The Guide to Recovering Deleted Videos from Your iPhone

Many iPhone users face the problem of accidental deletions or data loss. It is a common inconvenience, especially if they capture significant personal moments or important information. There are several effective methods to recover these deleted videos from your iPhone. This guide will provide detailed steps to retrieve your lost videos, whether recently deleted videos on your iPhone or permanently removed.

How iPhone Video Deletion Works

When you delete videos on your iPhone, they don’t immediately vanish. Instead, they move to the Recently Deleted folder, where they stay for 30 days before being permanently erased. This temporary holding area allows you to recover deleted videos from your iPhone within this period. However, after 30 days, the video is permanently removed from your device.

You can recover deleted videos from an iPhone after 30 days if you use a backup or a third-party application. The second method works as long as the deleted videos remain in the iPhone’s databases marked as deleted or trash. However, if iOS cleans up these files, recovering them becomes highly unlikely without professional help. Even with expert assistance, the chances of successful recovery are not guaranteed due to technical limitations.

If you know how your iPhone handles video deletions, you can better navigate the recovery process and improve your chances of success.

How to Recover Deleted Videos on an iPhone in the Recently Deleted Folder

This method effectively recovers deleted videos from any directory on your iPhone, provided you act promptly and it has been less than 30 days since the deletion. This folder is a temporary haven for videos you accidentally deleted.

Here are the steps to restore deleted videos on your iPhone from this folder:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the ‘Albums’ tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down to find the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder.
4. Tap on the folder to open it and view its videos.
5. Locate the video you want to recover, then tap on it.
6. Tap the ‘Recover’ button to restore the video to your main photo library.

If you do not find your video in the Recently Deleted folder or if more than 30 days have passed since the deletion, consider using more advanced recovery methods.

How to Restore Deleted Videos from an iPhone iCloud Backup

If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, restoring from a previous backup can help you get deleted videos back on your iPhone. It’s important to note that this process will replace the current data on your iPhone with the data from the backup so that you may lose any new data created after the backup date.

⚠️ Note: When you restore your iPhone to a backup version, the system prompts you to create a backup of its current state. Take advantage of this step if you value your current data. This precaution allows you to save any important information before you revert to an earlier version, preventing potential loss of recent updates or additions.

Here’s how to restore deleted videos on iPhone using iCloud:

1. Check your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.

2. Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top.

3. Tap on iCloud, then manage storage, followed by backups.

4. Choose the most relevant backup that includes the deleted videos (check the backup date to confirm it was made before the videos were deleted).

5. Return to the main Settings menu, tap General, then Reset, and select ‘Erase All Content and Settings.’ This will reset your iPhone to factory settings.

6. After your iPhone resets, follow the on-screen instructions to set it up again.

7. When prompted, select ‘Restore from iCloud Backup’ and choose the backup you identified earlier.

This method is helpful if you clean out a lot of videos, delete them, and then realize you need some of them back. However, if there are videos after the backup date, data recovery software might be a better option as it can specifically target deleted files without rolling back other changes.

How to Recover Deleted Videos From iPhone with Data Recovery Software

If your video isn’t in the Recently Deleted folder or has been deleted for more than 30 days, data recovery software can help. Tools like Disk Drill offer potent solutions for retrieving lost videos from your iPhone. These tools scan your device for any recoverable data that new data has yet to overwrite. Disk Drill supports iOS 5 and later versions and recovers videos, photos, and other files from various applications, including Viber, WeChat, Kik, and WhatsApp. However, it’s important to note that scanning an iPhone with a Disk Drill requires twice as much space as the iPhone’s used memory.

Here’s how to use data recovery software to recover permanently deleted videos from your iPhone without backup:

1. Download and install Disk Drill on your computer.

2. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.

3. Launch the data recovery software and select your iPhone from the list of devices.

4. Click the ‘Search for lost data’ button to start scanning. ​​While the scan starts, you must enter the unlock code directly on the device to create a backup, from which the files will then be retrieved.

5. Wait for the scan to complete. This process may take time. The duration depends on your iPhone’s storage size and the data it needs to process.

6. After the scan, filter the results to show only video files.

7. Preview the videos found by the software to check if the deleted videos you want to recover are available.

8. Select the videos you wish to recover and click the ‘Recover’ button.

9. Choose a location on your computer to save the recovered videos.

Data recovery software effectively recovers deleted videos, mainly when they no longer exist in the Recently Deleted folder, and you lack a backup. This method helps you retrieve deleted videos on your iPhone after 30 days without rolling back your entire device using a backup because Disk Drill allows you to scan the existing copy of iTunes and restore data from it selectively.

Additional Recovery Methods to Undelete Video on iPhone

Besides the primary methods discussed, several additional strategies can help you find deleted videos on your iPhone. Here are some alternative approaches and specific scenarios where they may be helpful, assuming you’re fortunate enough for one of these cases to apply

1. Check Message Attachments

We often share videos via messaging apps right after we record them to share moments with friends or family. This method helps if you’ve shared a video through SMS or iMessage and later deleted it from your device. You can directly recover videos that remain in your message threads if you haven’t removed them from the conversation.

1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
2. Browse through conversations with family or friends to find where you have shared the videos.
3. Press and hold on to the video attachment if you locate the video.
4. Select ‘Save’ from the context menu to save the video to your iPhone.

