How to Recover Lost Videos
Losing videos from your phone or SD card can feel like a punch to the gut.
One moment, everything’s there — the next, it’s gone. Just like that.
Whether it’s a special family moment, a once-in-a-lifetime vacation clip, or an important recording for work or school, the loss can feel personal.
Choose what to recover:
And worse, it often happens in seconds: an accidental tap, a failed transfer, or even a system glitch.
It’s easy to assume those videos are gone forever — especially when your gallery shows nothing, and your recycle bin is empty.
But here’s the good news: in many cases, deleted videos aren’t truly lost. They’re just hidden in your device’s storage, waiting to be recovered.
With the right tools, quick action, and a bit of patience, you might still have a real shot at getting them back — even if it’s been days or weeks since they disappeared.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to increase your chances of success and avoid the mistakes that could ruin your recovery efforts.
First: Why Do Videos Disappear?
Understanding why videos vanish from your phone can help you prevent it from happening again — and increase your chances of recovery.
Here are some common causes:
- Accidental deletion: You might have deleted the video while cleaning up space.
- System or app update: Some updates may wipe temporary data or clear cached media.
- Factory reset: Resetting your phone can erase all data, including videos.
- Corrupted storage: A failing SD card or internal memory issue can damage video files.
- Malware or virus attacks: Rare, but possible — especially on Android devices.
No matter how it happened, there’s hope — especially if the videos haven’t been overwrit
Step 1: Check Your Cloud Backup (Google Photos, iCloud, etc.)
Before diving into recovery apps or connecting your phone to a PC, always check your cloud backups first.
Many users don’t realize their videos are automatically synced to the cloud.
Google Photos
If you’re using an Android phone:
- Open the Google Photos app.
- Tap Library > Bin (or Trash).
- Videos remain in the Trash for up to 30 days after deletion.
- Tap and hold the video, then tap Restore.
iCloud (for iPhone users)
- Go to the Photos app.
- Tap Albums > Recently Deleted.
- Find your video and restore it. Videos stay here for up to 30 days.
Tip: Also check Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or any cloud app you’ve ins
Step 2: Use a Video Recovery App
If the videos aren’t in the cloud, don’t worry — there are recovery apps built to handle this exact problem.
These tools scan your phone’s memory (both internal and SD card) to find traces of deleted files.
Top Video Recovery Apps:
- DiskDigger (Android)
Lightweight, effective, and works well for both photos and videos.
- Tenorshare UltData (Android & iOS)
Great user interface, with deep scanning features.
Website | Download for Android
- EaseUS MobiSaver (Android & iOS)
Known for strong recovery of video files, even after formatting.
Download for iOS | Download for Android
- Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (Android & iOS)
A complete toolkit with advanced recovery options.
Download for iOS | Download for Android | Website
Note: Most of these apps offer free scans, but charge to actually restore the files. Still, they can help you confirm if the video is recoverable before you spend anything.es.
Step 3: Recover Using a Computer
Sometimes, mobile apps aren’t enough.
If your videos were large or saved in hard-to-reach folders, a desktop recovery program may be more effective.
Connect Your Phone to a PC or Mac and Try These Tools:
- Recuva (Windows)
One of the most popular free recovery tools. Good for memory cards and internal storage.
- iMobie PhoneRescue (Windows & Mac)
Designed specifically for iOS and Android recovery. Very intuitive.
- Wondershare Recoverit (Windows & Mac)
Deep scan engine, works well for large video files.
These tools often retrieve files that mobile apps can’t, especially if your phone was formatted or had a serious system issue.
Step 4: Recover from an SD Card (If That’s Where the Video Was Stored)
If the deleted video was saved to your SD card, the chances of recovery are often higher — especially if you act quickly.
Here’s What to Do:
- Power off your phone to avoid overwriting data.
- Remove the SD card from your device.
- Insert it into a card reader connected to your PC.
- Use a recovery software like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Wondershare Recoverit to scan the card.
Most recovery tools can scan the card sector by sector and locate hidden or recently deleted files.
Important Tip: Stop using the SD card immediately after deletion. New files can overwrite the o
Bonus: Can You Recover Deleted Videos Without an App?
In some rare cases, yes — if your file manager has a recycle bin or your gallery app temporarily stores deleted files.
For example:
- Samsung’s My Files app has a Recycle Bin.
- Xiaomi’s Gallery app includes a Trash section.
- File manager apps like File Commander or X-Plore sometimes offer recovery features.
It’s worth checking these before moving to more advanced steps.
How to Prevent Losing Videos in the Future
Now that you’ve learned how painful it can be to lose important videos, take a few proactive steps to prevent it from happening again:
1. Turn On Automatic Cloud Backup
Apps like Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox, and OneDrive can back up your videos automatically — no need to remember.
2. Back Up Your Phone Regularly
Connect your phone to a PC or use a backup app to create a full copy of your data every week or month.
3. Use Multiple Storage Locations
Instead of relying on one app to store everything, spread your videos out.
Use external drives, SD cards, and cloud storage together for redundancy.
4. Don’t Delay Recovery
If you accidentally delete a video, stop using your phone immediately and begin recovery.
Every new photo, video, or app update increases the chance your deleted video gets overwritten.
Final Thoughts
Losing videos from your phone or SD card doesn’t have to be the end of the story.
With the right tools and some quick action, you can often recover deleted videos — even after formatting or app errors.
Whether you try mobile apps, desktop software, or cloud backup services, the key is not to wait.
Start recovery efforts as soon as you notice the loss, and you just might save those precious memories before they’re gone for good.