Fix RAW USB Flash Drive in Windows 10 & 11

Q: Can I fix a RAW USB flash drive without formatting?

Yes, but only if the corruption is minor. Try running chkdsk, Windows Error Checking, or using recovery software before formatting.

Q: Will formatting delete all data on a RAW USB drive?

Yes. Formatting will erase all data. Use iCare Recovery Free to recover files before proceeding.

Q: Which method is best for Windows 11 users?

Windows 11 users can apply the same solutions as Windows 10, including Windows Error Checking, Disk Management, CHKDSK, and iCare Recovery Free.

Quick Answer: To fix RAW USB flash drive in Windows 10, connect the drive, open Disk Management, right-click the RAW partition ➝ choose Format or Create New Volume. If data recovery is needed, use a free tool like iCare Recovery Free before formatting.

What Does RAW Mean on a USB Flash Drive?

A "RAW" USB drive in Windows indicates a damaged or missing file system, preventing data access. To fix it, you can try using the built-in Windows error-checking tool or format the drive. If the data is important, you should first use a data recovery tool to recover files before formatting, as formatting will erase all data.

Why Does a Drive Become RAW?

A USB drive turns RAW for several reasons, including:

Corruption: Improper ejection, power outages, or viruses can corrupt the file system.
Partition Table Issues: Errors in the drive's partition table can lead to it being recognized as RAW.
Aging and Bad Sectors: As USB drives age, they can develop bad sectors that damage the file system structure.
Incomplete Formatting: An interrupted or incorrect formatting process can result in a RAW drive.

How to Fix a RAW USB Flash Drive in Windows 10 & 11

There are several proven methods to repair a RAW USB drive:

Option 1: Use Windows Error Checking (Preserves Data)

This method attempts to repair the usb drive file system without losing data:

Connect your USB drive to your computer.
Go to This PC, then right-click on the RAW USB drive and select Properties.
Click the Tools tab.
Select Check.
In the Error Checking window, choose Scan and repair drive and wait for the process to complete.

Option 2: Format the RAW Drive (Erases Data)

If the error-checking tool doesn't work, you'll need to format the drive (⚠️ this will delete all data):

Right-click the Start menu and select Disk Management.
Locate your RAW USB drive.
Right-click the RAW partition and select Format.
Choose a file system (NTFS for Windows, FAT32 for compatibility), check Perform a quick format, and click Start.

Option 3: Use DiskPart for Advanced Repair (Erases Data)

This is a more advanced method using Command Prompt:

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Type diskpart and press Enter.
Type list disk to see all connected disks.
Type select disk X (replace X with the correct disk number).
Type clean and press Enter to wipe the disk.
Type create partition primary and press Enter.
Type format fs=NTFS quick and press Enter.

What If Data Recovery is Needed?

If you need to recover data from the RAW USB drive, do not format it first. Instead, use a reliable recovery tool such as iCare Recovery Free to try and restore the files before attempting fixes that erase the data.

Recover Data with iCare Recovery Free

iCare Recovery Free is a 100% free tool that helps you recover files from RAW USB drives before formatting. Key features include:

Recover deleted files, formatted partitions, and RAW drives.
Supports Windows 10 & Windows 11.
User-friendly interface for beginners.
Free to download & use without hidden charges ✅

To use iCare Recovery Free:

Download and install the software on your PC
Insert your raw usb drive to the computer
Launch iCare, select the usb drive, and start RAW DRIVE RECOVERY option to scan lost files
Preview and restore the files and then save the files to your computer hard drive, just not the RAW usb flash drive.

FAQ – Fix RAW USB Flash Drive Issues

Can I fix a RAW USB flash drive without formatting?

Yes, but only if the corruption is minor. Try running chkdsk or using recovery software before formatting.

Will formatting delete all data on a RAW USB drive?

Yes. That’s why using iCare Recovery Free is recommended to rescue files first.

Which method is best for Windows 11 users?

Windows 11 users can use the same methods as Windows 10 — Windows Error Checking, Disk Management, CHKDSK, or recovery tools like iCare Recovery Free.

🔹 What Happens When a USB Drive is RAW in Windows 10

When a USB flash drive appears as RAW in Windows 10, it means the operating system cannot recognize the file system.

⚠️ No recognized file system: Windows expects NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT. RAW means no valid file system information is readable.
🚫 Access issues: In File Explorer, double-clicking prompts:
“You need to format the disk in drive X: before you can use it.”
💾 System-level behavior: Windows assigns a drive letter, but file operations fail. Recovery tools can still access raw sectors directly.

🔹 Causes of a USB Drive Becoming RAW

Several technical reasons can cause Windows to mark a USB drive as RAW:

📂 File system corruption: Power loss or improper ejection may damage NTFS MFT, FAT tables, or boot sectors.
🗂️ Partition table damage: Corruption of MBR/GPT prevents Windows from mapping partitions.
⚡ Physical NAND issues: Flash wear-out, bad blocks, or controller errors can make metadata unreadable.
🖥️ Unsupported file system: Drives formatted with ext4, APFS, or HFS+ appear RAW in Windows.
🔧 Driver/controller failure: A failing USB controller may mismanage wear leveling or logical block translation.

🔹 Summary

✅ RAW means the drive is physically detected but the file system structures are unreadable.
✅ Common causes: corruption, partition issues, unsupported formats, or hardware degradation.
✅ Effect: drive cannot be used until reformatted (data recovery may still be possible using specialized tools).