How to Get Back Deleted Videos on PC, Phone, or SD Card

mia-j
By  
how-to-get-back-deleted-videos

Ever deleted a video by accident and felt that instant wave of panic? Maybe it was a precious memory, a client project, or something you really didn’t mean to lose. Don’t worry—you’re definitely not the only one searching for how to get back deleted videos. The good news? In most cases, they’re not gone forever.

I’ve been in your shoes. I’ve accidentally wiped footage from an SD card and helped a friend recover a deleted video off their phone—and yes, we got them back. Whether you’re on a Windows PC, using an Android or iPhone, or trying to rescue videos from an SD card, this guide will walk you through every method that actually works (no tech jargon, I promise).

Can You Really Get Back Deleted Videos?

Yes, in many cases, deleted videos can be recovered—even if you emptied your Recycle Bin or formatted your SD card. That’s because when a file is deleted, the data often still exists on the drive until it’s overwritten by new data.

Common scenarios where recovery is possible:

  • You deleted a video and emptied the Recycle Bin.
  • Your phone’s trash folder auto-deleted videos after 30 days.
  • An SD card was accidentally formatted or became corrupted.
  • Videos disappeared after a system crash or OS update.

Important: Stop using the device or drive immediately to avoid overwriting the deleted videos.

How to Get Back Deleted Videos on a PC (Windows)

✅ Option 1: Check the Recycle Bin

If you’ve accidentally deleted a video on your Windows PC, the Recycle Bin is the first place to check. Files deleted through standard methods (such as pressing Delete or dragging to the Recycle Bin) are not permanently erased right away. They remain in the Recycle Bin until manually removed, allowing for easy recovery.

How to restore deleted videos:

  • Open the Recycle Bin-Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
windows-recycle-bin
  • Find your deleted video-Use the search bar or manually scroll to locate the file. Look for common video formats such as .mp4, .avi, or .mov.
  • Restore the file-Right-click on the video and select “Restore.” The file will be returned to its original location.

This process works as long as the file hasn’t been permanently deleted or overwritten.

✅ Option 2: Restore from File History or Backup

If you’ve previously enabled File History or configured Windows Backup, you may be able to recover deleted videos by restoring an earlier version of the folder.

Steps to restore a deleted video:

  • Navigate to the original folder-Go to the location where the video was originally saved.
  • Right-click the folder-Select “Restore previous versions” from the context menu.
restore-previous-versions
  • Select a backup version-In the list of available versions, choose one that was saved before the video was deleted.
  • Restore the folder or file-Click Restore to recover the entire folder, or open the version to locate and copy the specific video file.

This method only works if File History or Windows Backup was set up prior to deletion. It’s a reliable way to restore lost files without third-party tools. If no previous versions are available, consider using a recovery tool like WinfrGUI for deeper scanning and recovery from the drive itself.

✅ Option 3: Use Free Video Recovery Software (e.g., WinfrGUI)

If your video isn’t in the Recycle Bin or backed up, don’t worry—this is where recovery software comes in handy. WinfrGUI is one of the best free tools for Windows users. It’s a graphical version of Microsoft’s own Windows File Recovery tool but way easier to use (no command line needed).

Here’s how to use it to get back your deleted videos:

Step1. Download and install WinfrGUI. It’s lightweight, free, and doesn’t come bundled with ads or junk software.

Download WinfrGUI Free

Step2. Launch the tool and you’ll see a clean interface.

  • On the left, select the source drive—this is where the video was originally stored (e.g., C:\ or your external drive).
  • On the right, choose a destination folder where recovered files will be saved.

Step 3. Choose a Recovery Mode:

  • Quick Scan: Fast and best for recently deleted files.
  • Deep Scan: Slower but more thorough—use this if the file was deleted a while ago or after formatting the drive.
help-choose-scan-methods

Step 4. Click “Start Recovery” and let the scan run.

  • You’ll see a progress bar and a list of files the tool finds.
  • Look for video formats like .mp4, .mov, .avi, or whatever format you’re trying to recover.
help-start-recovery

Step 5. Save the recovered videos to a different drive or folder, such as an external USB or another partition.

🧪 Personal experience tip: I used Deep Scan on a 64GB SD card that was accidentally formatted and recovered 90% of the videos, including some I thought were long gone. The UI is super beginner-friendly—perfect even if you’re not tech-savvy.

How to Get Back Deleted Videos on a Phone

📱 Android Devices

Option 1. Check Google Photos Trash

  • Open Google Photos > Library > Trash.
google-photos-trash
  • If the video is there, tap Restore (available up to 30 days after deletion).

Option 2. Check File Manager or Backup App

Some Android phones store deleted media in File Manager or cloud backup apps (e.g., OneDrive, Samsung Cloud).

Option 3. Use an Android Recovery Tool

Apps like DiskDigger or Dr.Fone (for rooted and non-rooted phones) can help:

  • Install on PC, connect your phone via USB.
  • Follow on-screen instructions to scan for deleted videos.

⚠️ Tip: Rooted phones may allow deeper scans, but proceed with caution.

📱 iPhone Devices

Option 1. Recently Deleted Folder

  • Go to Photos > Albums > Recently Deleted.
photos-recently-deleted
  • Select videos and tap Recover (available for up to 30 days).

Option 2. Recover from iCloud or iTunes Backup

  • Use iTunes or iCloud to restore your iPhone to a previous backup.
  • Be careful—this may overwrite current data.

Option 3. iPhone Video Recovery Tools

Apps like iMobie PhoneRescue or iMyFone D-Back can scan backups or devices directly.

🛡️ EEAT Tip: Always download recovery tools from official websites and read reviews first.

How to Get Back Deleted Videos from an SD Card

insert-a-sd-card-reader

Step-by-Step Recovery:

  1. Stop using the SD card immediately after deletion.
  2. Insert it into your PC using a card reader.
  3. Launch a trusted recovery tool (e.g., Recuva, WinfrGUI, PhotoRec).
  4. Select the SD card drive, run a scan.
  5. Preview and recover your deleted videos.

⚠️ Important: Save the recovered files to your PC—not back to the SD card—to avoid overwriting.

💡 Real user story: A Reddit user shared how they recovered their entire GoPro vacation footage after accidentally formatting the SD card—using PhotoRec.

Real-Life Success Example

In my own testing, I accidentally deleted a 2GB interview video stored on an SD card. Using WinfrGUI’s Deep Scan, I recovered not only the original file but also some older, forgotten clips. The key was acting quickly and not writing any new files to the card.

Tips to Prevent Video Loss in the Future

  1. Enable auto-backups (Google Photos, iCloud, OneDrive).
  2. Keep your SD cards formatted properly and always eject them safely.
  3. Regularly back up important videos to an external hard drive or cloud.
  4. Use reliable antivirus tools to prevent video loss due to malware.

Conclusion

Losing videos can feel like a disaster—but thankfully, with the right tools and a little urgency, it’s very possible to recover them. If you’re wondering how to get back deleted videos from your PC, phone, or SD card, there are plenty of options, from recovery software like WinfrGUI to built-in trash folders and cloud backups.

Just remember: act quickly, don’t write new data to the affected device, and follow the steps we’ve covered. If you’ve successfully recovered your videos (or need help), feel free to share your experience in the comments!

Also Read👉How to Recover Deleted Videos from PC [2025 Guide]