Media on all devices is prone to data loss and videos are no exception. In fact, you may end up losing important old video files due to formatting errors, accidental deletion while trying to free up space, or due to corrupt storage media. Thankfully, in most cases, it’s not the end of the road.
There are still ways to get your old video files back on Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android devices. We have compiled a list of methods in this blog that you can use to recover old deleted videos on any of the devices above. But before moving on to the solutions, you need to ensure the following to increase your chances of data recovery:
- Stop using the affected device to prevent any overwriting of lost data.
- Initiate a prompt recovery process.
Now that we have covered the basics, let’s get into the solutions without further ado.
The Most Effective Solution to Recover Old Deleted Videos: Photo Recovery Software
It is quite difficult to recover old deleted videos unless you have backed them up. If not, a specialized video recovery software is your best bet. This robust tool can scan and recover video files from old, damaged, or corrupted HDD, SSD, USB, flash drives, memory cards, smartphones, etc.
Stellar Photo Recovery Premium is compatible with both Windows and macOS. This DIY software can recover and repair old videos in any file format. It effectively restores corrupt, inaccessible, choppy, jerky, or out-of-sync videos.
To restore a deleted video using Stellar Photo Recovery:
Step 1: Download and install Stellar Photo Recovery on your PC.
Step 2: Connect the storage media with your PC that you want to scan for old deleted videos.
Step 3: Launch the software and select the storage drive you want to scan for old videos.
Step 4: Toggle on Deep Scan from the bottom-left and hit Scan.
Step 5: After the scan is finished, Preview the recovered videos, select the ones you want to recover, and hit Recover.
Step 6: Save the recovered videos to a desired location.
Effective Solutions to Recover Old Deleted Videos on Windows 10/11
Method 1: Recover Deleted Videos from Recycle Bin
The first place to look for old deleted videos on your Windows PC should be the recycle bin. Whenever you delete a file, accidentally or otherwise, it usually ends up in the Recycle Bin folder of the PC. You can easily restore the file while it is still there.
To restore a deleted video from Recycle Bin:
Step 1: Open the Recycle Bin folder by double-clicking it.
Step 2: Navigate to the video file you want to retrieve, right-click on it, and select Restore.
Your deleted video file will be moved back to its original location on the Windows PC.
Note: This method will not work if the files are deleted using the Shift + Delete command. In this case, they will be permanently deleted and will not show up in the Recycle Bin.
Method 2: Recover Deleted Videos from Backups
It is always recommended to configure your Windows PC to automatically back up your important data. This way, when faced with a media loss situation, involving videos, audio, or others, you can easily retrieve your files from there.
Windows offers many built-in backup features, such as Backup & Restore and File History. Additionally, you can back up your important videos on cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. Click on this link to learn more about how to backups your Windows 10 PC.
To restore a deleted video from File History Backup:
Step 1: Type File History in the search box.
Step 2: Click Restore Your Files with File History from the suggested results.
Step 3: Next, navigate to the File History window.
Step 4: Preview and select the video files you need to restore.
Step 5: Finally, click the green Restore icon to save them back to their previous location.
Effective Solutions to Recover Old Deleted Videos on Mac
Method 1: Restore Deleted Videos from Mac Trash
Like Windows, the Trash folder should be the first place to look for old deleted videos on Mac. If you can find your deleted files in Trash, it becomes fairly easy to restore them.
To restore a deleted video from Mac Trash:
Step 1: Navigate to the Trash folder and double-click to open it.
Step 2: Look for your deleted video, right-click on it, and select Put Back.
Step 3: Your selected video is now restored to its original location.
Method 2: Recover Deleted Videos from Time Machine
Taking regular backups cannot be over-emphasized and is arguably the best preventive measure against any media loss scenario. Mac users can use various methods to back up their important videos- Disk Utility, Time Machine, or third-party Mac Backup Software. Click on the link to learn more about how to back up your Mac.
