Full Guide on Windows 11 Formatted My Hard Drive to Recovery

Have you ever restarted your PC only to find out that Windows 11 has formatted your hard drive? If this happens to you, don’t panic. In this guide, we’ll go through steps to recover your lost files from formatted hard drive.

Hedy

By Hedy / Updated on March 10, 2025

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Is it possible to recover data from hard drive after formatting?

Yes, it is possible to recover data from a hard drive after formatting, but success depends on several factors, such as the type of formatting performed, whether new data has been written to the drive, and the recovery method used.

When you format a hard drive, the operating system marks the disk space as available for new data, but the actual data isn't immediately erased—it remains on the drive until it gets overwritten by new files. This means that with the right recovery tools, you may be able to retrieve lost files.

✍ Tips for a successful formatted partition recovery

Windows 11 formatted my hard drive to recovery is possible, but to maximize the chances of success, follow these essential guidelines:

❃ Stop writing to the partition – The moment you realize your data has been formatted, avoid using the affected partition. Even though formatted files become invisible, they still exist on the volume. Any new data written to the partition could overwrite these recoverable files, making recovery difficult or impossible.

❃ Avoid reformatting the partition – Formatting a partition again creates a new file system, which can overwrite crucial file fragments. Even minor write operations can compromise data recovery. If you intend to retrieve lost files, do not reformat the partition.

❃ Do not run disk checking on the formatted partition – The built-in disk checking feature in operating systems is designed to repair file system errors, but it can sometimes remove or overwrite essential data needed for recovery.

❃ Use reliable recovery software – Avoid using cracked or unverified recovery tools, as they may contain malware that can corrupt recoverable data. Instead, choose a trusted recovery solution with advanced scanning algorithms specifically designed for formatted partition recovery. Always download software from official and reputable sources to ensure safety and reliability.

How to recover data from a formatted hard drive in Windows 11

Recovering data from a formatted disk without a backup can be challenging, especially when users fail to safeguard their files before formatting. AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery offers a powerful solution for Windows users, enabling the recovery of lost data from formatted hard drives with ease.

This software goes beyond just formatting capabilities—it excels in various data recovery scenarios. It can restore data from formatted SD cards, recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin, and retrieve lost data across multiple Windows versions, including Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.

With continuous research and development in data recovery technology, AOMEI Partition Assistant has earned a reputation as a trusted recovery tool worldwide. It is known for its user-friendly interface, advanced deep scan capabilities, high recovery success rates, and responsive customer support.

Follow the step-by-step guide below to restore lost data from the hard drive after formatting it efficiently.

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Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data is lost and click Scan.

select-drive

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool starts to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first to find your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

scan-and-search

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

choose-files

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

save-recovered-data

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Conclusion

If Windows 11 formatted my hard drive to recovery, don’t worry—you can still recover your files using AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery or other data recovery methods. To prevent this from happening again, disable automatic repair, keep backups, and use boot repair tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant to fix system errors without formatting.

Hedy
Hedy · Staff Editor
Hedy is an editor of AOMEI Technology. She is very good at solving problems of partition management, and she wants to share all the problems she had already solved to users who met the same questions.