How to Recover Deleted Videos

What is Deleted Video Recovery?

When you delete a file, such as a video, it doesn't immediately disappear from your device. Instead of being permanently deleted, the file is marked as “free space” so that it can be overwritten by new data. However, if it isn't overwritten quickly, it's still possible to recover the video.

Recovering Videos from Recycle Bin

One of the first options you should check is the Recycling Bin on your computer or the Bin on your mobile phone. Deleted files do not disappear from your device immediately; they are first moved to this folder, from where they can be easily restored.

On Windows: Open the Recycle Bin, find the video you want to recover, right-click on it and select “Restore”. The video will be returned to its original location.
On Mac: Open the Trash, locate the deleted video, right-click and select “Put Back”. This will return it to the folder or location where it was originally stored.

Please note that if you empty the Trash, the deleted files may not be recoverable via this method. However, all is not lost if you have already emptied the Trash; there are other ways to recover videos.

Using Data Recovery Software

If the video is no longer in the Trash or has been permanently deleted, you can use specialized data recovery programs. These programs are designed to scan your device for deleted files and restore them if possible.

There are several tools available for recovering deleted videos, and below we mention some of the most recommended ones:

Recuva (Windows): Recuva is a free and very easy-to-use tool. This application allows you to recover videos, photos, documents, and other files. It is ideal for users who do not have much technical experience. You just need to choose the disk or drive from which you want to recover videos and click “Scan.” After analyzing the device, you will be able to see a list of recoverable files.
Disk Drill (Windows and Mac)Disk Drill is another popular option for recovering deleted videos. It offers a free version that can recover up to 500 MB of data. This tool is very effective, even in data loss situations due to formatting or damaged disks. Disk Drill performs a deep scan to recover files even when they are not in the Recycle Bin.
EaseUS Data Recovery (Windows and Mac): EaseUS is one of the most comprehensive solutions for file recovery. Its free version allows you to recover up to 2GB of data, which is ideal if you have lost only a few videos. To recover larger videos, you can opt for the paid version, which offers you more recovery capacity.

To use these programs, you just need to follow the on-screen instructions: select the device from which you want to recover the videos and allow the program to perform a deep scan to find the deleted files.

Mobile Phone Video Recovery

If you have lost videos on your mobile phone, the recovery process may be a little different depending on whether you use a Android device or a iPhone.

On Android: If you use Google Photos or a similar app, deleted videos are often stored in the “Deleted Items” folder for 30 days. To recover them, just open the Google Photos app, find the “Recently Deleted” folder, select the video, and restore it.

If the video is not in Google Photos or a backup app, you can try using Android data recovery apps, such as Dr. Fone either EaseUS MobiSaverThese apps require you to connect your phone to a computer and follow the instructions to scan the device for deleted files.

On iPhone: If you have lost videos on an iPhone, check the app PhotosRecently deleted videos are usually stored in the “Recently Deleted” folder for 30 days. If the video is not there, you can try using iTunes either iCloud to restore a previous backup.

If you don't have a backup, there are iPhone data recovery tools, such as iMobie PhoneRescue either Tenorshare UltData, which allow you to recover deleted videos from the device directly.

Video Recovery from the Cloud

If you have a habit of saving videos to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox either OneDrive, you can still recover deleted videos directly from those platforms. Deleted videos are stored in each service's trash for a certain amount of time before being permanently deleted.

Google Drive: If you have sync turned on, you can recover deleted videos from Google Drive Trash. Just go to Trash in the sidebar, find the video, and click “Restore.”
Dropbox: Like Google Drive, Dropbox saves deleted files to your “Trash” for a set amount of time, depending on your plan. If you’ve lost a video in Dropbox, check your account’s Trash and select the file to restore it.

Tips to Prevent Video Loss

To avoid losing important videos in the future, it is essential to implement some good backup practices:

Make regular backups: Use external hard drives or cloud storage services to back up your most important videos. Cloud services like Google Photos, iCloud, or Dropbox offer automatic options to back up videos without you having to do it manually.
Sync your device with the cloud: Set your mobile device or computer to automatically sync with the cloud. This ensures that your videos are always backed up and ready to be recovered in case of loss.
Avoid overwriting deleted files: If you realize that you have lost an important video, try not to use the device immediately. By continuing to use the device, new data may overwrite the deleted files, making recovery more difficult.

Conclusion

Losing an important video doesn't have to be the end of the world. There are multiple ways to try to recover deleted videos, from checking the Recycle Bin to using specialized software and cloud services. If you act quickly, the chances of recovery are high, especially if you haven't overwritten the deleted files.

Remember that to prevent video loss in the future, the most important thing is to make regular backups and use cloud storage services to protect your files. With a little caution and the right methods, you can recover almost any video you've accidentally lost.

For more information on how to protect your videos and make effective backups, we invite you to visit the following link:

Link to external page about backups

Written by Victor Updated on February 28, 2025

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