Files Disappeared from Flash Drive on Mac? How to Fix?

Home > HowTos > Troubleshooting Tips Updated by William on July 19, 2024 | Approved by Daryl Baxter

Flash drives are convenient storage devices many Macs use to save files. However, when we use them, the saved files may disappear for various reasons. If you are a victim and looking for ways to fix files disappeared from flash drive on Mac. Please read on; you will know the specific reasons and solutions.

Quick Navigation
Part1. Why is My Flash Drive So Slow on Mac?
Part2. How to Fix Files Disappeared from Flash Drive on Mac
Part3. How to keep files from disappearing on your flash drive
Part4. Frequently Asked Questions

Why Did Files Disappear from My Flash Drive on Mac?

Many Mac users are perplexed after discovering their files not show from flash Drive on Mac. There are several potential reasons why this can occur, like:

Whatever the reason for the disappearance of files stored on the flash drive in Mac, don't worry. Next, we will help you solve this problem.

How to Fix Files Disappeared from Flash Drive on Mac

Have you ever plugged in a flash drive to your Mac and wondered why you couldn’t see the contents of the files? These missing items can be frustrating; fortunately, you can fix this error using the following ways.

Solution 1. Relocate Disappearing Files on Flash Drive on Mac by Searching

Sometimes you may drag them into the wrong folder due to negligence, so you can use this method to find files you thought were stored in the flash drive disappeared on Mac.

  1. Open your USB flash drive in Finder
  2. Click the search icon in the upper right corner of the window
  3. Enter the name of your missing file in the expanded input box and press Enter
  4. After completing the search, you can check the items found in the list.

Tip: If multiple files of the same type exist, you can enter the file extension to find them, such as jpg.

Solution 2. Display Hidden Files on A Flash Drive

Files stored on the USB drive may be hidden due to malicious programs or mistakenly pressing shortcut keys. For this, you can use this method to show disappeared files on USB on your Mac issue.

  1. Open the folder where the file disappeared
  2. Press and hold "Command + Shift + ." keys.
  3. A semi-transparent file will be displayed, and you can check whether there is an item you need.

Solution 3. Check the Original Folder

The reason can't see files on a flash drive on Mac may be that you were accidentally interrupted during the copying process. So you can also go to the original location to check for missing items.

Solution 4. Use Disk Utility to Repair USB Flash Drive

The drive's file system error or failure will also make the files stored on the flash drive disappear on Mac. Don’t worry about this; macOS has a built-in tool to help you fix it.

  1. Connect your external drive to the Mac and open Disk Utility.
  2. Select your drive in the left panel and click "First Aid" at the top.
  3. After completing the repair progress according to the wizard, you should be able to regain access to your disappeared USB files.

Tip: If your flash drive is slow to transfer files, then you can also use this to fix Mac USB transfer very slow.

Solution 5. Recover Files Disappeared from Flash Drive on Mac

Have you ever gone to find a specific file on your flash drive only to discover that it's suddenly gone missing? This issue may seem impossible to solve, but the good news is that items can often be recovered. As long as they once appeared in your drive, their traces can be found by recovery software, which is also the origin of data recovery. Here, you can use iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac to restore files disappeared from USB drive on Mac; it can help you get 500M of data for free.

  1. Download and install iBeesoft free USB recovery software on your Mac.
  2. Connect your drive with a cable and select the disappeared USB file type.
  3. Select the target volume and click Scan to retrieve data.
  4. After completing the progress, you can find where the file disappeared in the left panel and check if it is listed.
  5. Select them after finding the target data and click Recover to save.

Solution 6. Find Disappeared USB Drive Files in Trash Can

Accidental file deletion can also cause files stored on flash drive disappeared. However, this operation is reversible, for which you can find them in the trash on Mac.

  1. Tap the screen with the trash can icon below to open it.
  2. Check if any files have disappeared from a flash drive.
  3. If found, you can re-drag them to your desired position.

Essential items disappearing is not terrible if you use the correct method. I believe the above ways to fix files disappeared on a USB drive on Mac can help you.

How to keep files from disappearing on your flash drive

A USB drive is an invaluable tool for quickly transferring and storing data, but it can sometimes be frustrating when files randomly disappear or become unreadable. To make sure this doesn’t happen, you should follow these tips:

Utilizing these simple tactics with your flash drive will help keep your valuable files from disappearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Important files disappearing from a USB flash drive on Mac can be a devastating experience, but it doesn't have to be. You should solve this problem by following the method suggested in this article to recover files disappeared from flash drive on Mac. Additionally, you can also follow our tips to keep your data safe to avoid the disaster from happening again.