To restore a deleted video from Time Machine:
Step 1: Connect your Mac to the Time Machine backup drive.
Step 2: Open Time Machine from the menu bar by double-clicking it.
Step 3: Use Time Line to look for backed up videos.
Step 4: Select the videos you want to retrieve. Click Restore.
Effective Solutions to Recover Old Deleted Videos on iPhone
Method 1: Recover Deleted Videos from iTunes or iCloud
You can turn on automatic backup on your iOS device via iTunes or iCloud to regularly back up your videos and avoid any media loss situation. Upon doing this, your important videos and other media files will be saved on Apple’s cloud storage, and you can easily restore them from there.
To restore a deleted video from iTunes or iCloud:
Step 1: Sign in to your iTunes or iCloud account using your Apple ID.
Step 2: Navigate to the backup file that contains the video you want to restore.
Step 3: Finally, hit Restore.
Method 2: Restore Deleted Videos from Recently Deleted Folder
Upon deleting a video from Photos App on iPhone, it is moved to the recently deleted folder and stays there for about 40 days before being permanently deleted.
To restore a deleted video from Recently Deleted Folder:
Step 1: Open Files app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap Browse and select Recently Deleted.
Step 3: Tap the More icon and hit Select to mark the video you want to recover.
Step 4: Finally, click Recover to move the deleted video to its original location.
Losing videos on iPhone can be really frustrating but you can use the solutions mentioned above to recover them quickly. Read here to know more about how to recover deleted videos from iPhone.
Effective Solutions to Recover Old Deleted Videos on Android
With the exponential increase smartphone and tablet usage, watching videos has never been more convenient. But what if you unintentionally delete a video or can't access it anymore? Don't worry—there are ways to get back lost videos on devices like Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, OPPO, etc.
Here are some proven methods to help you retrieve old deleted videos on Android:
Method 1: Restore Deleted Videos on Android from Recently Deleted
Upon deleting a video from the Gallery app of your Android smartphone, it is moved to the phone’s Recently deleted folder where it stays for up to 30 days. Restoring any media from there is quite straightforward.
To restore a deleted video from Android Recycle bin or Trash folder:
Step 1: Open the Gallery app and navigate to Albums.
Step 2: Scroll down to the Recently Deleted folder and open it.
Step 3: Long-press the videos you want to restore.
Step 4: Lastly, tap Restore to move them back to the designated folder.
Method 2: Recover Deleted Videos on Android Using Google Drive
If you have backed up your phone’s media to Google Drive, you can directly restore it from there without even needing a PC.
To restore a deleted video on Android using Google Drive:
Step 1: Open the Drive app on your phone and log in using your Google account.
Step 2: Select the videos you want to recover.
Step 3: Download them to your device.
Bonus Tips to Avoid Unwanted Media Loss
- Double-check before deleting any media file right off the bat.
- Keep your media files secure by installing a reliable antivirus software on your device.
- Make copies of your media files and save them at different locations.
- Use cloud services to back up your important media.
- Ensure sound connection during media file transfer.
- Always keep your system updated to avoid unforeseen data loss situations.
Bottom Line
There are various solutions you can use to recover old deleted videos. They’re usually specific to the device or the OS you’re using. The above-listed methods can help you recover old videos in some cases, but for a thorough recovery, it is recommended that you use a professional video recovery software like Stellar Photo Recovery Premium. Its advanced algorithm and easy-to-use interface can help you get back your favorite old videos in a jiffy!
FAQs
Q. Can I recover deleted videos from 5 years ago?
A. You can recover videos deleted long ago with Stellar Photo Recovery. The only prerequisite is that the storage drive containing those videos should not be overwritten.
Q. Are permanently deleted videos gone forever?
A. The permanently deleted videos will be lost forever if not backed up.
Q. Where do deleted videos go?
A. Deleted videos on a device usually land up in its Recycle Bin folder.
5 min read
5 min read
5 min read
