How To Restore Files From LOST.DIR Folder On Android?

Do you have an SD card on your Android smartphone? If yes, you sure have come across LOST.DIR folder. You might be wondering if this folder or the files it contains are genuine or not. Also, you might further be inquisitive as to what will happen, if you accidentally delete LOST.DIR from your device. We’ll dive deeper into all such questions and more in this post.

Can You Delete The LOST.DIR Folder?

To begin with, you can’t delete LOST.DIR folder from your device. Even if you delete it, it will reappear every time you reboot your device. The next question that often appears in a user’s mind is if –

LOST.DIR Folder Is A Virus? If Not, What Is It?

No, “LOST.DIR” is not a virus. It is a legit system folder created by your Android when you insert your SD card in it. It helps you recover files from various data loss conditions.

For example, let’s say, you were downloading some images from the internet on your SD card and suddenly your battery died. In that case, those files will be temporarily stored in the LOST.DIR folder. But, let’s further assume, in haste, you also ended up deleting some important files from this folder. This is a situation when you would need to recover the files from LOST.DIR folder.

Ways To Recover Files From LOST.DIR On Your SD Card

Solution No.1 – Rename Files By Adding Appropriate File Extension

One of the best ways to recover files from LOST.DIR folder is to add the appropriate extension to the file name. Here are the steps for the same –

Step 1 – Find LOST.DIR folder in your device.

Step 2 – Select the LOST.DIR files that you want to recover. You will have to do this process one file at a time.

Step 3 – Rename files by adding appropriate extensions such as .mp3, .mov, .mp4, .3gp, .jpeg, etc. For instance, you see a file that you are unable to open. You somehow have a clue that the file was an image. In that case, try suffixing the file name with .jpg or .jpeg and then try to open it.

Check if you have been able to recover the files now.

Solution No.2 – Use Data Recovery Software

Assuming that you are probably clueless about the extension of the file. In that case you can use a data recovery tool to recover lost files from your LOST.DIR folder. Here we’ll have a look at two ways in which you can recover data –

1. Use Data Recovery Software On Your Computer

You can plug in your SD card inside an SD card adapter or card reader and further plug it to your PC. You will then require a data recovery tool. Advanced Disk Recovery, for instance, is one of the best data recovery software for Windows. Here is how you can recover LOST.DIR files using Advanced Disk Recovery.

Step 1 – Download, run, and install Advanced Disk Recovery.

Step 2 – Select the Removable radio button under Select the areas to be scanned for deleted files and folders

Step 3 – Under Select Drive, click on Removable drive.

Step 4 – Click on Start Scan Now. Next, choose the Scan Type and click on Scan now.

Step 5 – Once the scan is complete, choose the LOST.DIR files that you want to recover.

Step 6 – Click on the Recover button.

Want to dive deeper? Here’s an inside-out review of Advanced Disk Recovery where we discussed its various features and other aspects.

2. Use A Data Recovery App On Your Android Smartphone

Let’s say you don’t have access to your computer and you urgently need to recover files from LOST.DIR folder. In that case just like a PC, Android also offers data recovery tools with which you can restore deleted data. Here are some of the best data recovery software for Android.

EaseUS MobiSaver-Data Recovery, for instance, is one of the best data recovery apps for Android. Here’s how you can recover LOST.DIR files on your Android smartphone using EaseUS MobiSaver –

Step 1 – Install EaseUS MobiSaver from the Google Play Store.

Step 2 – Tap on the SD Card option.

Step 3 – After the scanning process completes, you should be able to see all deleted files, including LOST.DIR files.

Step 4 – Select the files you want to recover.

Step 5 – Click on the Recover button.

Step 6 – You can find the recovered files in the MobiSaver folder in your File Manager.

Restore LOST.DIR Files With Ease

As we mentioned in the post, users often misconstrue the LOST.DIR folder and not only do they delete the LOST.DIR folder but often initiate the deletion process by first removing the contents in it. If you have been in that position and are wondering if you can recover the deleted files, this blog will help you. For more such content keep reading WeTheGeek. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.