NVMe recovery steps · August 2026

NVMe Data Recovery: How to Recover Data from NVMe Devices?

An NVMe drive is quick, which is great until TRIM or new writes erase your recovery window. Start with the least risky method that fits the device's condition.

By Taptu Newsroom Editorial Team Published · Updated
Quick answer

Stop writing to the NVMe device first. If it is still detected plus stable, connect it as secondary storage, scan it with Disk Drill, preview the results, then recover to a different drive. Use a backup instead when one exists.

!

Power down an affected system drive as soon as practical. NVMe SSDs commonly use TRIM plus background garbage collection, so deleted blocks may become unrecoverable even without obvious file activity. Never install recovery software or save recovered data onto the source device.

Jump to methods Compare methods
★ Editorial pick ★ 4.3 / 5

Scan a Readable NVMe Device → Disk Drill

Scans physical drives plus disk images · Preview files before recovery · Available for Windows or macOS

✓ Windows plus macOS ✓ Free scan plus preview ✓ Byte-to-byte backup tool
Scan the NVMe drive →

When DIY NVMe Recovery Can Make the Situation Worse

Do not keep rebooting a computer whose NVMe device disappears from firmware, overheats, or stalls every read. Repeated power cycles can leave less time for a specialist to stabilize a controller or access failing flash.

DIY software is also a poor first move when the missing data has legal, medical, financial, or business value. Preserve the device, document what happened, then get a professional evaluation.

How TRIM Changes Deleted-File Recovery on NVMe Storage

Deleting a file usually removes its file-system reference first. With TRIM, the operating system can also tell the NVMe controller that the old blocks are no longer needed. Garbage collection may clear those blocks later, leaving a recovery program with filenames but no usable content.

This is why a scan may find an entry that previews as blank or recovers as a zero-byte or corrupt file. Quick action helps, though powering the drive repeatedly just to check it can have the opposite effect.

Choose the Right NVMe Data Recovery Method

These percentages are rough scenario estimates, not promises. Device condition plus TRIM status matter more than the software name.

Method Best for Time Success rate
1. Scan the NVMe Drive With Disk Drill TRY FIRST Readable drives with logical data loss ~15–90 min ● 72%
2. Restore the Missing Files From a Backup Files included in a usable backup ~5–30 min ● 98%
3. Run Windows File Recovery Known files on a readable Windows volume ~20–120 min ● 48%
4. Create an Image of the Unstable NVMe Drive Intermittent devices or read errors ~1–8 hr ● 58%
5. Send the NVMe Device to a Recovery Lab Dead drives plus serious hardware faults ~3–15 days ● 64%

Top 5 Methods to Recover Data From NVMe Devices

01

Scan the NVMe Drive With Disk Drill

Best for deleted files, accidental formatting, lost partitions, or a readable RAW volume

~15–90 min
Difficulty Easy
You need Disk Drill plus a second drive
Works for Windows, Mac

Use this route when the NVMe device still appears in Disk Management, Disk Utility, or the computer firmware. Disk Drill can scan readable NVMe storage for file-system records, lost partitions, plus recognizable file data.

  1. Stop using the affected NVMe device. If it contains your operating system, shut down the computer rather than installing recovery software on that same drive.
  2. Connect the NVMe device as secondary storage in another computer, or place a removable M.2 module in a compatible USB or Thunderbolt enclosure.
  3. Install Disk Drill on a different drive, open it, then select the affected physical NVMe device rather than an individual volume when possible.
  4. Click Search for lost data, let the scan finish, then filter the results by file type, date, size, or name.
  5. Preview several important files. Select the usable results, click Recover, then save them to a separate physical drive.
Disk Drill Review ↗
i A correct preview is a useful sign, though it cannot guarantee that every recovered file will be complete.
Download Disk Drill from the official site
02

Restore the Missing Files From a Backup

Safest for files covered by File History, Time Machine, cloud history, or a disk image

~5–30 min
Difficulty Easy
You need A usable backup
Works for Windows, Mac, cloud storage

A backup avoids the uncertainty caused by TRIM, overwritten blocks, or damaged file-system records. Check external backups plus cloud version history before running a long raw scan.

