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RonaldWhite's avatar
RonaldWhite
Iron Contributor
Jan 14, 2025

Can I recover permanently deleted videos from pc Windows 11?

Hello, guys! I recently encountered a super headache, I want to ask you: can I recover permanently deleted videos from PC Windows 11?

The thing is, when I was organizing my computer files, I accidentally deleted a very important video folder, and even emptied the Recycle Bin!  Some of those videos are work materials, some are home videos, the total size is about 15GB, and now I can't find them at all.

I tried to use the file recovery tool (Windows File Recovery) that comes with Windows, but the command line operation is too complicated and I don't understand how to use it. And after using it for a long time, I still couldn't get the files back. Does anyone know a simpler and more effective method? For example, some video recovery tools that can directly deep scan the hard drive and support MP4 or MOV formats?

If there is a free one, it would be the best, and paid but reliable tools can also be considered! Please recommend it, it really saves my life! 🙏

  • Cody-Hutson's avatar
    Cody-Hutson
    Iron Contributor

    For tech savvy, I suggest using the Ph0toRec command line tool for recovering deleted videos on Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC. It focuses on recovering individual files, such as videos, from damaged or formatted drives. It works by ignoring the file system and recovering data based on file signatures, making it highly effective for video recovery.

    How to recover permanently deleted videos on Windows 11/10:

    1. Open the same folder where it is located and run ph0torec_win.exe.
    2. Choose the drive where the video was deleted.
    3. Select the partition type (e.g., NTFS, FAT32).
    4. Select File Opt and specify video file types (e.g., .mp4, .avi, .mov).
    5. Specify a folder on a different drive to save the recovered files.
    6. Ph0toRec will scan the drive and recover deleted videos based on the file signature.

    This tool is very effective for recovering deleted videos from Windows 11/10. Let me know if you need more help on this.

  • Timothy1525's avatar
    Timothy1525
    Iron Contributor

    Don't forget to check the OneDrive backup, which is an integrated part of Windows 11 OS. It is highly recommended way to recover permanently deleted videos from Windows 11 PC. Here is how to do this:

    Step 1: Open the OneDrive app on your PC or log in to the OneDrive website with your Microsoft account.

    Step 2: In the left sidebar of the OneDrive website, click Recycle Bin. For the desktop app, find the Recycle Bin folder within the synced OneDrive folder.

    Step 3: Look for the deleted videos by name or date. Right-click the file and select Restore to move it back to its original OneDrive location.

    Step 4: Once restored, the video will reappear in its original folder on OneDrive and your synced PC.

    If the videos are not in the Recycle Bin and were permanently deleted within the past 30 days, contact Microsoft Support for assistance. In some cases, files can still be retrieved from OneDrive servers.

  • Almaiw's avatar
    Almaiw
    Iron Contributor

    Using Windows File Recovery to recover permanently deleted videos is indeed a free option. But run Windows File Recovery requires patience, as the tool needs time to scan and recover files. The process can take hours, depending on the size of the drive, the amount of data to be recovered, and the performance of your computer. The main drawback is that Windows File Recovery operates in the command line. If you're not comfortable with typing commands, navigating directories, and understanding the nuances of file systems, this might not be the tool for you.

    If you're not comfortable with the command-line interface, Microsoft offers another option: the Recovery Console.

    What is Microsoft Recovery Console?

    The Recovery Console is a command-line interface that provides advanced recovery features, including the ability to recover deleted files, format disks, and more. You can access it from the Windows 11 installation media or by booting in Safe Mode.

    How to recover permanently deleted videos via Microsoft Recovery Console:

    1. Download the Windows 11 installation media (ISO file).
    2. Burn the ISO file to a USB drive or create a bootable CD/DVD.
    3. Boot from the USB drive or CD/DVD.
    4. Select "Repair your computer" and enter the Recovery Console.
    5. Use the chkdsk command to check the drive's consistency.
    6. Run the winfr command (as mentioned earlier) to recover deleted video from PC.
  • Tomilsonw's avatar
    Tomilsonw
    Iron Contributor

    If some Windows File Recovery mentioned by others cannot completely solve your problem, here are some other methods you can try to help you recover deleted videos from computer Windows 10 or 11 and they are more suitable for different scenarios and needs.

