Stop using the USB drive immediately
Do not copy new files to the USB drive
Check the Recycle Bin or Trash on your computer
Try a different USB port or another computer
Open File Explorer or Finder and look for hidden files
Show hidden files and folders
Run a file recovery program
Scan the USB drive with the recovery program
Recover the picture files to a different drive
Check photo folders and file types such as JPG, PNG, GIF, and RAW
Try Windows File Recovery if you use Windows
Try Disk Drill, Recuva, PhotoRec, or similar recovery tools
Use Command Prompt only if you know the correct recovery steps
Avoid formatting the USB drive
If the drive is physically damaged, contact a data recovery service