When it comes to recovering lost or deleted videos, having the right app can make all the difference. With so many options available, how do you know which one is the best for getting back your precious memories? We’ve taken a close look at the top video recovery apps to help you decide which one fits your needs.
What causes videos to be deleted or lost?
Before diving into the apps, it’s helpful to understand what causes videos to be missing in the first place. Here are some of the most common reasons videos vanish from devices:
- Accidental deletion – This is one of the top reasons videos go missing. It’s easy to accidentally delete a video while cleaning out your camera roll.
- Hardware failure – Issues with the storage device itself, like SD card corruption or phone damage, can cause data loss.
- Software bugs – Glitches in the operating system can sometimes lead to deleted files.
- Factory reset – Performing a factory reset on your device will wipe all data, including videos.
- System crash – If a phone crashes and won’t reboot properly, data loss can occur.
- Intentional deletion – Some viruses or malware will intentionally delete videos and other files.
Knowing what caused the missing videos can help narrow down which recovery app will be most effective.
Factors to consider when choosing a video recovery app
With the sheer number of data recovery apps available, it helps to focus on a few key factors when evaluating which one to use:
- Compatible device types – Make sure the app works with your specific phone, tablet, computer, or storage device.
- Types of videos supported – The best apps can recover multiple video formats like MOV, MP4, MKV, AVI, etc.
- Success rate – Look for recovery apps that have a high success rate for undeleting videos.
- Ease of use – The app should make it simple to scan for and restore deleted videos.
- Speed – Fast scan and recovery times means getting your videos back quicker.
- Customer support – In case issues arise, you want access to customer service for troubleshooting.
- Price – Paid apps offer better features, but free versions may suffice for basic needs.
Keeping these factors in mind will help you zero in on the right app for your situation.
5 best video recovery apps
Based on expert testing and reviews from users, here are 5 top apps for recovering deleted or lost videos from iPhone, Android, PC, Mac, and various storage devices:
1. Disk Drill
Disk Drill tops our list as the most powerful and feature-filled video recovery app. Key highlights include:
- Recovers 200+ file types from all major OS platforms
- Scans internal and external drives for deleted videos
- Easy to use interface for beginners
- Powerful advanced scanning features for experts
- Previews found videos before recovery
- Retains original video quality and metadata
Disk Drill is free to download and scan with for finding lost videos. You can preview and restore up to 500MB of data before upgrading to the Pro version ($89) to recover videos without limits.
2. Recoverit
Developed by Wondershare, Recoverit makes video recovery straightforward with these features:
- Recovers videos from hard drives, drones, cameras, SD cards and 95% of devices
- Advanced video recovery algorithm for high success rate
- Fast scan times and easy file preview
- Retains original quality for recovered videos
- 24/7 technical support via email, live-chat and phone
Recoverit costs $79.95 for a 1-year plan. A free trial is available to preview recoverable videos before purchasing.
3. Stellar Data Recovery
Known for its stellar reputation, this app shines with:
- Video recovery for all operating systems and devices
- Recovers from crashes, corruption & accidental deletion
- Preview videos before recovering
- Available as both free and paid versions
- Restores videos in original format
Stellar Data Recovery has a free edition for basic scanning and recovery needs. The Professional version ($79.99) unlocks unlimited file recovery.
4. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
Trusted by over 5 million users, highlights of this wizardly app include:
- Recovers videos from deletion, system crash, virus attack, etc.
- Thorough scan algorithm precisely locates lost video files
- Video preview allows checking videos before recovery
- Retains all metadata for recovered videos
- Free trial version available
The free trial allows previewing recoverable videos. For full recovery, pricing starts at $69.95 for the Pro version.
5. Remo Recover
Finally, this recovery warrior impressives with:
- Recovers videos from hard drives, drones, cameras, SD cards and 95% of devices
- Scans storage media sector-by-sector for in-depth video recovery
- Previews found video files before recovery
- Saves recovered videos in their original format
- Free basic version available
Remo Recover is free for basic scanning functions. For unlimited recovery, the Pro version costs $39.97.
