12 Ways to Fix Formatted Wrong Partition in Windows 11 24H2

Accidentally formatting the wrong partition results in not only data loss but also a number of frustrating system issues. As terrible as this issue sounds, there are ways to take control of it. Whether it’s a personal storage drive, a system partition, or an external disk, you have a variety of reliable ways to recover lost data and restore the full functionality. Luckily, Windows offers pretty handy built-in tools to help you fix the issue and retrieve the data. Besides, you can also take advantage of the third-party recovery software to overcome the hurdle – if need be.

How to Fix Formatted Wrong Partition in Windows 11

So, what causes the “Formatted wrong partition” issue to crop up on Windows 11? Well, there are several culprits you need to keep in mind when faced with this problem including –

• User error
• Misclicked drive
• Incorrect disk selection
• Partition table corruption
• Faulty disk management
• OS installation mistake
• Virus or malware
• Unrecognized file system
• Software conflicts
• Power failure

In this extensive guide, we are going to discuss all the possible ways to resolve the problem and restore the files.

1. Check If the Partition Still Exists in Disk Management

It’s worth pointing out that if the partition is still present but inaccessible, it would be apt to assign a drive letter or change the file system as it often works reliably in restoring access.

1. To get going, right-click the Start button and select Disk Management.
2. Now, find the formatted partition. However, if it lacks a drive letter, right-click it and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
3. Then, you have to click Add > assign a letter, and press OK.
4. If the file system is “RAW,” make sure to proceed with data recovery before reformatting.

2. Try System Restore (If System Files Were Affected)

If the system partitions have been formatted on your Windows 11 device, a restore point will help you revert system files to a previous state.

1. First off, press Win + R, type rstrui, and press Enter.
2. Now, click Next.
3. Then, select a restore point before formatting, and hit Next.
4. Next, make sure to follow the prompts to restore the system – carefully.

3. Use the Command Prompt to Check Disk for Errors

Be warned that the wrongly formatted partition might consist of too many unexpected errors. Hence, take advantage of the CHKDSK tool to scan and fix file system issues.

1. To get going, press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) in the menu.
2. Next up, you have to type the command:chkdsk X: /f /r /x (Replace X with the formatted partition’s drive letter.)
3. Press Enter and let Windows scan and fix errors.

4. Use TestDisk to Recover the Partition

If the partition table has been accidentally wiped out, make full use of the TestDisk as it works like a charm in restoring the partition table without losing data.

1. Download TestDisk on your PC and run it as Administrator.
2. Next up, you will have to choose the affected drive and choose Analyze.
3. If a lost partition is detected, be sure to select the Write option in order to restore it.
4. Then, reboot your computer and check if the partition is accessible.

5. Reassign File System Using Diskpart

In some cases, formatting changes the entire file system, thereby making the partition unreadable. Use the Diskpart to flush out the unwanted formatting changes and reset it.

1. On your PC, launch the Command Prompt as Administrator and type:diskpart list volume select volume X format fs=ntfs quick (Replace X with the formatted partition’s volume number.)
2. Next up, press Enter to reformat it properly.

6. Recover Files Using Windows File History (If Enabled)

If File History was active on your Windows PC, you will be able to restore previous versions of files from backups.

1. Open Control Panel and head straight into File History.
2. Click Restore personal files and choose the files you need.
3. Up next, click Restore to recover them to their original location.

7. Restore Files from OneDrive or Cloud Backup

If your files had been synced with OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox before formatting, you can redownload them without any hassle at all.

1. First up, open your cloud service (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox).
2. Now, head over to the Recycle Bin or Deleted Files section and then follow the usual process to restore the files back to your PC.

8. Check Windows Backup (If Configured)

Do you know that Windows Backup can let you restore files if you had created a backup before formatting?

1. Open Control Panel on your PC and navigate to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
2. Click Restore my files and go through the instructions to complete the process.

9. Use a Data Recovery Software

It’s also important to note that formatting erases data references but not the actual data. But fret not as recovery tools can let you restore lost files before overwriting occurs.

1. To get it done, download and install a recovery tool like Recuva, EaseUS, or MiniTool Power Data Recovery.
2. Then, you need to launch the software and choose the formatted partition.
3. After that, you will have to perform a deep scan to find recoverable files.
4. In the end, make sure to save recovered files to a different drive.

10. Use a Live Linux USB to Access Data

If Windows is unable to detect the partition, I would recommend you use a Live Linux USB to access the data. Hopefully, Linux may help mount and recover data.

1. First and foremost, be sure to download Ubuntu ISO and make a bootable USB using Rufus.
2. Now, boot your PC from the USB and select Try Ubuntu.
3. Then, open Files and check if the formatted partition shows up.
4. Finally, you have to copy and save important files to an external drive.

11. Rebuild MBR (If Partition Is Corrupted)

Keep in mind that if the Master Boot Record (MBR) is damaged due to formatting, it would be a good idea to rebuild it in order to restore access.

1. To get going, boot into Windows Recovery Mode.
2. After that, fire up Command Prompt and type:bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /rebuildbcd
3. Up next, you have to restart your PC and figure out if the partition is restored.

12. Reinstall Windows (If System Partition Was Formatted)

If the issue has continued to plague your device, it would be right to go for the kill and reinstall Windows from scratch. Well-known for flushing out the deep system issues, there is a high chance that it will let you resolve the wrong partition issue on your PC.

1. To begin with, you have to create a Windows 11 bootable USB with the help of Media Creation Tool.
2. Next, boot from the USB and choose Install Windows.
3. Finally, be sure to choose Custom Install, select the formatted partition, and go ahead with installation.

Wrapping up…

There is no doubt that accidentally formatting the wrong partition in Windows 11 24H2 can be a rather irritating experience. However, with a variety of reliable tools and workarounds, you can get the better of this issue and even keep it at a fair distance. Have any feedback to share with us about this guide? Make use of the readily available comments section to share your thoughts with us.