  1. Disconnect the affected NVMe device if it is not required to access the backup.
  2. Check OneDrive, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or another sync service for a trash folder plus older file versions.
  3. On Windows, open Restore your files with File History, browse to the relevant date, then select the missing items.
  4. On a Mac, open the original folder, enter Time Machine, then move through the timeline until the files appear.
  5. Restore the files to a healthy drive, open a sample from each important folder, then make a second copy.
i A synced deletion may also remove the cloud copy, so inspect the service's deleted-items area before its retention period expires.
03

Run Windows File Recovery

A free command-line option for a readable Windows NVMe volume

~20–120 min
Difficulty Moderate
You need Windows 11 plus another drive
Works for Windows

Microsoft's Windows File Recovery can search local storage for deleted files. It is less visual than Disk Drill, though it can help when you know the original folder, filename, or extension.

  1. Connect an external destination drive with enough free space. The source plus destination cannot be the same drive.
  2. Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store, then open it with administrator permission.
  3. Start with a narrow Regular-mode search for a recently deleted folder or file type. For example: winfr C: E: /regular /n \Users\Alex\Documents\*.docx
  4. If Regular mode finds nothing, repeat the search with /extensive . Keep the filters narrow to reduce clutter plus scan time.
  5. Open the automatically created recovery folder on the destination drive, then test the recovered files before sorting them.
i Do not run this from the affected NVMe system drive if doing so requires downloads, updates, or other new writes.
Read Microsoft's Windows File Recovery instructions
04

Create an Image of the Unstable NVMe Drive

Safer than repeated direct scans when the device disconnects, freezes, or reports read errors

~1–8 hr
Difficulty Moderate
You need A larger healthy drive
Works for Windows, Mac

An unstable NVMe device may deteriorate or disappear during a lengthy scan. A byte-for-byte image preserves the readable sectors in one pass, letting you perform later recovery work on the image instead of stressing the original.

  1. Power down the computer if the NVMe device vanishes, causes freezes, or repeatedly reconnects.
  2. Attach the device as secondary storage with a compatible enclosure or motherboard slot. Avoid cheap adapters that overheat or drop the connection.
  3. Prepare a healthy destination drive with free space at least equal to the full capacity of the affected NVMe device.
  4. Open Disk Drill's byte-to-byte backup feature, choose the physical NVMe source, then save the image to the healthy destination drive.
  5. Disconnect the original device after imaging. Load the resulting image into Disk Drill, scan it, preview the findings, then recover files to another healthy location.
i Stop DIY imaging if the device becomes extremely hot, disappears from firmware, or returns rapidly increasing errors.
See Disk Drill's recovery tools
05

Send the NVMe Device to a Recovery Lab

The sensible route for dead hardware, controller faults, severe overheating, or critical business data

~3–15 days
Difficulty Easy to request
You need A specialist evaluation
Works for Failed NVMe hardware

Software cannot scan a device that never becomes readable. NVMe recovery can require controller work, firmware access, donor parts, or specialized NAND reconstruction, so a general computer shop may not be enough.

  1. Shut down the device. Do not initialize, format, secure-erase, update firmware, or repeatedly power-cycle the NVMe drive.
  2. Record the NVMe brand, model, capacity, symptoms, encryption status, plus the events immediately before failure.
  3. Look for a lab that handles NVMe SSDs in-house, offers an evaluation before recovery, plus explains its privacy process.
  4. Ask whether the quotation is contingent on recoverable data, whether return media is included, plus what happens to your device after the case closes.
  5. Give the lab the BitLocker recovery key, FileVault credentials, or other encryption details only through its approved secure process.
i For irreplaceable data, moving directly to a lab can cost less than repairing damage caused by repeated DIY attempts.

Which NVMe Recovery Method Should You Try?

Disk Drill is the practical first scan for a stable NVMe device that remains visible to the operating system. Connect the device as secondary storage, preview important results, then recover them elsewhere. Choose a backup when available, image an unstable device before scanning, or stop completely plus contact a lab if the hardware is no longer detected.

Top pick Disk Drill
Keep the affected NVMe device powered off until the destination drive, enclosure, recovery software, plus recovery plan are ready.

