Recovering a VMFS datastore with all data intact is a high-stakes task that usually follows a storage failure, accidental deletion, or metadata corruption. Because VMware’s Virtual Machine File System (VMFS) uses a proprietary locking mechanism for cluster access, standard file recovery tools won't work.

When the ESXi host cannot see the volume at all, you need specialized software that understands the VMFS structure to extract .vmdk files directly.

Do you see the storage device under but not Datastores ? Are you seeing any specific error codes in the hostd.log ?

If you successfully recover the files but the VM won't boot, the "descriptor" file (the small .vmdk text file) might be missing, leaving only the large -flat.vmdk data file. Create a new VM with the exact same hardware specs. Delete the new empty disk. Upload the recovered -flat.vmdk to the VM folder.

Sometimes the host just needs a nudge to see the paths again. Right-click Host > Storage > Rescan Storage . CLI: esxcli storage core adapter rescan --all Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 4. Recovering a Lost Partition Table

Recovering a VMFS datastore with all data is often possible if you act carefully and avoid destructive operations. Start with the simplest step (rescanning), move to native ESXi commands, and only then consider third-party tools or backups. When in doubt, contact VMware support or a data recovery specialist.

Recovery success can vary based on the situation, so having a solid backup and disaster recovery plan in place is essential for minimizing downtime and data loss.

DiskInternals VMFS Recovery, Stellar Data Recovery for VMFS, or UFS Explorer.