6 Quick & Easy Ways to Recover Deleted Videos on Your iPhone

PDF download Download Article
Delete a video by accident? Here’s how to get it back
PDF download Download Article

Have you ever gone to find a video on your iPhone and realized you deleted it? This can be a frustrating and worrying thing to deal with, especially if the video is important. While recovering a deleted file can be difficult, we've gathered 6 simple methods to get your deleted video back.

Ways to Get Deleted iPhone Videos Back

First, check your Recently Deleted and Hidden albums in your Photos app. If you don't see your video there, try checking iCloud to see if your phone uploaded the video during a recent sync. Otherwise, you can try checking your social media, texts, or emails if you sent the video to someone else or posted it online.

1

Check Recently Deleted Files

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0f\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0f\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you delete a photo or video, it's not deleted permanently right away. Deleted photos and videos are sent to your "Recently Deleted" album and kept there for 30 days in case you decide you don't want to delete the item or did so accidentally.
    • Simply go to your Photos app, scroll to the bottom, and select Recently Deleted . Opening this album requires Face ID or Touch ID. Any video you've deleted in the last 30 days will appear here.
    • You can also check your recently deleted items on iCloud by going to the Recently Deleted album in the sidebar. [1]
    2. Advertisement
2

Check for Hidden Files

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can mark photos and videos in your Photos app as "hidden," which will send them to the "Hidden" album. While this is a great way to keep certain files secret on your phone, you may forget you saved something to that location and assume you deleted it instead.
    • Open the Photos app and scroll all the way to the bottom. The Hidden album is the second to last item and requires Face ID or Touch ID to open.
3

Check iCloud

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If your video is permanently deleted, you may have saved it to your iCloud, especially if you had iCloud photos turned on in the past. [2]
    • Go to your iCloud account and log in, then check your albums to see if your video was saved. If it is, you can download or save the video again.
    2. Advertisement
4

Check Social Media or Messages

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f5\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f5\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you sent a copy of the video to someone or posted it on social media, you can restore it by downloading or saving the file again. Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube all allow you to upload videos. You may have posted the video as an Instagram reel or sent it through a messaging app like Discord.
    • If you posted your video to a social media account you can't access anymore, you can save the video by using a video downloader . Note that if you use a video downloader to save videos you didn't create, you can get in trouble for copyright violation or theft.
5

Restore from a Backup

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fb\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fb\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you regularly make backups of your phone's data, an old backup may have the video saved on it. You can use either an iCloud or iTunes backup, but only attempt this method if you're certain the video is saved in an old backup, as this method can lead to data loss.
    • Before you attempt to restore an old backup, make a new backup of your phone that you can go back to if you have data on your phone you don't want to lose. After you recover the old video, upload it to Google Drive or send it to your email before you go back to your most current backup.
    2. Advertisement
6

Go to a Data Recovery Service

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Recover-Deleted-Videos-from-iPhone-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Data recovery services have the tools and knowledge on how to get into a hard drive and recover deleted memory. However, because this process is difficult, recovering data may cost you a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. [3] This may not be a feasible method if you're looking to recover one or two lost videos, but if you lost an important video or a big chunk of your data, it may be worth looking into.
    • Not every data recovery service will service iPhones. Search "data recovery service near me" in a search engine to find local companies that can help you get your data back.

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Where can I save excess photos if I don't have space for them anymore?
    Andrea Enger
    Photographer
    Andrea Enger is a Photographer based in Colorado. Andrea is an Elopement Photographer with nearly a decade of experience, who has photographed hundreds of weddings. She is a premier adventure elopement photographer, focusing on the American Southwest, South America, and Spanish-speaking countries. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including: ABC News, Reuters, Colorado Wedding Magazine, World’s Best Wedding Photos 2024, Zion Brides, Rangefinder, Wandering Weddings, Here Comes the Guide, The Budget Savvy Bride and Revista Chilena Si Acepto.
    Andrea Enger
    Photographer
    Expert Answer
    If your device doesn't have enough space for your photos, you can save them on an SD card or a USB drive to free up some space. You can also use free online cloud services like Google Photos or iCloud to sync and store your photos. Using the cloud is also more convenient since you can access your photos as long as you have internet access.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • Avoid programs that promise to recover your data. These programs are spammy at best, and could try to scam you out of money. Only download and use programs you trust, and look up unbiased reviews written by actual users of any program before you try it out.
        Thanks
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to Move Files from Android to PC without USB Cables
      8 Ways to Restore Deleted Files on Windows & Mac
      How to
      Recover Deleted History from Your Browser
      How to
      Recover a Dead Hard Disk
      How Do I Reset My Android Without Losing Data? A Guide to Backing Up Your Android
      How to
      Recover Deleted History in Windows
      How to
      Recover Typed Text in Chrome on PC or Mac
      How to
      Recover Deleted Voicemail Messages on Android
      Does a Samsung Factory Reset Delete Everything?
      How to
      Recover Deleted Messages from Sim Card
      How to
      Create a Recovery Disk
      How to
      Recover Pictures from SD Card
      2 Simple Ways to Recover and Undo a Cropped Photo
      How to
      Transfer Notes from Huawei to iPhone
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about digital photography, check out our in-depth interview with Andrea Enger .

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/delete-and-recover-photos-and-videos-mm08b49040b5/icloud
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204264
      3. ↑ https://www.provendata.com/blog/data-recovery-cost-rates-fees/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 5,775 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement