How to retrieve deleted videos from micro SD cards? Check this article and recover deleted videos from SD cards in a breeze.
Videos usually size very largely, so many users tend to store their downloaded video files on their portable storage devices like SD cards.
It offers convenience for users to manage and organize their videos, but when they delete some large video files to free up some space, they will find no going back.
I just did the unthinkable. I accidentally deleted all files from my SD card. I didn't format it but just deleted it. I had a whole day of videos on there. I know there are ways but are video files recoverable?
- Question from DPREVIEW
It is confusing and frustrating to find that the deleted files are not in the Recycle Bin, and there are no straightforward ways to restore them. But don’t worry; this tutorial will cover you and offer help on how to recover deleted videos from SD cards.
This section outlines the quick way to perform SD card video recovery. Here are the steps you need to do.
If you still need a detailed guide on how to retrieve deleted videos from micro SD cards, check the following steps. We will introduce one excellent SD card recovery software and some other methods.
This part offers several methods with detailed steps, notes, and introductions.
Data recovery from external storage devices like SD cards is a challenging task. Some users might think of in-lab data recovery services charging you extremely high, while others may turn to commands.
However, these two are not the most cost-efficient and easy means. Instead, users need a more user-friendly one that facilitates them to achieve SD card video recovery in simple steps.
MyRecover is a cut above the seas of the data recovery tools for Windows. With a visually pleasing user interface and a simple guide, it assists all users to restore deleted and lost files effortlessly.
Its free version allows users to select 30 MB of files to restore for free each time. You could also upgrade MyRecover to pro/tech for unlimited data recovery.
Step 1. Install and run the software > connect the SD card to your PC properly > hover the mouse over the micro SD card saved deleted files before, and click Scan.
Step 2. Target the video files using filters like Type, Size, Date modified, etc.
Step 3. Go to Deleted files or Other missing files > Videos > select the videos > click Recover x files.
You could also restore accidentally deleted photos from SD cards using this app.
Windows File Recovery is a utility without a graphical user interface that can restore deleted and lost files from internal or external healthy/corrupted/formatted hard drives.
To perform SD card video recovery, this app can provide some help.
This tool uses commands to search for data, and the included parameters are recovery mode, switch, wild card, etc.
This tool is hard for ordinary users to handle due to the complex commands and absence of GUI; to learn how to use Windows File Recovery, let’s start with the recovery mode.
The recovery mode to choose depends on the drive’s File System and the data loss situation.
Connect your SD card carefully to the computer > This PC > right-click the SD card drive > Properties. See what File System the SD card is using.
Switches are to help you narrow and target the file faster, often used with a wildcard “*”.
Then please follow the simple guide below to recover deleted videos from SD cards.
Step 1. Choose an appropriate recovery mode. Extensive mode is suggested for a non-NTFS drive.
| File system | Scenarios | mode |
| NTFS | Deleted recently | Regular |
| NTFS | Deleted for a while | Extensive |
| NTFS | Formatted disk | Extensive |
| NTFS | corrupted disk | Extensive |
| FAT and exFAT | Any | Extensive |
Step 2. Target your wanted files with switches.
| Switches | Meaning | Supported mode(s) |
| /n | Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc. | All |
| /y: | Recovers specific extension groups. | Signature |
| /k | Recovers system files. | NTFS Segmentโโโโโ |
| /segment | Segment mode; recovers files under NTFS drives using file record segments. | Segment |
| /signature | Signature mode; recovers files under all file system types using file headers. | Signature |
| /u | Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin. | NTFS Segment |
Step 3. Go to Microsoft Store > click Get and install.
Step 4. Come to the interface > input the command.
Command format: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
To restore deleted video files, refer to this example:
winfr F: D: /extensive /n *.mp4
Tap “y” and the program will start to scan and recover all the mp4 files from the F: drive to the D: drive using extensive mode.
During the process, if meet any errors or problems, refer to the Windows File Recovery tutorial to fix them.
To know how to retrieve deleted videos from micro SD cards, this article would be of some help with detailed info prepared.
Check the Q&A below if needed.
Several symptoms could be found. Generally, you may be prompted with error messages and some obvious problems. Readwrite error. It might say “Cannot read this SD card”, “A readwrite error occurred on your SD card. If this continues, format your SD card or replace it.”, etc. Files missing. Viruses might delete, modify, corrupt, or encrypt your SD card files. Unable to recognize. When plugged in, the SD card cannot be recognized by the computer. To perform a corrupted SD card recovery, check the tutorial.
If you found that the SD card deleting files by itself, the most possible reasons might be a virus, corruption, and improper ejection. As mentioned above, viruses might delete your files maliciously; corruption leads to data loss; and also, an abrupt ejection of an SD card without “Safe to Remove Hardware” will be harmful and dangerous as well.
Professional Windows data backup software will be preferable. AOMEI Backupper would be helpful. You can use it to perform a Disk Backup and all the data in the good sectors would be backed up. Thus the backup file won't be affected by the bad sectors and the corrupted data.
Actually, SD cards are comparable to other external storage media in that deleted items skip the Recycle Bin and are erased immediately, making it difficult for users to retrieve deleted data from the Recycle Bin. Why? Simply put, it has something to do with the deletion itself. When a file deletion is executed, the file itself will stay where it was, but instead, the pointer (the access to the file) will be wiped. Then you will lose access to the data you deleted. The remaining data will stay there until new items are added to occupy the space, which is called overwriting, and thus, the deleted file will be genuinely removed. This is also why all experts suggest no further operations on the affected drive after deletion.