Data Recovery ProDeleted MP4, MOV, AVCHD and other common video files can often be recovered, especially short clips and any clip deleted while the file table is intact. Long clips recovered after a format sometimes come back partly damaged.
A video is one large file, and on a card it is often stored in several pieces. While the file table is intact, the quick scan knows where every piece is. After a format, the deep scan finds the start of each video file and follows it as far as it can, which works well for short clips and less well for long ones.
What to expect
| What happened | Chance |
|---|---|
| Clips deleted, file table intact | High with names |
| Short clips after a format | Good |
| Long clips after a format | Varies often partly damaged |
| Card recorded over since | Low |
The ratings are a rough guide. We haven't measured recovery rates.
Recover them in four steps
- Stop using the card or driveDon't take more photos, copy files to it or format it. Every new file can overwrite one you want back.
- Connect it to your computer and open Data Recovery ProUse a card slot or a USB reader. If your computer offers to format or initialise the card, click Cancel or Ignore. Data Recovery Pro asks for permission so it can read the card directly.
- Scan and previewThe quick scan takes seconds; the deep scan reads every block. Files appear as they are found, each marked intact, partly damaged or not checked, so you see what can be recovered before you decide.
- Recover to your computerChoose the files you want and save them to a folder on your computer or another drive, never back to the card. You only pay if you choose to recover more than the free allowance.
How videos are checked
Photos are fully decoded before they are marked intact. Videos get a structure check only: a clip whose structure is broken is marked partly damaged, and one that passes is shown as not checked rather than intact. Play each recovered clip to be sure. If a recovered video won't play.
Questions
Which video formats are found after a format?
MP4, MOV, M4V and 3GP, AVCHD and MPEG-TS (.mts, .m2ts, .ts), MKV, WebM, AVI, WMV, FLV and MPEG (.mpg, .vob). Insta360 .insv, BRAW, R3D and MXF clips come back only by name, while the file table still lists them.
Will a partly damaged video play?
Often, up to the damaged part. Some players, such as VLC, cope better with damaged clips than others.
Will every file come back perfectly?
Most come back exactly as they were, but no one can promise every file. If part of a file was overwritten, Data Recovery Pro recovers what is left and marks it partly damaged. It doesn't repair files. Anything fully overwritten can't be recovered by any software.