How to Recover Deleted Videos From iPhone

Accidentally deleting videos on an iPhone can lead to the loss of important moments, but recovery is often possible. When videos are deleted, they may not be immediately lost forever, thanks to the various recovery options available. This article provides clear strategies to retrieve deleted videos on iPhones. With these methods, you can successfully restore your lost videos and guarantee that your valuable memories are reclaimed.

Is It Possible to Recover Deleted Videos from iPhone?

When you delete a video from your iPhone, the file is not immediately erased. Instead, iOS labels it as trash and retains the file within its database until a scheduled cleanup process occurs. This temporary status provides an opportunity to get deleted videos back on the iPhone. Also, backups play a critical role, as they can preserve a copy of your data if it’s permanently removed from the device’s active storage.

The possibility of recovering deleted videos hinges on several factors:

• Acting quickly to recover the video after deletion increases the likelihood of success, minimizing the chance that the file will be permanently cleared during a cleanup.
• Regular backups to iCloud or through Finder/iTunes significantly enhance the chances of recovering a video, as these backups may contain deleted files.

This knowledge is necessary to navigate the proper recovery process and know the conditions under which you can successfully restore your videos.

How to Recover Deleted Videos from iPhone

If you’ve deleted a video from your iPhone, there are several methods you can use to recover recently deleted videos from the iPhone. Each method varies depending on where the deleted video might be stored, whether on the device itself or within backups made before deletion. We’ll describe steps to help you navigate these recovery options effectively.

1. Check Recently Deleted Album for Deleted Video

Your iPhone has a built-in safety net for accidentally deleted photos and videos. The “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app holds all deleted media for up to 30 days before they are permanently erased. Here’s how to find deleted videos on iPhone in this album:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down to the Albums tab and locate the Recently Deleted album under the ‘Other Albums’ section.
3. Tap on it to open and view all the recently deleted media.
4. If you find the video you want to recover, tap on the video and then tap Recover at the bottom-right of the screen.
5. Confirm your choice to restore the video back to your main album.

This method is simple and should be your first step to recover deleted videos on iOS, as it requires no additional tools or backups.

2. Review Deleted Video in iCloud

If you have iCloud Photos sync enabled on your iPhone, you can recover permanently deleted videos on your iPhone even if they have been removed from your device. This method is particularly useful if the video was deleted on your iPhone while iCloud sync had not occurred due to low battery mode or lack of internet connectivity. In such cases, the video might still reside in the iCloud. To prevent any further syncing that might permanently delete the video from iCloud, immediately disable internet access on your iPhone and proceed with the following steps from another device.

1. Access iCloud by visiting www.icloud.com from a web browser on a different device (not from your iPhone).
2. Log in with the Apple ID associated with your iPhone.
3. Once logged in, select the Photos icon to enter the photo library.
4. Go to the Albums tab and look for the Recently Deleted album. Then, check the main library to see if the video is still available there.
5. If you find the video in the main library, download it to your device. If you find it in the Recently Deleted album, select it, click Recover to restore it, and then download it, too.

This approach maximizes your chances of recovering the video by halting any further syncs that could lead to its permanent deletion. It also allows you to retrieve it directly from iCloud’s storage before any changes propagate from your iPhone.

3. Restore iTunes/Finder Backup with Deleted Videos

Restoring a deleted video can also be achieved through an iTunes backup, provided you have previously backed up your iPhone using iTunes or Finder on your computer. This method is helpful if the video was backed up before it was deleted, and you are prepared to restore your iPhone to its state at the time of that backup.

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer you usually sync with Finder (or iTunes on older macOS).
2. Open Finder/iTunes and select your device.
3. Click on the ‘General’ tab, then choose ‘Restore Backup.’
4. Look through the available backups in Finder/iTunes, paying attention to the date and size of each backup to select the one that most likely contains your deleted video.
5. Click ‘Restore’ and wait for the process to complete. Make sure your iPhone stays connected throughout the entire process.

This method requires careful consideration because it completely replaces the iPhone’s data with the selected backup. It is highly recommended that all critical recent data be backed up separately before proceeding.

4. Recover Videos from iCloud Backup

Another way to recover old deleted videos from your iPhone is to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup. This method is similar to the Finder/iTunes backup method but uses data stored in iCloud. You must choose this recovery option if you have a backup in iCloud that predates the video deletion. Restoring from iCloud replaces the current contents of your iPhone with those in the backup, which might lead to the loss of any recent data not backed up.

1. Check your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings > General > Reset and select Erase All Content and Settings.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your iPhone. When you reach the Apps & Data screen, choose Restore from iCloud Backup.
4. Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
5. Select the backup that predates the deletion of your video. Pay attention to the dates of the backups to verify that you choose the correct one.
6. Wait for the restoration process to complete. Keep your device connected to Wi-Fi during this time.

This recovery method is a viable option if you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, and the backup likely includes the video you want to recover. As with the iTunes method, consider backing up any recent data separately before proceeding with a complete restoration.

5. Recover Deleted Videos with Disk Drill

For those who might not have a recent backup or whose videos were not captured in iCloud or iTunes backups, third-party recovery software like Disk Drill offers a potential solution for iPhone deleted video recovery. Disk Drill takes a full iTunes backup of your iPhone and scans it for recoverable files. If garbage collection hasn’t been cleaned, it can recover permanently deleted videos on iPhone without backup from file databases. To perform the scan, you’ll need free space on your Mac or an external drive that’s at least twice the size of the space occupied on your iPhone. Disk Drill also scans iTunes backups, allowing you to restore individual files rather than the entire iPhone state from the backup.

1. Download and install Disk Drill on your Mac or PC from its official website.
2. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable and trust the computer if prompted on your iPhone.
3. Launch Disk Drill and select your iPhone from the list of available devices in the iPhone & iPad section.
4. Click on ‘Search for lost data’ to start the scanning process. This may take some time depending on the amount of data on your iPhone.
5. Once the scan is complete, browse through the found data and locate any videos you wish to recover. Disk Drill categorizes files by type, making it easier to find specific items.
6. Select the videos you want to recover and choose a location on your computer to save them.

This method is particularly useful if you’ve just deleted your files and quickly realized your mistake. If your videos aren’t included in any backup, you have a limited recovery window before the garbage collection process begins, allowing you to restore the deleted videos.

Can Data Recovery Services Help Recover Deleted Video from iPhone?

When considering professional data recovery services after trying all the methods discussed in this article, it’s necessary to know the limitations imposed by the iPhone’s architecture. The iPhone stores data in an encrypted format within databases, and unlike traditional hard drives, SSDs, etc, it does not allow direct access to memory blocks to search for deleted files. Furthermore, the iPhone’s garbage collection procedure, which permanently clears data, can render recovery attempts futile once it has been executed.

Professional recovery centers are typically unable to retrieve deleted videos if they have been cleared by the iPhone’s internal processes. However, these services are extremely valuable in scenarios involving physical damage to the device, where they can repair or bypass hardware issues to access lost data:

• If the iPhone has sustained physical damage that prevents it from being recognized by recovery software.
• When internal components need repair or replacement to regain access to data.

While these services can be costly and do not guarantee success, they remain a main option for accessing data when damage rather than deletion causes data loss.

Conclusion

This article covers several methods to recover deleted videos from an iPhone, from using built-in options like the Recently Deleted album to using third-party software and considering professional recovery services for physical damage. Each method applies to specific scenarios and has its limitations. Knowing these helps you navigate the recovery process more effectively and may allow you to restore valuable videos thought to be lost.