Key features of the best recovery apps
Now that we’ve highlighted some top-rated options, let’s dive deeper into the key features and capabilities ideal video recovery apps have:
Broad device and format compatibility
Top apps allow recovering videos from all major operating systems (Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux) and types of devices like drones, cameras, SD cards, USB drives, etc. They can recover videos in formats like MP4, MOV, AVI, ASF, FLV, MKV, 3GP, etc.
Advanced scanning algorithms
The best recovery apps use intelligent scanning algorithms to thoroughly search every sector of a storage device to precisely pinpoint the location of deleted video files for the highest chance of retrieval.
Original video quality preservation
After recovery, the restored videos retain their original quality, resolution and metadata (date created, length, frame rate, etc.) for seamlessly viewing the files again.
Preview function
This allows you to view and check short previews of recoverable video files before restoring them. You can ensure the content is intact before spending time recovering a file.
Easy, step-by-step process
Reputable apps make the recovery process simple for beginners and experts alike. Clear workflows walk you through selecting a drive, scanning, previewing and recovering with just a few clicks.
Technical support
In case any issues pop up, the best software brands offer technical support via phone, email, live chat, FAQs and user forums. This gives you help resolving problems quickly.
Free trial versions
Many top apps offer free trial versions for downloading and previewing recoverable files. This lets you test out the software before purchasing the full version to complete the recovery.
Video recovery success rates
Recovery success depends on the app’s capabilities, but also timing and the cause of video loss. Here are typical video recovery rates:
| Scenario | Success Rate |
|---|---|
| Recovering recently deleted videos | 95%+ |
| Videos lost due to accidental format | 92% |
| Hard drive file system corruption | 87% |
| Recovering old deleted videos | 67% |
As you can see, the sooner you scan after video loss, and the less complex the cause, the better your chances. But with the right software, even lower success-rate scenarios can retrieve videos in many cases.
Tips for successful video recovery
Beyond choosing a robust app, there are tips you can follow to boost your recovery success:
- Stop using the device – After deleting videos or noticing loss, stop saving new data to that device to avoid overwriting the missing files.
- Scan sooner than later – Run the video recovery app as soon as possible to achieve greater success rates.
- Have patience during scans – Deep scans can take hours, so avoid interrupting the process for best results.
- Save recovered videos elsewhere – When restoring videos, save them to a different drive than they were deleted from.
- Try multiple apps – If one program can’t find your videos, try a different one for more scan algorithms.
FAQs about video recovery apps
Can you recover permanently deleted videos?
Yes, even permanently deleted videos can often be recovered using data recovery software. As long as the files are not overwritten by new data, recovery apps can locate video remnants and restore them fully.
How long does video recovery take?
Scan times range from 5 minutes for quick scans up to several hours for deep, thorough scans. Larger storage devices take longer to scan fully. Recovery is much faster, typically just minutes to save the restored video files.
Will recovered videos be corrupted?
As long as a reputable recovery app is used, the restored videos retain their original quality and are viewable. However, some data loss can very occasionally affect small portions of recovered video content.
Can you recover videos after a factory reset?
It is possible to recover videos even after a factory reset, as long as no new data has overwritten where the deleted files existed. However, factory resets can severely lower recovery success rates.
Are recovered videos exactly the same?
Yes, with the right recovery app, restored videos are 100% identical to the lost/deleted files. They maintain their original resolution, format, size, metadata and timestamps.
Conclusion
Recovering lost and deleted videos comes down to using a robust, dedicated data recovery app designed to precisely locate video files. Software like Disk Drill, Recoverit, Stellar, EaseUS and Remo offer excellent algorithms for retrieving videos from all devices and drives quickly and safely.
Choosing an app that scans thoroughly, retains original quality, previews files, and has technical support will give you the best chance of getting back those precious memories and moments. With the right app, say goodbye to lost videos!