Common Questions About NVMe Data Recovery

How do I recover files from an NVMe SSD that stopped showing up in Windows?
First, power the PC off, reseat the drive, then try another M.2 slot if you have one. If the BIOS still cannot see it, stop using the drive, since repeated boots can make recovery harder, then contact a data recovery lab.
Can I recover data from an NVMe drive after accidental deletion?
Yes, if the deleted data has not been overwritten yet. Stop saving files to that SSD right away, then use recovery software from a different drive to scan the NVMe device.
What should I do first after an NVMe drive is corrupted?
Do not run repair tools right away. Make a full sector by sector clone or image first, then work from the copy so you do not damage the original device further.
Is it safe to run chkdsk on an NVMe SSD with lost files?
Not if your priority is recovery. chkdsk can fix file system issues, but it can also remove references to recoverable data, so clone the drive first if the files matter.
How do I clone an NVMe SSD before recovery?
Use imaging software that can read failing drives and save the image to a separate storage device with enough free space. If the drive has bad blocks, pick a tool that lets you skip errors instead of forcing reads.
Can I recover data from an NVMe drive that is not detected in BIOS?
Sometimes, but the odds are lower. Try a different computer, another M.2 slot, or a USB NVMe enclosure, yet if the drive stays invisible, a professional lab is usually the next step.
What is the difference between logical recovery and physical NVMe recovery?
Logical recovery deals with deleted files, formatted partitions, or file system damage. Physical recovery is for hardware faults like controller failure, NAND damage, or a dead power circuit, which usually needs a lab.
How much does NVMe data recovery usually cost?
Costs vary a lot based on the failure type, urgency, then whether the drive needs chip level work. Simple logical cases are usually less expensive than hardware failures that require cleanroom work or component replacement.
Can TRIM make NVMe file recovery impossible?
It can, especially after deleted data has been trimmed and garbage collected. If TRIM has already cleared the blocks, software recovery may find little or nothing, so act quickly after deletion.
What recovery software works best for NVMe SSDs?
Choose a tool that supports SSD file systems, deep scans, then image based recovery. Popular options include R-Studio, UFS Explorer, and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, but the best choice depends on the specific failure.
Should I install recovery software on the same NVMe drive I am trying to save?
No. Install it on another drive, then recover files to a different destination so you do not overwrite the data you are trying to bring back.
How do I recover data from an NVMe drive after formatting it?
Stop using the drive immediately, then scan it with recovery software before creating new files on it. A quick format often leaves data recoverable, while a full format can reduce the chances.
Can I recover data from an encrypted NVMe SSD?
Yes, but you usually need the correct password, recovery key, or access to the unlocked system. If the encryption key is lost, the data is generally not recoverable through normal software methods.
What signs mean my NVMe drive is failing instead of just having file problems?
Frequent freezes, disappearing partitions, sudden speed drops, then repeated BIOS detection issues often point to hardware trouble. If the drive makes recovery software crash or disconnects during scans, treat it as failing hardware.
How do I recover photos or videos from an NVMe SSD on a Mac?
Connect the drive through a compatible enclosure or internal slot, then use Mac recovery software that can scan APFS or HFS volumes. Save recovered files to a separate disk, not back onto the NVMe drive.
Is it possible to recover data from a dead NVMe controller?
Sometimes, but it usually requires a professional lab with specialized equipment. If the controller has failed, standard recovery software will not help because the system cannot communicate with the NAND chips normally.
Can firmware updates fix NVMe data loss?
They can fix compatibility or stability issues, but they are not a recovery method. If your files are already missing, back up what you can first, then consider firmware only after the data is safe.
What should I avoid doing during NVMe data recovery?
Avoid reinstalling the operating system, formatting the drive, running random repair tools, or keeping the machine powered on for long periods. Each one can overwrite or worsen the data you want back.
When should I send an NVMe SSD to a professional recovery lab instead of using software?
Go to a lab if the drive is not detected anywhere, clicks or overheats, shows a burnt smell, or disconnects during imaging. If the data is valuable enough to justify expert handling, it is better to stop early than risk permanent loss.