How to Recover Deleted Videos from SD Card [3 Free Ways]

If you are a YouTuber, or just keen on taking videos for the purpose of recording your life or something else, chances are you use an SD card to save those recording on your pro-level cameras, action cameras (like a GoPro), and so on.

However, there are a number of causes can make things go wrong. It is vitally frustrating that you accidentally deleted one or more precious videos from an SD card. Then, you may wonder whether you can or how to recover deleted videos from SD card? Keep reading this guide which will help you recover deleted videos from SD card free through 3 effective methods (with or without software).

Can you recover deleted videos from SD card?

Yes, you can recover deleted files from SD card with ease as long as you stop using the SD card immediately and make sure you haven’t save new photos and videos after deletion. Then, remove the SD card from your camera, and try to get deleted videos back with one of the three ways introduced below.

Concise guide: How to recover deleted videos from SD card quickly?

• Choose and install a reliable data recovery software.
• Remove the SD card from your device and insert it into your PC.
• Start scan to search all deleted videos from SD card.
• Filter and preview the found files.
• Recover your SD card videos.

How to recover deleted videos from SD card with software

If you are looking for a simple way to recover deleted videos from SD card, professional data recovery software - MyRecover is highly recommended.

👍 It allows you to recover videos in almost all file format like MPEG/MPG/MP4, MOV, AVI/NAVI, ASF, WMV, FLV, etc. as well as images, documents, and other 1000+ types of files. 👍 Besides SD card, you can also rely on it to recover deleted files from ecternal hard drive, USB, SSD, HDD, and other storage devices in Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server. 👍 MyRecover helps full scan and filter all deleted or lost files from your SD card. And you can choose to recover the wanted files with a few simple clicks.

🔥 MyRecover Free allows you to recover up to 500 MB of data at no cost. Click the button below to free download MyRecover on your computer and see how to recover deleted videos from SD card for free.

Step 1. Insert your SD card to computer > Launch MyRecover > hover the mouse over your SD card > Click Scan to continue.

Step 2. All the lost files will be automatically detected and listed in different folder, you can open each folder to have a preview during the scanning.

🔎 Warm tip: You can also head to the search bar on the upper-right corner to find the lost or deleted videos based on their name, Type, Data Modified and Size.

Step 3. When you get all the files you want to recover, select them and click Restore files, then choose a storage location to save the recovered videos.

How to recover deleted videos from SD card without software

How to recover deleted videos from SD card without software? Using the built-in Windows command lines can help you retrieve deleted videos from SD card free. They’re kind of complicated but workable.

Way 1. Restore deleted videos from SD card via attrib CMD

If you haven’t manually deleted videos but they are disappeared from SD card suddenly, it may be hidden rather than deleted. You can make use of inbuilt Windows CMD (Command Prompt) to get it back to normal. If you are familiar with the command line, you can try this way to retrieve deleted files from SD card using CMD.

Step 1. Insert the SD card into computer with compatible cable > type cmd in the search box > Choose Command Prompt > Click Run as administrator.

Step 2. Type the command in the window: attrib -h -r -s /s /d/ X:\*.* (Replace X with the letter of your SD card) > Hit the Enter key to continue.

Way 2. Recover deleted videos from SD card by Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery is Microsoft’s official data recovery tool, a command-line software for recovering deleted files from your device. The same as CMD, it is a powerful command-line tool for recovering files from SD card and other storage media. For more details, please check out our guide on how to use Windows File Recovery.

Before the recovery process, you need to check the file system of your SD card. Insert your SD card into computer > Click on This PC > Locate and right-click on the SD card > Select Properties to view it in the File System section.

Now, follow the steps below to know how to recover deleted videos from SD card on PC with Windows File Recovery.

Step 1. Search for Windows File Recovery in the Microsoft Store and click Get to install it on your PC.

Step 2. Search for the program in the Windows search box, and click it > Click Run as administrator.

Step 3. Choose a suitable mode to recover your MP4 files based on the File System you just check.

File system	Circumstances	Recommended mode
NTFS	Deleted recently	Default
NTFS	Deleted a while ago	Segment, followed by Signature
NTFS	After formatting a disk	Segment, followed by Signature
NTFS	A corrupted disk	Segment, followed by Signature
FAT and exFAT	Any	Extensive

Step 4. Follow the prompts to enter the correct command line, such as winfr D: E: extensive /n *paper* > Click Y to continue.

Switches	Definition	Supported mode(s)
/n	Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc.	All
/y:	Recover specific extension groups.	Signature
/k	Recovers system files.	NTFS Segment​​​​​
/u	Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin.	NTFS Segment

Note: The destination drive of the recovered videos should not be your SD card. You can save the recovered videos to anywhere else and move them to the SD card later.

How to Prevent Future Video Loss on SD Cards

Keeping your videos safe from loss is just as important as knowing how to get them back. Here are some simple steps to help you avoid losing valuable footage:

1. Regular Backups: Back up your SD card often. Use an external hard drive or cloud storage (like Google Drive or Dropbox) so you have extra copies. Or, using free backup software like AOMEI Backupper Standard to create a copy of your files automatically.

1. Safe Removal: Always eject your SD card properly from devices. Pulling it out suddenly can cause data loss.
2. Use Reliable Cards: Buy good-quality SD cards from trusted brands. Cheaper cards can fail more easily.
3. Protect Your Cards: Store SD cards in a case when not in use. Keep them away from extreme temperatures, moisture, and magnets to avoid damage.
4. Don’t Overfill: Keep some space free on your SD card. Filling it to the limit increases the risk of losing data.
5. Use Write-Protection: If your SD card has a write-protection switch, use it when the card isn’t in use to prevent accidental deletions.
6. Scan for Errors: Regularly check your SD card for errors with your computer’s tools. Fixing errors early can help prevent data loss.

Conclusion

Hope you have a clear idea about how to recover deleted videos from SD card now. If you don’t want to run command-line with complex parameters to restore your files, you can use MyRecover, a professional SD card video recovery tool, to assist you. If this guide helps you, please share it to help more people.

FAQs on SD card video recovery

1. What happens when you delete something from SD card?

When you delete a file from an SD card, the space it occupied is marked as available for new data, but the original file isn't immediately erased. This means the file can still be recovered until that space is overwritten, which poses a security risk.

2. Can you recover deleted videos from a formatted SD card?

Yes, you can recover deleted videos from a formatted SD card. However, success depends on whether the deleted videos have been overwritten by new data. It’s crucial to stop using the SD card immediately to increase your chances of recovery.

3. How to restore deleted videos from SD card on Android?

• Check the Trash or Recycle Bin: Some gallery apps have a trash feature where deleted items are stored temporarily.
• Use Recovery Software: Download an Android data recovery app and follow its instructions to scan for and recover deleted videos.

4. How to recover deleted files from SD card on Mac?

Use Time Machine: If you back up your Mac with Time Machine, check if you can restore from a previous backup.