I’ve accidentally deleted some important videos from my iPhone and I really need to get them back. They were for a family project due soon and I didn’t have a backup. Any advice on how I can recover these videos?
Woah, bummer about those videos. But no worries, there are a few ways you might be able to get them back!
Firstly, let’s start with the good ol’ Recently Deleted folder. Apple, in its infinite wisdom, made this folder as a kind of safety net for folks like us who sometimes hit the wrong button. Here’s how to check it out:
- Open the Photos app.
- Go to the Albums tab and scroll down to Recently Deleted.
- If you see the video there, tap Select and then Recover.
But if they’re not there, then we have to dig a little deeper. Since you mentioned that you don’t have a backup, it looks like we’ll have to rely on third-party software. Disk Drill
is a decent option for this kind of job.
Disk Drill
Pros:
- User-Friendly: It’s pretty straightforward to use, even if you’re not super tech-savvy.
- Deep Scan: It can conduct a deep scan to recover more data.
- Preview Files: You can preview the files before recovering them, so you don’t waste time on wrong files.
- Supports Multiple File Types: This is useful if you happen to need other types of files recovered too.
Cons:
- Pricey: The free version is limited. You’ll probably need to upgrade to the PRO version to get the job done.
- Time-Consuming: Deep scans, while thorough, can take quite a bit of time.
- Resource Intensive: It can be a bit heavy on your system resources when running the scan.
Here’s a simple guide if you decide to use Disk Drill:
- Download Disk Drill for Mac or Windows (whichever you have): Remember, they offer a free trial but for full functionality, a pro version is required.
- Connect Your iPhone: Make sure it’s recognized by your computer.
- Launch the Software and Select Your Device: Follow the prompts to scan your device.
- Scan and Preview: Allow the software to complete its magic. Once the scan is complete, preview the videos you wish to recover.
- Recover: Choose the recovery location and hit the recover button.
Alternatives
While I’ve found Disk Drill to be quite effective, other alternatives might work too.
- Dr. Fone by Wondershare: Another reputable data recovery tool, but again, you’ll probably need the paid version.
- iMobie PhoneRescue: It’s another solid choice with a user-friendly interface. Pricing can be similar to Disk Drill.
- EaseUS MobiSaver: Known in the data recovery space, offers free versions, but they come with limitations.
Also, it’s always a good practice to back up your iPhone regularly. Consider using iCloud or iTunes to create backups. This way, if you accidentally delete something in the future, you can easily restore it.
Now, it’s worth noting that data recovery isn’t always 100% guaranteed. The success rate depends on how much time has passed since the videos were deleted and whether new data has overwritten the deleted files on your device.
Good luck! Hope you get your family project videos back in time!
Hey, losing important vids is a real drag. You got some solid advice from @techchizkid there. But here’s another angle you might find useful. Have you tried using iTunes or Finder to see if they still have your data? Sometimes, even without an explicit backup, you might have synced your device, which might still hold your data.
iTunes/Finder Recovery:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Open iTunes (for Windows or older macOS versions) or Finder (for macOS Catalina and later).
- Select your device when it appears on the left side.
- Check if there’s an option to restore from a recent sync.
Even if @techchizkid didn’t mention it, some folks have luck with specific iCloud settings. Even if there’s no full backup, some automatic sync settings might have preserved your videos.
Check iCloud Settings:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap your name at the top, then iCloud.
- Ensure Photos is toggled to on.
- Scroll down and check iCloud Backup.
In line with third-party software, another one worth mentioning is Tenorshare UltData. It’s pretty handy and offers decent recovery options. Some peeps find it more intuitive than Disk Drill.
Pros:
- It’s specifically tailored for iOS devices.
- Can recover from various scenarios: from accidental deletion to lost files due to update errors.
- Preview before recovery, much like Disk Drill.
- Slightly cheaper than some other pro options.
Cons:
- Similar to others, the free version might not cover all your needs.
- Can also be a bit resource-heavy.
For me, though, creating a periodic backup routine has been a lifesaver. Seriously, consider setting up automatic backups with iCloud. Apple’s cloud storage allows you to keep your most important files safe without much effort.
Set Up Automatic iCloud Backups:
- Open Settings.
- Tap your name, then iCloud.
- Tap iCloud Backup.
- Make sure iCloud Backup is turned on.
- Tap Back Up Now to ensure the process is currently running.
If anyone out there hasn’t set this up yet, now’s the time!
Also, keep in mind, you might get a handful of options with Disk Drill Disk Drill. Pop in to see how it fits your needs. Pros and cons outlined earlier stand true, especially its user-friendly interface making it easy for anyone to navigate.
One more thing – data recovery tools work best the sooner you notice the loss. The longer you wait, the higher the chances that new data overwrites the deleted files.
Alrighty, fingers crossed you get those videos back! Keep us posted on your progress, would be good to know what eventually worked out for you.
Hey, sorry to hear about your lost videos. Losing important files always sucks. There have been some good suggestions like checking the Recently Deleted folder and using Disk Drill, but let’s explore a few more options and angles here to cover all bases.
Have you checked if perhaps the videos got uploaded to any cloud storage services you might be using without you realizing it? Sometimes, services like Google Photos or Dropbox do automatic backups if you’ve enabled them.
Google Photos:
- Open Google Photos on your device.
- Tap the search bar and type in keywords related to your video.
- If it’s there, you can download it back to your device.
If Google Photos doesn’t help, you might have some luck with Dropbox if you’ve been using it.
Dropbox:
- Open Dropbox on your device or computer.
- Navigate to the Photos or Videos folders.
- Check for the missing videos and download if found.
If these don’t work, another thing to look at is if your videos were shared with anyone else at any point. Sometimes you can recover media shared within messaging apps.
WhatsApp:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chat you suspect the video was shared in.
- Tap on the contact’s name and then go to Media, Links, and Docs.
- Scroll through to see if the video exists there and save it back to your device.
For a slightly technical approach, if you are comfortable with jailbreaking your iPhone, there are additional apps that give you deeper access to your device’s storage. But be cautious with these methods as they might void your warranty or expose the device to security risks.
Lastly, let’s revisit the Disk Drill option mentioned before. It’s a solid tool and worth noting once more, but I’ll add a quick heads-up:
Disk Drill is user-friendly and could be your best bet for an in-depth recovery. You can grab it here: Disk Drill Data Recovery Software.
However, the third-party tool route isn’t flawless either. It’s somewhat of a gamble—you may get everything back, or maybe not.
If you’re still exploring software options, another one I personally trust is Recuva from Piriform. It’s more commonly used for Windows, but if you have a Windows PC and your iPhone, it might be worth trying.
For that specific family project, it’s not just about recovery—consider the future too. Get into the habit of regularly backing up. iCloud, Google Photos, even manual backups via iTunes/Finder could save you a lot of headaches.
One last tip, strange but possible: check if you’ve shared those videos via email or messaging apps like Telegram, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, etc. They might still exist as attachments or shared media in these places.
Again, good luck! Losing videos is frustrating, but the more systematic you are in checking each of these avenues (Recently Deleted, cloud services, messaging apps, and recovery tools), the better your chances of getting them back. Fingers crossed!