Unreadable Flashdisk? Here are 10 surefire ways to fix it

Confused because the flash cannot be read even though there are important files? Don’t replace it, this is the right way to fix and overcome.

Flashdisk or also known as USB Flash Drive is a tool for storing important documents. Its small size with lightweight makes this tool a lot to rely on until now.

Not only for school or college assignments, but many people who work also need a mini, portable companion device that is easy to carry everywhere.

Unfortunately, this document storage tool is vulnerable to viruses or damage. Even worse, if it can’t open even though there are important files in it.

How to Repair / Overcome Unreadable Flashdisk

There are various ways to recover an illegible flash. The following methods can be a solution to this problem. Come on, see the next steps:

1. Check the USB port on the laptop
Connect the flash to the USB port on the laptop. The USB port on the computer may be having a problem. So it can’t read the flash.

You can connect the flash to another USB port on the laptop. If the flash can be read, it is likely that the port previously connected was damaged.

2. Try Flash on Another Device
If the first method doesn’t work, you can check the flash by connecting to a personal computer (PC).

If this method works on other devices, then the USB port on your laptop is damaged or the device is having a problem.

Before connecting the flash, make sure that the port is completely clean and protected from dust. Keep your USB ports so they don’t get loose or can be moved up and down.

3. Check the condition of the flash
Besides checking the USB port, the next way is to check the flash. You can connect another flash disk to the USB port on your PC, Toppers.

If another flash is read successfully but your flash is not, there is a possibility that the flash you are using is damaged, but you can still try other methods below.

4. Update the Laptop Operating System
If you are using Windows, you can update the operating system that supports hardware on your PC or laptop. Errors can arise from PCs/laptops that haven’t been updated.

5. Use the Disk Management Tool
The next way is scanning or scanning the flash using the Disk Management Tool. This method aims to repair a damaged flash drive.

If damage or a virus is found, Windows will automatically perform a recovery or repair on the flash.

6. Open the Flashdisk with the Device Manager
Besides, you can also check the flash with the Device Manager. You can do this method if your PC / laptop can read your flash disk but the files cannot be read. Here are the steps:

Search for Device Manager in Windows search or you can also press “Windows + X”, then select Device Manager.
After opening Device Manager, you can click Disk Drivers. Find the flash drive then uninstall the flash drive.

Finally, select Scan for Hardware Changes to update changes to the drive. Restart your PC / laptop and try connecting the flash again.

7. Know the status of the Flashdisk with the Command Prompt
You can also check the status of the flash using the Command Prompt:

• First, click on the Windows logo and then type in the command prompt.
• When the black tab window appears, type chkdsk G:
• You must change the letter G with the letter that corresponds to your flash drive, for example, F, H, and others.
• Next, hit enter and see what the command prompt displays.
• If your flash disk has a problem, there will be a notification that Windows found an error and so on.

8. Reinstall the USB Controller
This method can be done if the USB port is problematic or damaged:

• First, click on the Windows logo and type in Device Manager.
• Look for Universal Serial Bus Controller then right-click it.
• Uninstall Universal Serial Bus Controller, restart your laptop.
• Try to connect the flash again.

9. Format Flashdisk with Disk Management
Disk Management can also function to delete or format all files on the unreadable flash disk.

This method is indeed considered extreme because you will lose files in the flash, but it can be an effective way because it could be a virus that causes your flash to not read:

• First, click Windows + X or search for Disk Management in Windows search.
• Second, select the location of the flash to be formatted. Right-click on the drive and select format.
• You will be warned about the flash if you choose a format, select “Yes” then wait for the format process to finish.
• After formatted try again to use the flash.

10. Format Flashdisk with Command Prompt
The last way is a flash format with Command Prompt:

• First, click on Windows and then look for Command Prompt. Type FORMAT F: / FS: FAT in the CMD.
• The first F in the format section indicates the location of the flash. You can adjust the location of your flash disk. Then, click enter.
• Automatically your flash is being formatted by Windows, wait for it to finish.