    1. Check file history
    If you have enabled the file history feature of Windows before, you may be able to recover it easily:

    1. Right-click the folder location and select "Restore previous version".
    2. Check the listed backup date to find the version when the file was accidentally deleted.
      Click Restore.
    3. Recommendation: This method is suitable for users who have enabled file history, but many people may not realize this. Remember to turn on this feature in the future.

    2. Check cloud backup
    If your videos are stored in a folder synchronized with your desktop (such as Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox), even if they are deleted locally, the cloud may still have a backup:

    1. Log in to your cloud storage account.
    2. Check the "Recycle Bin" or "Deleted Files".
    3. If found, restore it directly to the local.

    Recommendation: Develop a good habit in the future to synchronize important files to the cloud, double insurance to avoid similar problems.

    Other suggestions

    1. Avoid data overwriting: Try not to write new data to the target hard disk after accidental deletion to avoid overwriting the lost files.
    2. Back up regularly: Use the built-in backup function of Windows or third-party tools (such as Acronis) to regularly back up important files.
    3. Be careful when choosing tools: Many tools are under the banner of "free", but the recovery effect is not good and may even damage data. 
  • Hey, I encountered a similar situation a few days ago, and it was really crazy! When I was cleaning up my computer files, I accidentally deleted a very important video folder full of work projects and precious family videos. As a result, I directly pressed "Shift+Delete" and there was no chance to restore it to the Recycle Bin! 😭 The folder size is about 20GB, all MP4 and MOV videos. At that time, I tried to find it in the Recycle Bin and File History of Windows 11, but found that there was no hope!

    So I started looking for ways to try to recover these permanently deleted videos. After trying several tools and methods, I finally succeeded in recovering most of the files! In order to prevent you from falling into a panic, here are the two most effective methods, shared with you~ I hope it can help you recover permanently deleted videos from computer Windows 11!

    Solution 1: Use US Data Recovery Wizard
    This tool was my life-saving magic weapon at the time! Simple and efficient operation, especially for recovering large files.

    1. Download and installation: Download from the official website and install it on a partition different from the accidentally deleted files.
    2. Scan the hard disk: Select the hard disk partition where the accidentally deleted files are located and click "Scan".
    3. Preview and recovery: After the scan is completed, it will list all the files found. You can preview the video, click "Recover" after confirmation, and save it to another partition.

    My experience: I successfully recovered 15GB of important videos with it. The scanning speed is fast, the recovery rate is high, and you can directly preview the file to confirm whether it is what you are looking for! However, the free version can only recover 2GB of data. If there are too many videos, you may need to pay.

     

    Solution 2: Use Windows File Recovery (Microsoft official tool)
    This is a free tool provided by Windows, but the operation is based on the command line, which is a little complicated.

    1. Download the tool: Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
      Run the command:
    2. Open the command prompt (administrator mode) and enter:
    winfr C: D: /n *.mp4 /n *.mov

    3. Replace C: with the drive letter where the video was originally located, and D: with the location where the recovered file is saved.
    4. Wait for the tool to run to completion.
    5. Check the recovery result: Go to the target drive letter (such as D drive) to see if the recovered video file is complete.

    My experience: Although the command line operation is not very friendly, this is a free official tool. I used it to recover some small files at the time, but the effect on large files is average, so it may need to be used in conjunction with other tools.

     

     

  • Leoleei's avatar
    Leoleei
    Iron Contributor

    Recovering permanently deleted videos from a Windows 11 PC can be a bit of a tricky journey. When you delete files, Windows doesn’t really erase them instantly; it just marks that space as available for new data. If you start saving other stuff on that drive, you risk overwriting the deleted files. Basically, avoid any downloads, saves, or installations on that drive until you've completed your recovery attempts!

    If you’re using a recovery tool, avoid skipping the deep scan option, especially if the files were deleted a while ago. The quick scan might not find anything, while a deep scan can search for remnants of the files scattered around your drive. Sure, it takes longer, but it’s often worth it. I’ve experienced this when I thought I could get by with a quick scan—big mistake!

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