Fix Adata USB Flash Drive Not Formatted Error Without Losing Data

⚡ Have you ever plugged in your Adata USB flash drive and suddenly seen the error: "You need to format the disk before you can use it"? Don’t panic — your files are not gone forever.

To fix an ADATA USB flash drive showing the "not formatted" error, you should first try to recover data first with free tool like iCare Recovery Free, and then fix the corrupted ADATA USB flash drive by running CHKDSK in Command Prompt as an administrator. If that fails, you can use the diskpart command-line tool to clean the drive, create a new partition, and then format it. Alternatively, you can assign a drive letter in Disk Management or use a specialized ADATA utility tool to format the drive, but this will erase all data on the drive.

This article will show you how to deal with issues like:

  • 🔹 Adata USB flash drive not formatted
  • 🔹 Adata USB drive wants formatting
  • 🔹 Adata USB flash drive says it needs to be formatted
  • 🔹 How to format Adata USB flash drive without losing data

Why Does My Adata USB Drive Ask for Formatting?

The error usually appears due to several reasons:

  • ❌ Unsafe removal of the USB drive
  • ❌ Corrupted file system
  • ❌ Virus or malware attack
  • ❌ Physical damage or bad sectors

Recover Data Before Formatting

Formatting will erase your data. That’s why you should first recover files using a trusted free tool like iCare Recovery Free:

  • ✅ downloadDownload and install iCare Recovery Free
  • ✅ Connect your Adata USB flash drive
  • ✅ Run a deep scan to locate lost filesselect recovery mode
  • ✅ Save the recovered files to another safe locationpreview found photo

How to Format Adata USB Flash Drive Without Losing Data

Once your Adata usb files are safe after you recovered with free tool iCare Recovery Free, you can format your Adata USB drive properly:

  1. Insert the Adata USB drive into your PC
  2. Right-click on it in My Computer / This PC
  3. Select Format
  4. Choose file system: NTFS or FAT32
  5. Click Start ✔

Solutions to Fix Adata USB Flash Drive Format Issues

Method 1: Use the CHKDSK Command

This method attempts to fix the file system errors on the USB drive without losing data.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Press Windows key + S, type cmd, right-click on "Command Prompt," and select Run as administrator.
  2. Run the CHKDSK command: Type chkdsk X: /f (replace X with your USB drive's letter) and press Enter. The /f parameter will attempt to fix file system errors.
  3. Wait for the scan to complete: The scan may take some time depending on your USB drive's size and interface.
  4. Restart your computer: After the scan is finished, unplug the USB drive and reconnect it.

Method 2: Use diskpart to Re-partition and Format

If CHKDSK doesn't work, you can use diskpart to completely clean and reformat the drive. Note: This method will erase all data on the USB drive.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Follow step 1 from Method 1.
  2. Launch diskpart: Type diskpart and press Enter.
  3. List all disks: Type list disk and press Enter to see all connected drives.
  4. Select your USB drive: Identify your USB drive by its size, then type select disk # (replace # with the number corresponding to your USB drive) and press Enter.
  5. Clean the drive: Type clean and press Enter to wipe the entire drive.
  6. Create a primary partition: Type create partition primary and press Enter.
  7. Format the partition: Type format fs=ntfs quick (or format fs=fat32 quick) and press Enter to format the drive.
  8. Exit diskpart: Type exit and press Enter twice to close the command prompt.

Method 3: Use Disk Management

If the drive appears in Disk Management, you can use this built-in tool:

  1. Open Disk Management: Press Windows key + X and select Disk Management.
  2. Locate the USB drive: Find your Adata USB drive in the Disk Management window.
  3. Initialize and Format: Right-click on the drive partition, select Initialize Disk, and then right-click again and select Format.

Method 4: Use the ADATA Utility Tool

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlCluXlzboQ&t=117 (How to use ADATA Utility Tool)

ADATA provides its own utility tool for repairing and formatting flash drives:

  1. Download the Tool: Visit the official ADATA website to download the recommended flash drive utility tool.
  2. Run the Utility: Connect your USB drive and run the utility program.
  3. Format: Use the tool's format function to format the USB drive.

Official Adata Utility Tool download url: https://www.adata.com/en/support/downloads/

FAQ – Adata USB Flash Drive Errors

Q1: Why does my Adata USB flash drive say it needs to be formatted?
➡ It often happens due to file system corruption or improper removal.

Q2: Can I fix the “Adata USB drive wants formatting” error without losing data?
➡ Yes, first try CHKDSK or use iCare Recovery Free before formatting.

Q3: How do I format Adata USB safely?
➡ After recovery, use one of the safe methods: CHKDSK, Diskpart, Disk Management, or the ADATA Utility Tool.

Related Articles