GET YOUR FILES BACK
The honest version: software recovers files in most cases where the drive still powers on. It can't help a physically dead drive. Here's the route, in order.
⚠️ Before anything: stop writing to the drive. Don't format it, don't "try one more export". Every write overwrites recoverable music.
Step 1 — Recovery software
If your computer detects the drive (even showing 0 files or asking to format — say no), software has a real chance. Both of these scan free first, so you see what's recoverable before paying.
Disk Drill
Cleanest interface, great at FAT32 recovery, Mac and Windows. Free scan shows everything first.
Scan for free →EaseUS Data Recovery
The veteran. Strong on corrupt partitions and drives that ask to be formatted.
Scan for free →Step 2 — When software can't do it
Drive not detected anywhere, no light, physical damage, water: that's hardware. A recovery lab opens the drive and reads the memory chips directly. Costs run $100–500+, so it's for irreplaceable files — your own unreleased music, not tracks you can re-download. Search for a data recovery lab in your city and ask for a free diagnosis first; serious labs quote before they charge.
Step 3 — Never pay for recovery twice
Recovery is what you do once. A backup system is what you do instead — it takes one evening to set up.
🛡 Set up the prevention system