Accidentally deleted some important videos from my iPhone and unfortunately, they are not in the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder. I really need to get them back for a project. Does anyone know if there’s a method or software that can help with this? Any advice on what I can do next would be greatly appreciated!
Oh man, that’s a tough situation! If your videos are not in the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder, they might seem lost forever but there are still some steps you can take. Here are a few things you can try:
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Check your iCloud: If you had iCloud backup enabled, your videos might be saved there. You can go to the iCloud website or app and see if you can locate them. Also, try going to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. You can restore from the most recent backup. Be careful though, as restoring from a backup will replace the current content on your phone with the content from the backup date.
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iTunes backup: If you regularly synced your iPhone with iTunes on your computer, there might be a backup. Connect your iPhone to the computer, open iTunes, and select your iPhone. From there, you can restore your iPhone from an iTunes backup which might still have those videos.
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Third-Party Software: Sometimes, third-party data recovery tools can help retrieve files that seem lost forever. Disk Drill
is a popular option that you might want to look into. You can find more about it here: Disk Drill. It’s pretty reputable and might be able to scan your device for recoverable files, including those videos.
If you decide to go with a software like Disk Drill, the process usually involves downloading the software on your computer, connecting your iPhone, and letting the program scan for recoverable data. Disk Drill is easy to use, with a simple interface that guides you through the scanning and recovery process.
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Contact Apple Support: In some cases, Apple Support might be able to offer additional methods to recover your data. They might suggest more advanced options or tools that aren’t commonly known.
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Consult a professional data recovery service: If the videos are extremely important, and you weren’t able to recover them using the above methods, you can consult a professional data recovery service. These services can be expensive, but they have specialized equipment and expertise that might recover your data.
Finally, going forward, always make sure to regularly back up your important data. Both iCloud and iTunes provide ways to ensure you don’t lose your important memories and files again.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
Hey there! Just seen @codecrafter’s response, and they covered quite a lot already. I just wanted to throw in some additional perspectives and a few other options you might find useful.
Okay, if your videos aren’t in the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder and you don’t have an iCloud or iTunes backup, things look a bit grim, but not all hope is lost. Third-party software, like @codecrafter mentioned, could be your best shot, but there are a few things to be aware of.
Third-Party Recovery Tools:
Disk Drill is mentioned a lot because it’s effective and has a user-friendly interface. However, recovery success can be hit or miss and partly depends on how the videos were deleted and how much you’ve used your phone since then—so keep your expectations realistic. One downside with Disk Drill is that the free version is limited. You might have to shell out some money to unlock full recovery features, which can be frustrating if it turns out not to work.
Other third-party tools you might want to consider include:
- Dr. Fone: It’s got a good reputation and is often praised for its simplicity.
- EaseUS MobiSaver: Another solid choice that provides good results often.
Both have pros and cons like cost and the fact they might not work in every scenario.
Storage Overwrite Risk:
Keep in mind that continuing to use your iPhone can overwrite the deleted data, making recovery way harder. So the sooner you act, the better the chances of success.
Restore from Backup Without Losing Data:
This is a little trick I’ve learned—if restoring from iCloud or iTunes means losing recent data you can’t afford to lose, you can try this:
- Backup your current state onto iCloud/iTunes.
- Restore from the old backup.
- Retrieve the videos.
- Then restore back from the new backup to get your current data back.
This way, you minimize loss and hassle.
Professional Data Recovery Services:
Although expensive, professional services don’t always mean certain recovery. They often use similar software tools but have specialized methods and tools which can recover data when typical software fails. But, unless the videos are worth the investment, be cautious about the cost-benefit ratio here.
Contacting Apple Support:
Not gonna lie, in my experience, Apple Support generally won’t dive as deep as third-party solutions or professional services. They might guide you on backups, but for deleted files, they’re limited in scope.
Future Tips:
Backup consistency can save a ton of headaches. Setting up automated iCloud backups can help, but remember to also periodically save important files on a computer or external storage.
Definitely cracks me up how many people still overlook the significance of regular backups. When in doubt, shovel more backups into the cloud, you know what I mean?
All in all, Disk Drill and alternatives are your best bet here. Just weigh the costs and risks before committing, but don’t lose hope just yet—data retrieval often surprises!
And remember, measure twice, cut once. Or in this case, back up twice, delete never… Happy recovering and best of luck!
Phew, typing this on a phone almost always robs me of my autocorrect skills, so excuse any typos!
Hey everyone, just thought I’d chime in here with some additional thoughts. I’ve been down this rabbit hole before, and while I agree with the others on solutions like Disk Drill and Dr. Fone, there are a few nuances to consider.
First, let’s dive into the nature of deleted files. When you delete something, it’s not always gone forever. The storage space is just marked as available for new data. That means it’s crucial to stop using your iPhone immediately to avoid overwriting the spot where your videos were stored.
Some Alternatives for Data Recovery:
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iCloud Drive or Other Cloud Services:
While regular iCloud backups are often suggested, sometimes your files might have been inadvertently saved to iCloud Drive or another cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Check these places; you’d be surprised how often people overlook the obvious. -
Google Photos:
If you had Google Photos installed and turned on, your videos might be there. Google Photos provides what can be a lifesaver as it automatically backs up your photos and videos, often in high quality. -
AirDrop or Messages:
Believe it or not, if you’ve been sharing these videos with friends or colleagues, they might still exist somewhere in your shared history. Try checking your messages or AirDrop history, especially in the Files app if you’ve previously accepted shared files there.
Third-Party Apps - Extended Take:
You mentioned Disk Drill (find more info here: Disk Drill Data Recovery Software which is indeed excellent, but a few caveats:
- iOS Updates: Apple’s iOS updates can affect how well these tools perform. Sometimes, Apple tightens security, making it harder for third parties to access the file system.
- Success Rates: Tools like Disk Drill, EaseUS MobiSaver, and Dr. Fone have varying success rates. Honestly, I feel that data recovery stories tend to swing between complete fails and minor miracles—so temper your expectations.
Consider an Indirect Recovery Route:
You could try using device backups to indirectly recover the videos:
- Borrow Another iPhone: If getting an old backup without losing current data is key, use another iPhone. Restore the older backup on this second device. Extract the videos, and then transfer them to your current phone.
- Virtual Machine: Create a separate environment on your PC like a virtual machine. Restore the iPhone to this virtual space using old backups and sift through it for your missing videos.
In-Between Software Tools:
Look into tools like iMazing. It allows transfers between your iPhone and computer and might manage to dig into more obscure data that’s not readily accessible otherwise.
Professional Services - The Real Deal?:
Though everyone seems to push for them as a last resort, professional data recovery services can be a mixed bag. Often, they utilize similar algorithms to the DIY software. The real advantage lies in handling physical data issues—not soft-delete scenarios.
Additional Tidbits:
- Old Computers: If you used to sync your iPhone with any old computers, it’s worth booting them up to check for potential backup files.
- NAS Devices: For the slightly more tech-savvy, if you had a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system or used Time Machine backups, explore them too.
Future-Proofing Your Data:
I know hindsight is 20/20, but this is a good time to consider expansive backup strategies. Use multiple redundant storage options—yes, I mean iCloud + Google Photos + an external Hard Drive + possibly NAS. It sounds overkill until it saves your skin.
Finally, agree with @codecrafter: Nothing beats proactive backups. It’s easier than ever with automated options. Seriously, first thing tomorrow, set these automated backups up if you haven’t already.
Alright, everyone, good luck. Hope you can rescue those precious videos!