How to Recover Deleted MOV Files from SD card? Free Ways

Lost important MOV videos on your computer? Don’t worry! We will provide 2 free solutions to help you recover deleted MOV files as well as some preventive measures.

By @Penny Last Updated December 11, 2024

Help! Can you recover deleted MOV files from SD card?

   
   
   
       

Hi! One of my friends deleted the video files of wedding speeches from her SD Card by accident. And this SD card is on her computer. She’s wondering how to recover them freely. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

       

- A user from Overclockers  

There’s no denying whether an accidental deletion or intentional deletion could lead to data loss. Undoubtedly, users can recover deleted MOV files from SD cards with feasible tools for SD card recovery. Let’s have a closer look at MOV files first. 

Saved in QuickTime File Format (QTFF), the MOV is a multimedia file that stores video and audio. MOV is popular among both macOS and Windows users. Many Windows and Mac users do not back up MOV files on external hard drives.

Is it possible to recover deleted MOV files? Of course you can. In this guide, you can recover lost or deleted MOV video files as quickly as possible through 2 free methods.

How to recover deleted MOV files from SD card?

So how to recover deleted MOV files from SD card? This article offers you 2 feasible solutions. Thus, you’re supposed to look through all the content, then make a thoughtful choice.

Way 1. Recover deleted MOV files with video recovery software

When you encounter MOV video deletion on any storage device, choosing reliable and user-friendly  data recovery software MyRecover is a wise choice. It can not only recover deleted MOV files, but also recover files lost due to disk formatting, computer virus attack or partition loss. It can keep the same format for the deleted and lost files and retain their original file names for the deleted data. 

Support over 1000 file types: Recover photos, audios, videos, Word documents, Excel files, and more from USB flash drives.

Locate files quickly: Search, filter specific files or folders, and preview them to make sure you’ve selected the right files for recovery. 

Supporta wide range of storage devices: Recover deleted files from USB, SD card, HDD, SSD, external hard drive, and other storage devices.

Wide compability: It supports NFTS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS inWindows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server.

🔥 Bonus: MyRecover is free for up to 500MB of data. Download it on your Windows PC to easily recover deleted MOV files from SD cards! 

Download SoftwareWin 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Step 1.  Install and run MyRecover on your PC. Then connect your SD card to the PC.  Hover the mouse over the SD card and click Scan.

Step 2. After scanning, you'll see all the deleted files and other lost files on the window.

🌟Tip: Preview or filter your needed AVI videos according to Document Type, Name, Date, Path, or Size.
  • Name:Type the filenames of your desired files to narrow the search area.
  • Date modified:Set the date (today, yesterday, last 7/30 days, etc.)
  • Size:Filter the file size (<128KB, 128KB~1MB, 1MB~ 512MB, etc.)

Step 3. Confirm your scanning results and click "Recover x files". Then save these recovered MOV files in a new location. 

Way 2. Recover deleted MOV files with Windows File Recovery

How to recover deleted videos from SD card without software? Released in 2020, Windows File Recovery is a command-line utility to recover the deleted files from HDD, USB flash drives, and memory cards such as the SD card. At present, this data recovery software only can work with Windows 10 and later versions from the Microsoft Store.

🌟Tip: To learn more details about Windows File Recovery, you can check out this guide on how to use Windows File Recovery.

There’re four modes (Extensive, Regular, Segment, and Signature) supporting different file systems (NTFS, non-NTFS, FAT, ex-FAT, and REFS). The first two modes (basic modes) could deserve your attention.

Parameter / switch  

Description

Supported mode(s)

/regular

Regular mode, the standard recovery option for non-corrupted NTFS drives

Regular

/extensive

Extensive mode, a thorough recovery option suitable for all file systems

Extensive

Practice proves that entering the correct command prompt is the most confusing step. Because many users are not sure how to resemble command lines or are reluctant to use CMD for SD card recovery. Let’s show how it works with explicit instructions.   

Notes:✎...
Stop using your PC or reduce your computer usage if you’ve found MOV files were gone. Because any use of the computer might overwrite the “free” space on your PC.  
Ensure your source drive (locate where are your MOV files before deletion) and destination drive (save your recovered MOV files) are different.
Keep winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches] in mind, then adjust it for corresponding scenarios.
Confirm your file system with these clicks: Click “This PC” and right-click on the drive containing your MOV files before deletion, then click “Properties”.

Step 1. Click “Get” to download after selecting Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store. Then install it on your computer.

Step 2. Enter “Windows File Recovery” in the search box, and click “Run as administrator” to run it.

Step 3. If you’ve figured out your file systems, you can select a recommended mode with the following form.

File system

Circumstances

Recommended mode

NTFS

Deleted recently

Regular

NTFS

Deleted a while ago

Extensive

NTFS

After formatting a disk

Extensive

NTFS

A corrupted disk

Extensive

FAT and exFAT

Any

Extensive

According to this form, Windows File Recovery even enables you to recover files from the formatted hard drives or corrupted disks. Maybe this trick will give you help in the long term.

Step 4. Adjust and resemble your command lines using some switches below.

Switches

Meaning

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

Let’s use the deleted MOV file as an example. You can enter winfr C: E: /regular /n *.MOV in the Command Prompt window.

Step 5. Press “y” to continue, and wait patiently. The size of the disk will influence the recovery process. Then your recovered files will be saved on the E drive. You can also press the “Ctrl + C” button to stop this process.

🤞 Note: Are you bothered by the operating system of WinfrGUI? Or are you trying to save the recovered files with the original directory, file name, and format? In this situation, MyRecover is your best choice.

How to recover deleted MOV files from SD card?

Even with advanced data recovery tools and video repair software, there’s always a chance of unsuccessful recovery or repair. To minimize these risks, it’s essential to take proactive measures to protect your data.

  • Back Up MOV Videos: Regular backups are crucial for preventing permanent file loss. You can use free Windows backup software like AOMEI Backupper Standard to create a copy of your files automatically.

  • Limit Playback: Avoid overplaying videos, as frequent use can lead to corruption.
  • Stable Transfers: Ensure a strong network connection when transferring videos to prevent loss or damage.
  • Safe Removal: Always use the safe removal option when disconnecting external storage devices.
  • Immediate Repairs: If you discover damaged videos, use professional repair software promptly to prevent further issues.
  • Maintain Hardware: Keep your equipment in a dry, dust-free environment and perform regular maintenance.
  • Act on Warning Signs: If you notice signs of hard drive failure, transfer your video files to a new device immediately.

Wrapping up

This tutorial offers you two free tools for SD data recovery. When it comes to recovering deleted files from SD card, you can select one of them. Maybe many users would be more inclined to Windows Data Recovery for Windows. So why have a try and check it by yourself? Does this post resolve your issues?

Download Software Windows 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

FAQs on MOV file recovery

1. How to recover deleted MOV files from SD card?

The best way to recover deleted MOV files from an SD card is to use MyRecover. Deleted video files won’t appear in the Recycle Bin, so a dedicated data recovery tool is necessary.

2. How to recover deleted MOV videos on Mac?

Check the Time Machine backups if you have them set up.

3. How to repair corrupted MOV files?

Use video repair software such as VLC Media Player or dedicated repair tools designed for MOV files.

4. Can you recover video from a formatted SD card?

Yes, it's possible to recover data from formatted SD card, especially if you stop using the card immediately after formatting to avoid overwriting.