GET YOUR FILES BACK
In our experience, 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.
Rather be walked through it? The full recovery protocol is this same route as a guided sequence, one decision per screen, for when there is no gig to get to.
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.
We are not affiliated with these companies and we earn nothing if you use them. We researched the options from public sources: technical discussions, user reports, forums, independent reviews and the product documentation. These are the ones that look like a reasonable data recovery option. That is not an endorsement, it is not a guarantee of a result, and we are not responsible for the service you get. Do your own research before you choose a recovery service.
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. It costs real money, quoted per job, 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