2. Look on Social Media Platforms

Videos uploaded to social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram remain stored in your profile’s media library. This method is beneficial if you’ve previously uploaded the video to a social media account. It allows you to download videos on these platforms, even if they’ve been deleted from your phone.

1. Access the social media app (such as Facebook or Instagram) where you may have shared the video.
2. Navigate to your profile or media library.
3. Locate and select the shared video.
4. Download it directly to your iPhone.

3. Check Email Attachments

Videos sent or received via email often remain accessible in your email account, even after you delete them from your iPhone. This approach works well if you remember emailing the video to someone or receiving it via email. You can retrieve the video from your email history.

1. Open your email app on your iPhone.
2. Search your emails for any you might have sent or received with the video attached.
3. Open the email and download the video attachment to your device.

These methods can be invaluable if you have one of these scenarios applied to your situation. However, if none of these cases occurred to you, it’s necessary to refer back to the primary recovery methods discussed earlier in this guide.

Can Data Recovery Services Restore Deleted Videos from iPhone?

When you attempt to recover deleted videos from an iPhone, the chances of success diminish significantly over time, regardless of whether you use data recovery software or professional data recovery services. This is primarily because of how the iPhone manages data storage.

iPhones store data in databases and handle deletions by marking the relevant file entries as garbage. These entries are not immediately removed from the physical storage but are flagged for deletion, allowing the system to delete them when more space is needed. Periodically, the iPhone initiates a cleanup process to purge these marked entries from its databases, which includes any residual data deemed as cache, garbage files, etc.

Once this cleanup process is activated, any files marked for deletion are permanently erased from the system’s memory, making recovery impossible without a prior backup. Therefore, if enough time has passed since a video was deleted, and if the iPhone has undergone this cleanup process, the deleted data cannot be retrieved by any recovery methods, including advanced professional services. This underscores the importance of timely action and regular backups to protect important data.

Common Problems and Solutions in Video Recovery

Users may encounter several common issues when attempting to recover deleted videos from an iPhone using the methods described above. When you know these problems and how to address them, you significantly increase the success rate of your recovery efforts. Here are some typical challenges and their solutions:

• The recently deleted folder is empty. Sometimes, users may find that the Recently Deleted folder is empty, even though they haven’t manually cleared it. This may be due to an automatic wipe after 30 days, in which case you can try to restore data from iTunes/iCloud backup or third-party data recovery software.
• Data recovery software fails to detect the device. Data recovery software might occasionally not recognize an iPhone, particularly if the device has suffered physical damage or the drivers are not correctly installed. Confirm that your iPhone is in good working condition. Try different ports on your Mac and different wires to connect. If physical damage is the issue, professional recovery services might be necessary.
• Incomplete iCloud backups. Users might discover that their iCloud backup does not contain the videos they intended to recover. This could be due to interrupted backups or settings that exclude videos from the backup. When retrieving deleted videos from your iPhone, regularly check your iCloud backup settings to confirm that it includes videos. Also, verify that your device has a stable connection to Wi-Fi during the backup process to avoid interruptions.
• Overwritten data. When you continue to use your iPhone after deleting videos, new data can overwrite the space where the deleted videos were. This makes recovery impossible. After you delete videos, minimize your iPhone use until you recover. Don’t take new photos, install apps, or download files.
• Expensive recovery costs from professional services. Professional data recovery services can be costly, and there needs to be a guarantee of success. Weigh the importance of the lost data against the potential cost. The cost may be justified for highly valuable or sentimental content.

When you prepare for these common issues and use the suggested solutions, you improve your chances to recover your deleted iPhone videos successfully. You also reduce potential setbacks in the recovery process.

Conclusion

Successfully recovering deleted videos from an iPhone largely depends on the methods and timing of the recovery efforts. Whether you use the Recently Deleted folder, data recovery software, iCloud backups, or professional services, each method involves specific steps and presents potential challenges. If you promptly address a video deletion and carefully follow the recommended procedures, you can increase the likelihood of recovering your important videos.

FAQ

Can I recover deleted movies on my iPhone that are not in the Recently Deleted folder?

You can recover movies that are not present in the Recently Deleted folder using third-party data recovery software. These tools scan your device’s storage for data that has not yet been completely cleaned by the iOS garbage collector. The success of the recovery depends on how much time has passed since the deletion.

How can I get permanently deleted videos back on my iPhone?

To recover permanently deleted videos, you can use data recovery software, restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup, or seek help from professional recovery services. It is important to act quickly and not use your device to avoid overwriting the deleted files.

Which iPhone recovery software is best for video recovery?

Some of the most effective iPhone recovery software for retrieving videos include:

• Disk Drill: Known for its powerful scanning capabilities and user-friendly interface, Disk Drill can recover various file types and include videos from your iPhone.
• iMobie PhoneRescue: This software is popular for its high recovery rates and intuitive operation.

How can I recover deleted videos from my iPhone?

To recover deleted videos, you can:

• Check the Recently Deleted album in the Photos app, where videos remain for 30 days after deletion.
• Use data recovery software to scan and recover videos from the device’s storage.
• Restore your iPhone from an iCloud or iTunes backup that contains the videos.

Can I recover videos deleted more than 30 days ago?

Yes, videos deleted more than 30 days ago can still be recovered as long as iOS has not purged the data from the databases. You can use recovery software to try to scan your iPhone’s storage or restore from an older backup that contains deleted videos.