The present disclosure generally relates to recovering storage devices in-field without the need to return the storage device to the factory. The storage device tracks detailed failure information. After receiving a signal or sequence of commands from a host device to prepare the storage device for a recovery download, the storage device determines whether to enter an adaptive field recovery state or a host-selected recovery state. If the storage device enters the adaptive field recovery state, the storage device determines which error state the device is in based on the detailed failure information, and selects an appropriate recovery level. After selecting the appropriate recovery level while in the adaptive field recovery state or after entering the host-selected recovery state, the storage device receives and downloads a recovery download package. The recovery download package comprises one or more recovery actions necessary to repair the error state.