How to Recover Deleted Videos from iPhones?

Deleting videos from your iPhone to free up space for new content is a routine task. However, the realization that you’ve accidentally deleted treasured videos is distressing. This misfortune can befall both novices and seasoned users. Various other incidents, such as device crashes, iOS updates (whether successful or not), jailbreaking, or resetting the phone, may also result in unintentional video deletion on an iPhone.

Precautions

1. Visit Photos > Albums > Videos to ensure the videos are indeed deleted. You can also verify this in the Library tab.
2. Check the Photos app under Albums > Utilities > Hidden Folder to see if the videos are there.

   

3. Avoid using your iPhone further to prevent overwriting the deleted data.
4. Discontinue syncing your iPhone with other Apple devices that share the same Apple ID to preserve the chance of recovering the videos through another device.
5. Refrain from connecting your iPhone to a Mac or PC as automatic backup updates can diminish recovery opportunities.

1. Recover Through the Recently Deleted Folder in Photos

Deleted videos and photos are retained in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days.

1. Open Photos and navigate to Albums > Utilities > Recently Deleted.

   

2. If the videos are there, tap on them and select Recover to restore to their initial location.

2. Check Online Storage Services

Your iCloud or any other online storage service activated on your iPhone might still have the videos, enabling recovery from there.

The iCloud website may retain your deleted videos if activated on your iPhone. Deleted files are stored for 40 days in iCloud.

1. Access the iCloud website in a web browser and log in with your credentials.
2. Go to Photos and select Recently Deleted.

   

3. Choose the videos you need and press Recover.
4. Sync your iPhone with iCloud to retrieve the videos.

If you’ve enabled other services such as Google Photos for backup, check those for your deleted videos.

3. Check Other Synced Devices

Other devices connected to the same Apple ID, like an iPad, might contain the deleted videos, provided they haven’t synced with iCloud since the deletion. Such a device could be an offline iPad. This method works if the videos have been viewed on that device before.

1. Check the Photos app on the other device for the videos.
2. If found, transfer them to locations outside of the iCloud folders. On the iPad, this can be done by exporting the videos to the Files app.

   

4. Check Your Messages and Social Media Apps

The videos you’re seeking might have been shared through Messages or social media apps like WhatsApp. Review your exchanges on these platforms before proceeding.

5. Use the iTunes Store to Redownload Shows or Movies

If you’ve purchased shows or movies from Apple that were deleted, you can redownload them via the iTunes Store.

1. Open the Apple TV app and navigate to Library.
2. Locate the item, checking Family Sharing if applicable.
3. Select the item and hit Download.

   

6. Contact Apple Support

If the previous methods fail, reaching out to Apple Support for assistance might be an option. While they commonly claim recovery of iCloud data is not possible, politely ask for escalation to a Senior Advisor and describe your request for video recovery. This is especially useful if the videos were permanently deleted and you’re subscribed to iCloud with the videos included in backups.

7. Use a Data Recovery Application

If all else fails, a data recovery application might be your last resort. Choose an app like Disk Drill that offers a free preview of detectable deleted data. If the app locates your desired files, you can opt to purchase it.

Note: We mention Disk Drill in good faith without any affiliation. Utilize it at your own risk.

1. Download and install Disk Drill on your Mac without purchasing just yet.
2. Connect your iPhone via USB and unlock the device.
3. Launch Disk Drill and select the iPhones & iPads tab.
4. Choose your iPhone and initiate Search for Lost Data.

   

5. Once the scan completes, navigate to the Videos tab on the left side to check for the desired files.

   

6. If the videos appear, you may decide to purchase Disk Drill, select the videos for recovery, and specify a destination folder such as your Desktop.
7. After recovery, you can transfer the files back to your iPhone, using AirDrop, for example.

8. Explore Backup Options

Deleted videos might also be retrieved from iPhone backups. It is possible that an iTunes or Finder backup contains the lost videos, especially if you have previously connected your iPhone for activities like music transfer.

If certain you don’t have a backup with the missing videos, bypass this step for alternative retrieval methods.

Recover Through iCloud Backup

Prepare a new iCloud backup with another Apple ID to protect current data without overwriting existing backups. If creating a backup through Finder or iTunes, use a different computer to avoid overwriting a previous backup. The benefit of this method lies in its ability to recover videos without the use of a PC.

1. Proceed to iPhone Settings > General > Reset.
2. Choose Erase All Content and Settings.

   

3. Confirm the action and follow on-screen instructions to set up the iPhone anew.
4. On the Apps & Data screen, opt for Restore from iCloud Backup.

   

5. Sign in to iCloud with your original Apple ID and select the relevant backup.
6. After the restoration is complete, check for the recovery of your deleted videos.

Recover Through Finder or iTunes Backup

An older backup on iTunes or Finder could contain the videos you’re looking to recover. To preserve current data, consider using a separate computer for the backup process.

1. To back up current iPhone data on the same machine, open iTunes or Finder.
2. In the Backups section, select Manage Backups.
3. Right-click the older backup and pick Archive.

   

4. Reset the iPhone and link it to the computer.
5. Start iTunes or Finder and choose Restore iPhone.

   

6. Confirm and select the most suitable backup.
7. Post restoration, verify if the videos are back. If unsuccessful, consider multiple restorations using different backups.

9. Contact a Data Recovery Service

If recovering your videos is not yet successful, consulting a Data Recovery Service could be your last resort. Search online for reputable services—just be cautious of scams.

For further queries or suggestions, please share them in the comments section.