FAT32 drive.

If you've tried all the above methods but still can't recover your data from a corrupted FAT32 file system, it might be time to use one of the best partition recovery software, Remo Recover. Although free methods can be hit or miss, many users worldwide have found Remo Recover to be their one-stop data recovery solution.

Users on trusted review platforms such as Trustpilot have given Remo Recover high ratings and positive feedback, which speaks to the tool's reliability.

Don't wait any longer to recover your data from your FAT32 drive. Download Remo Recover for free now and get back your lost files.

3 Tips to Never Lose Your Data From FAT32 Drives

• Regular backup of data is the key to never losing your data. Switching to smart backup options like cloud backup can be a permanent solution for data loss.
• Never proceed with process partitioning or disk management without a proper guide if you are not well aware of it.
• Always protect your computer with trusted antivirus software and just in case you happen to lose data, make sure you make a smart choice of choosing Remo to recover your data.

Conclusion

We hope this article helped you recover data from Fat32 Partition or File System; if you have any further queries, please make use of the comment section below.

Frequently Asked Questions