How do I recover deleted MOV files? This article will guide you to recover deleted MOV files from SD card, external hard drive, or local PC with ease.
Yes, in many cases, deleted, corrupted, or lost MOV files can be recovered. These files are popular because they offer high-quality video and audio, are easy to edit, and work on both Mac and Windows systems.
MOV files are usually saved in folders like Downloads, or stored on external hard drives, SD cards, and other storage devices. On a Windows PC, you can play MOV files using the built-in Media Player, and edit them with the Microsoft Photos app.
However, these files can be accidentally deleted, lost, or damaged during file management. This can happen for many reasons, such as sudden power loss, virus attacks, software crashes, or even by mistakenly deleting them. In some cases, the file might become corrupted and no longer play.
Luckily, it is often possible to recover lost MOV files from your computer, SD card, or other storage devices. The success of recovery depends on what caused the problem and whether the file has been overwritten. If you're unsure how to recover your files, keep reading for simple and clear steps to help you get them back.
To recover deleted, corrupted, or lost MOV files, you can use professional MOV file recovery software, or proper methods to repair the files. Here are the detailed steps.
If your MOV files were deleted and are no longer in the Recycle Bin, using a reliable data recovery tool is a smart solution. One of the most effective options is AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery.
This tool is built to handle tough recovery situations, including files lost from formatted, damaged, or failed storage devices. It uses advanced scanning methods to deeply search your drive and restore lost, deleted, or corrupted MOV videos, even if your system can’t detect them anymore. It is beginner-friendly and supports many devices such as hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, SD cards, and external storage. Besides MOV, it can recover various file types like documents, images, audio, emails, and other video formats (MP4, AVI, MKV, etc.).
It’s especially helpful when data loss is caused by system crashes, malware, power outages, or interrupted file transfers. No matter the cause, AOMEI offers a high success rate for safe recovery. Next, we’ll guide you to use AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery to get your MOV files back.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery first, and then choose the exact partition or drive where the deleted files were originally located.
Step 2. Scan the selected drive. It will execute a Quick Scan first to find your data fast, followed by a Deep Scan to search for additional lost data comprehensively.
Step 3. Once the scan is complete, all recoverable files will be displayed. Kindly choose the specific files and then click Recover.
Step 4. Choose a destination folder to save the recovered files, and wait for the recovery process to finish.
If your MOV file is damaged and won’t play properly, VLC Media Player can be a helpful tool. VLC is a free, open-source video player known for supporting many video formats. One of its useful features is the ability to play partially downloaded or slightly corrupted files, so you may be able to watch your MOV video without fixing it right away.
In addition to playing damaged files, VLC also lets you convert video formats. This can help solve playback problems or make the file more compatible with other devices. Because of these features, VLC is a simple and effective choice for dealing with minor MOV file issues.
Step 1. Launch VLC Player and select "Media > Convert/Save...".
Step 2. Next, add a corrupted video and click "Convert/Save".
Step 3. In the Convert window that appears, look through the destination file, and click on "Start". Open VLC and click on "Preferences".
Step 4. Select "Always fix" in the "damaged or incomplete AVI file" option and click "Save".
Step 5. Try playing the corrupt .mp4 video file with VLC. It should play.
If videos mysteriously disappear from the SD card without manual deletion, they may have been hidden rather than deleted. Utilize the power of built-in Windows CMD (Command Prompt) to recover those seemingly lost MOV files. Please follow the detailed steps below.
Step 1. Connect your SD card or external hard drive that stores MOV files to your computer using a compatible cable. Type "cmd" in the search box and select Command Prompt, making sure to run it as an administrator.
Step 2. In the command prompt window, enter the following command: "attrib -h -r -s /s /d/ X:*.*" (replace X with the letter corresponding to the SD card or external hard drive). Press the Enter key to execute the command to continue the recovery process.
If you regularly back up your files, recovery is straightforward. Backups can come from different sources, such as cloud storage, external hard drives, or backup tools. Here, we’ll use Google Drive as an example. If you have uploaded your SD card files to it, follow these steps to recover your files:
Step 1. Go to the Google Drive website and log in to your account.
Step 2. Click on "My Drive" to view all your uploaded files and folders.
Step 3. Once you've found the files you need, right-click on them and select "Download" to save them back wherever you like.
You can recover files from Google Drive if you accidentally deleted them.
How do I recover deleted MOV files? This article gives a comprehensive guide. Recovering deleted, lost, or corrupted MOV files is often possible with the right tools and methods. Whether your files were removed by mistake, became damaged, or simply disappeared, solutions like using professional recovery software, VLC Media Player, Command Prompt, or backups can help you restore them. By following the steps provided, you can increase the chances of getting your MOV videos back quickly and safely.
