How to Recover Deleted Videos from SD Card: 4 Effective Solutions

While SD cards is a reliable and popular storage solution, they are not without problems. In fact, there are several reasons that can lead to file loss on SD cards, such as formatting errors, hardware failures, virus attacks, and more. Among them, accidental deletion is the most common cause of data loss on SD cards. Don’t worry! Here, we will delve into the world of SD card video recovery and walk you through a guide on how to recover deleted videos from an SD card. 

Part 1: Overview of SD Card Video Recovery

Where Do Deleted Videos from Your SD Card Go?

Before discussing SD card video recovery, we will briefly explain what happens when you delete a file from an SD card. Files deleted from your SD card are permanently deleted instead of going to the Recycle Bin. So, you can’t recover deleted/lost videos from an SD card by using the Recycle Bin or the Trash. Does this mean that deleted files are gone forever? No, the actual data of files still remains intact on the SD card, just not visible. Think of it like crossing out a name in a book’s index but the actual page is still there.

Can You Recover Deleted Videos from SD Card?

Yes, as long as the old data hasn’t been overwritten, there’s still a chance to recover deleted videos from an SD card. To increase the chances of a successful recovery, we recommend not writing new data to the SD card. Disconnect it from your computer and handle it carefully until you begin the SD card data recovery. In addition, you don’t need to purchase any data recovery tools or services out of pocket when you have a backup.

Part 2: How to Recover Deleted Videos from SD Card for Free?

The easiest and most effective way to recover deleted videos from an SD card is to use professional data recovery software. There are many reliable recovery tools available in the market, but Tenorshare 4DDiG can be the go-to choice for those on a limited budget. It’s a free, dedicated SD card video recovery tool that covers all common data loss scenarios. Let’s take a closer look at what it can do fo you:

• Recovers deleted, lost, corrupted, or formatted videos from your SD card with an impressive success rate.
• Supports recovery of over 2000 data types, including videos, photos, documents, audio files, etc.
• Straightforward and easy to use, making it accessible even for users who are not technically proficient.
• Allows Windows users to restore 2GB of data for free before committing to a purchase.
• Compatible with various file systems such as FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, ext4, etc.

Here is a guide on how recover videos deleted from an SD card with the help of 4DDiG:

Step 1: Begin with connecting your SD card to the computer via a card reader. Once recognized, download and install the 4DDiG Data Recovery tool. The free version for Windows allows users to recover up to 2 GB of data for free, which is genorous. Launch the program, select the SD card you want to recover and click on “Scan” to proceed.

Step 2: 4DDiG thoroughly scans the selected SD card to find any deleted files. During the scan, the tool may find hundreds or thousands of recoverable files, which can be overwhelming. However, you can quickly locate target files using the Filter feature or the Search option.

Step 3: Once deleted video files are found, 4DDiG allows you to preview them before recovery. If your video files are complete and playable, simply select them and click on the “Recover” button. To avoid data overwriting, don’t save recovered files back to the SD card.

Part 3: How to Recover Deleted Videos from SD Card without Software?

Option A: Undelete Video from SD Card Using CMD

On some occasions, there’s no need to searching for “how to recover deleted videos from SD card” on Google. This is because your video files may be hidden due to virus attacks or file system issues. By entering commands in CMD, you can easily regain access to these invisible files. To so do

Step 1: To launch CMD, perform a right-click on the Start button and select “Command Prompt(Admin).”

Step 2: In CMD, enter chkdsk /f /r X: (replace X with the corresponding letter of your SD card) and execute this command.

Step 3: Once CHKDSK completes, Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d *.* and hit the Enter key.

Step 4: After running the command, check if your video files are now visible in File Explorer.

Option B: Recover Lost Videos from SD card via Shadow Copies

Another method to recover deleted videos from an SD card is by using the Restore Previous Versions feature. This Windows’ built-in backup solution allows you to restore older versions of deleted files with just a few clicks. However, since this tool does not automatically recognize and back up removable devices, you must enable it manually in advance. Here is how to use it:

Step 1: To start, connect the SD card you want to recover to your PC. Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E, locate the SD card, right-click on it, and select “Properties” from the menu.

Step 2: Navigate to the “Previous Versions” tab. Here, you’ll find a list of earlier backup versions of the SD card.

Step 3: Select a earlier version that includes the deleted videos, and click the “Restore” button to Initiate the recovery process.

Option C: Undelete Video from SD Card by Cloud Backup

Compared to traditional backup solutions, many users now prefer using cloud storage to save important files. Yes, if you’re wondering how to recover deleted videos from SD card online, cloud backup is a viable option. To do so, just log in to your cloud storage account, search for the deleted videos, and download them back to your device.

Option D: Seek Help from Data Recovery Services

Still stuck on how to recover videos deleted from an SD card? Then, it’s probably the right time for you to hire a reputable recovery service. They can often retrieve data that software tools cannot, especially when the memory card shows any signs or symptoms of physical damage. Without specialized tools and experience, there is little you can do to repair a corrupted SD card on your own. It’s often recommended to look for services with a “no data, no charge” policy, which means that you only pay if they successfully restore lost files. 

Part 4: How to Avoid SD Card/Memory Card Data Loss?

That’s all about how to recover deleted/lost videos from an SD card. However, there is no guarantee that your lost files can always be recovered. If you don’t want to suffer from SD card data loss, take a minute to check these practical tips:

• Regular Backups: Back up your SD card data to a computer, external hard drive, or cloud storage regularly.
• Handle with Care: Protect your SD card from physical damage, extremely high or low temperatures, and water.
• Safe Removal: Always eject an SD card properly from your computer or camera to avoid data corruption.
• Scan and remove viruses: Protect your SD card from malware and viruses by running antivirus software on the computer.

Conclusion

Honestly, it is quite common to accidentally delete files from an SD card or other storage devices. In this full guide, we’ve explained four methods to recover deleted videos on an SD card with or without software. Compared to costly data recovery services, tools like 4DDiG provide users with a free and very accessible solution for retrieving lostfiles. You should only need data recovery software once in your life. After that, you should learn how to back up regularly.