One of the features that has helped iPhones stay ahead in the competitive smartphone market is their high-quality videos. The latest models are known for their crystal-clear videos and smooth playback that make capturing memories as enjoyable as looking at recorded files.
But imagine you’re browsing your iPhone, recalling old memories, when you accidentally delete one of your favorite videos. This can be a real pain, especially if you only have one copy of the video.
Does that mean your precious memories are gone forever? The simple answer is no.
This tutorial will show you how to recover deleted videos from your iPhone.
Method 1: Recover Deleted Videos from Recently Deleted Folder
Developers have praised the iPhone as a well-thought-out device and it’s easy to see why. Every time you delete a photo or video, it doesn’t disappear from your device immediately. Instead, it goes to the “Recently Deleted” folder. After 30 days, the file is permanently deleted from the folder, making it impossible to recover.
Therefore, the Recently Deleted folder can be considered a safety net that ensures that you can still recover files that you delete by mistake.
To recover an item from the folder, here’s what you do:
- Grab your iPhone and open the Photos app.
- Tap “Albums” and scroll down to the “Recently Deleted” tab. This should open a folder with a list of all the photos and videos you’ve deleted in the last 30 days.
- Scroll through the list to find the videos you want to recover. To recover a file, long-tap it and then press the “Recover” button in the lower right corner of the screen.
Method 2: Recover Deleted Videos from iCloud Backup
Apple has always promoted iCloud as a convenient tool that can help you transfer all your data from an old device to a new one. However, it is also a great tool when you delete files by mistake. But how exactly do iCloud backups work?
When enabled, iCloud Backups periodically upload your files to the cloud while keeping the originals on your device. When the original is deleted by mistake or intentionally, the uploaded copies remain in the cloud. Therefore, you can always recover your files whenever you are connected to the Internet.
When trying to recover deleted files from your iCloud backup, it’s important to remember that you could end up losing any files that weren’t part of the most recent backup. For example, if your most recent upload occurred three days ago, any files you created or received since then will not be part of the backup. For this reason, you should make sure that you have saved all of your current files before restoring your system to a previous state.
Here’s how to recover your files using iCloud backups:
- Reset your device by tapping the “Reset” button in the Settings app.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your device again.
- When you get to the “Apps & Data” screen, tap “Restore from iCloud Backup.”
- Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Choose the version you want to roll back to and then wait while your device loads the corresponding files.
At the end of this process, you should be able to find the video you are looking for in the Photos app.
The only downside to iCloud backups is that you may end up with files you no longer need. This is because, rather than recovering specific files, restore is a “general” data recovery process that recovers all the files that were on your device at a given time. For example, you may end up recovering files that you had deleted to free up space on your iPhone.
Method 3: Recover Deleted Videos from iTunes Backup
One of the best things about Apple devices is that they offer multiple ways to back up your files in case you need to recover them later. iTunes backups work very similar to iCloud backups, but unlike the latter, they are saved on your computer.
To recover iTunes files, first connect your iPhone to your computer using a compatible USB cable and then proceed as follows:
- Double-click your iPhone in the navigation menu on the left side of your computer screen.
- Click the “Sync Settings” button in the upper right corner.
- Press the “Restore Backup” button and select the version you want to use.
Method 4 – Use a Third Party Recovery Tool
Apple has gone to great lengths to provide multiple built-in recovery tools in case you need to recover a photo or video. But if these tools don’t work for you, you can always try third-party recovery systems.
There is a thriving market for third-party data recovery solutions, but we always recommend due diligence before choosing your preferred software. Some tools, especially those available for free, may not recover all deleted files from your device. Additionally, some may include malicious code designed to transmit your personal data to the developer.
To ensure you choose the best, make sure you do proper research on the software and its developer. You should select a tool with fairly positive ratings and reviews from reliable sources such as technology blogs, forums, and social media. It is also important to choose software with an easy-to-use interface and clear instructions. The data recovery process should be easy to execute, even for non-technical users.
Some of the most popular data recovery tools for iPhone include Disk Drill, Dr. Fone, PhoneRescue, and EaseUS MobiSaver.
Don’t give up your memories
Deleting a video from your iPhone is not the same as physically deleting it from your device. Apple is credited with designing a well-thought-out backup system that ensures you have multiple recovery systems in case you delete a file by mistake. From the Recently Deleted folder to iCloud backups and external backups on your Mac, there’s always a way to recover the memories you treasure most.
But even if these tools don’t work, there are many third-party solutions that can scan your iPhone and recover recently deleted items.
Have you tried to recover your files using any of the tools discussed in this article? How was your experience?
