How to Fix the Pen Drive Shows Empty Although It Has Data

Summary

Does your USB pen drive show empty although it has data? Are your USB files not showing while space used. Read this article to fix 'pen drive shows empty although it has data' issue.

Pen Drive Shows Empty Although It Has Data

I have this issue with my storage USB. I use it very frequently in Internet cafes, and I often download music, videos, etc to my USB. Yesterday, I inserted my USB flash drive to the computer and some of the files were not there. The USB files are not showing but space used! Can anybody help me?

USB files not showing but the space used is one of the main reasons for data loss disaster. This problem might be caused by various factors such as mistaken deletion, hidden files, wrong file system, and virus invasion, etc.

Now, try the solutions below to solve this issue – USB data not showing on PC.

Solution 1. Show USB's Hidden Files 

There are two steps to unhide USB files:

1. Connect the USB pen drive or flash drive to PC. Open Windows Explorer > Go to Tools > Folder Options > Go to View Tab > Check "Show Hidden Files". This will make sure that the files and folders are not in hidden mode. 

2. Next, click on Start Menu -->Run --> Type cmd and press Enter. To make the pen drive data showing, type the commands: attrib -h -r -s /s /d k:\*.*  and press Enter. Here, you need to replace "K" with your pen drive letter.

Manual input of the command line is suitable for computer professionals since wrong commands can cause more severe problems. Therefore, for security and usability, we strongly recommend you try an automatic command line alternative. EaseUS Tool M is a practical tool that enables you to check and fix files system error, enable/disable write protection and system update with one-click instead of typing intricate command lines.

Follow the simple steps below to show hidden files with this 1-click-fix software. 

Step 1.  DOWNLOAD EaseUS Tool M for Free.

Step 2. Start EaseUS Tool M, choose "File Fixing" on the left pane. Next, choose the target drive and keep the "Show hidden files." selected. Then, click the "Fix" button to start the progress.

Step 3. After the operation completes, click the View button to check the hidden files. 

Solution 2. Fix 'Pen Drive Shows Empty Although It Has Data' Issue With EaseUS

If you are annoyed by USB drive not showing data but space used problem, you come the right place! Retrieve your data with EaseUS's data recovery software, a popular third-party data recovery software. It performs well to recover shortcut files or hidden files from USB pen drive or flash drive. Here, if pen drive data not showing due to the virus, you should first scan your USB device for viruses to removes the virus.

Step 1: Run Pen Drive Recovery Software

• First, please connect your pen drive to your computer.
• Then you can run EaseUS pen drive recovery software - Data Recovery Wizard on your PC.
• On the main interface, choose your pen drive under External Devices, and click Scan to start the pen drive recovery process.

Step 2: Scan the Pen Drive

Let the program run to scan and find all your lost files.
All your files will be listed here:

• Delete Files: It lists your deleted files.
• Drive: It loads all your lost files there.
• Lost Partition Files: Check it first if it's for formatted recovery.
• Extra Files: Finds files that lost names or paths.
• Filter: A quick way to your wanted files.
• Search: e.g. File name/file extension.

Step 3: Recover Pen Drive Files

• Check those three tabs - Deleted Files, Lost Partition Files or Extra Files to find your files, and you can double-click to preview them.
• Finally, click "Recover" to save them to a secure location on your PC or another external storage device.

Extra Tips to Avoid Pen Drive Data Loss:

• Back up important data or files to other devices
• Avoid using the same USB device in multiple systems as there is a possibility of its corruption.
• Always disconnect your USB drive safely to avoid virus attack
• Storing flash media in proper conditions and not exposing your flash drive to extreme temperatures, humidity or pressure will keep your drive functioning longer.