How To Recover Photos and Videos From iXpand Flash Drive?

Flash drives are commonly used to increase storage capacity on computers and mobile devices. SanDisk’s iXpand flash drive, tailored for iPhone and iPad users, enables smooth media transfer between iOS devices, Macs, and Windows PCs. It offers robust security features, employing 128-bit AES encryption compatible with iOS and Mac OS, to secure your files. Additionally, the iXpand Flash drive comes with plug-and-play feature that lets you can access media straight from the drive.

However, it’s worth mentioning that the SanDisk iXpand, like any storage device is susceptible to data loss. Have you ever had to unplug a USB drive in the middle of a data transfer only to discover that it led to data loss on both drives? It’s a mishap, so we’ve put together a guide to assist you in retrieving photos and videos from an iXpand Flash drive.

But before we delve into the solutions, let’s first explore the reasons behind data loss from iXpand flash drives.

How Do Files Disappear From iXpand Flash Drive?

Files can go missing from iXpand flash drives for several reasons. Corruption, accidental deletions, or even formatting the drive can disappear your important photos and videos. Here, I will list the most common ones:

• Drive corruption
• Unintended deletion
• Drive formatting
• Abrupt power cuts during transfers
• Disconnecting the drive mid-transfer
• Virus attacks
• Hardware damage from environmental factors
• Wear and tear from frequent use

How To Recover Photos and Videos From iXpand Flash Drive?

To safely restore lost media files from iXpand flash drive, using a photo recovery software is the most straightforward approach. Nonetheless, you can also retrieve files from a USB flash drive without using any software.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top methods for recovering lost photos and videos from your USB drive, both with and without software.

Method 1: Unhide Files on iXpand Flash USB

If you’re having trouble seeing your data on an iXpand flash drive, it might be because the files are hidden. To unhide them:

Step 1: Open Terminal and type command defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES, then hit Return.

Step 2: After that, restart Finder, reconnect the USB drive to your Mac, and your files should appear.

If this solves your issue, transfer all your files to a secure location before attempting any further repairs on your drive.

Method 2: Use Disk Utility To Repair iXpand Flash Drive

To repair your USB flash drive and clear any logical errors, use the Disk Utility tool.

Step 1: Start by launching Disk Utility.

Step 2: Then choose your flash drive and start the process by clicking ‘Repair‘.

Step 3: Wait for the process to finish; the process will ensure your drive is free from errors and functioning properly.

Method 3: Restore Backups From iOS Device

Restoring from backups allows you to effortlessly retrieve lost data from your iOS device. The SanDisk iXpand flash drive offers an efficient solution for storing and transferring files between your computer and iOS devices. To recover lost data from your SanDisk iXpand drive, simply check your iCloud backup for your missing files and restore them.

Follow the link to learn in detail about how to recover photos from iCloud.

Check if Your iXpand Flash Drive Is Corrupted

To determine whether your USB drive is corrupted, follow these steps:

• Plug the drive into your Mac and check if it appears automatically. A failure to mount indicates a potential issue.
• If the drive looks greyed-out in Disk Utility, this is another sign of corruption.
• Attempt to access the drive via Finder; an error message upon opening suggests corruption.
• Verify if files and folders on the drive are accessible; inability to do so points to corruption.
• You can also connect the drive to a different Mac or a Windows computer. If problems persist, the drive is likely corrupt.
• Additionally, listen for unusual sounds like clicking, which can signal physical damage to the drive.

Read here to learn more ways to recover photos and videos from a corrupt flash drive on Mac.

Method 4: Recover Files From iXpand Flash Drive Using Photo Recovery Software

If the above methods don’t work, use Mac Photo Recovery software, Stellar Photo Recovery for Mac to retrieve lost files from an iXpand flash drive. This powerful tool will help you recover photos, audio, and video files from corrupted, formatted, RAW & BitLocker-encrypted flash drives.  

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Here’s the step-by-step method to do it:

Step 1: First, get Stellar Photo Recovery for Mac, install it on your PC, and run the program.

Step 2: Next, plug in the flash drive. From the left sidebar, click on What To Recover and choose the type of media you want to recover.

Step 3: Now from the left sidebar, click Recover From to select the volume you want to recover from. In this case, select your iXpand flash drive and click Scan.

Step 4: After the scan is finished, a dialog box confirms the recovered files.

Step 5: Preview and select the ones you want to retrieve. Next, click on Recover.

Step 6: Finally, select a desired save location, and hit ‘Save.’

Summing Up

Irrespective of the reason behind data loss on your iXpand flash drive, Stellar Photo Recovery for Mac can readily recover your lost media from it. Unlike other methods, this tool is fairly simple to use and does the job in a few clicks. Download the trial version for free and preview your recovered lost photos and videos now!

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About The Author

Rishabh Singh

"Rishabh is a senior content specialist at Stellar Information technology where he writes about data care technology. As a technology writer and marketer with over five years of experience, he has covered frontier technologies like AR/VR, IOT, AI, Blockchain and more. Outside of his professional pursuits, he loves reading fiction and critical theory."