How to Recover Deleted Videos [Windows 11/10 included]

Many people store important videos on their Windows computers, such as family memories, travel clips, and work projects. Losing these files due to accidental deletion or system errors can be frustrating.

If you’re looking for how to recover deleted videos on Windows, the good news is that modern recovery tools make the process simple and efficient. In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step methods to recover deleted or permanently lost video files on Windows 11/10/8/7 quickly and safely.

Recover Deleted Videos Windows

Part 1. Why Did My Videos Disappear

Losing essential videos can be frustrating, especially when it happens unexpectedly. In most cases, video files don’t disappear without a reason. Below are the most common causes of video loss on Windows computers:

• Accidental Deletion

Videos may be deleted unintentionally when you click Delete, use shortcuts like Ctrl + D, or permanently remove files using Shift + Delete without realizing it.

• System Crash or Reinstallation

A sudden Windows crash, a failed update, or a reinstall of the operating system can erase video files stored on the system drive.

• Virus or Malware Attack

Viruses and malicious programs may hide, corrupt, or delete your video files, making them inaccessible or unreadable.

• Emptied Recycle Bin

After clearing the Recycle Bin, previously deleted videos are no longer visible, making them appear permanently deleted.

Comparison Table to Recover Deleted Videos on Windows

Method Best For Works When Skill Level Limitations
Recycle Bin Restore Recently deleted videos Videos were deleted normally, and the Recycle Bin is not emptied Very Easy Won’t work if the Recycle Bin was emptied or files were permanently deleted
File History (Windows 11/10) Recovering older versions or backups File History was enabled before video loss Easy Useless if the backup was not turned on
Aiseesoft Data Recovery Permanently deleted or lost videos Recover Videos deleted via Shift + Delete, system crash, formatted drive, virus attack Easy Needs installation (must NOT install on the same drive being recovered)
Windows File Recovery Windows 11 Advanced recovery without third-party tools Recycle Bin is empty, and users are familiar with commands Advanced Command-line only, lower success rate, no preview

Part 2. How to Recover Deleted Videos from the Recycle Bin on Windows

Deleting a video from a Windows computer does not generally result in its instant removal. If the Recycle Bin is not emptied, the file is essentially preserved there temporarily, thus facilitating an easy recovery. This is the fastest and most secure way to deal with the videos that have been deleted recently. However, if the Recycle Bin has already been cleared, you may need more advanced solutions on how to recover deleted videos from the recycle bin in Windows 10.

Step 1.
Enter the Recycle Bin to find the deleted video. You can search for it by its name, original location, date deleted, size, and item type.
Recycle Bin Search
Step 2.
Double-click or right-click the target video and choose Restore. However, if there isn’t the wanted video in the Recovery Bin, this method doesn’t work. You need to try other methods.
Two Kinds Of Clicks Recovery

Part 3. Recover Deleted Videos from File History on Windows 11/10

If you have enabled File History on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer and backed up the files earlier, you might be able to get back deleted videos without resorting to third-party tools. File History maintains duplicates of your personal files so that you can revert to the previous versions in case of data loss. This built-in feature is especially useful before trying advanced solutions for how to recover permanently deleted videos in Windows 10. Below are the steps to recover deleted videos using File History.

Step 1.
Open the Start Menu on the desktop, type File History in the search box, and hit Enter .
File History Search
Step 2.
Click Personal files . Choose the video you intend to recover, and you can preview it by right-clicking.
Personal Files
Step 3.
Click Restore at the bottom of the interface. File History is convenient. However, it may not suit everyone. Some of us don’t have a backup habit, or some File History is off because the computer has no usable drive or network location. In these cases, we’d better use more professional software.
File History Restore Button

Part 4. How to Recover Permanently Deleted Videos Using Aiseesoft Data Recovery

A lot of people assume that videos that have been deleted permanently are unrecoverable, but this is only partially true. After deleting a video with Shift + Delete or deleting it after emptying the Recycle Bin, what Windows does is remove only the file index, not the real data itself. Therefore, if the storage space has not been overwritten, it is still possible to recover the videos. In this situation, Aiseesoft Data Recovery becomes a reliable solution for recovering permanently deleted videos on Windows. This tool covers the most common video formats and also supports high-resolution videos, so you can use this tool for the recovery of your casual clips as well as professional footage.

Data Recovery

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Data Recovery

  • Restore videos lost due to permanent deletion, emptied Recycle Bin, system crashes, or formatting
  • Fully compatible with 4K and 8K videos, as well as standard formats like MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and more
  • Recover videos from internal hard drives, external drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, cameras, and other storage devices
  • Perform quick and deep scans, then preview recoverable videos before restoring them
  • Ensures no further damage to your existing data during the recovery process
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Step 1.
Download, install, and run Aiseesoft Data Recovery on your computer. Select the devices and location where the lost video was taken.
Select Devices Location
Step 2.
Click the Start Scan button in the lower right and find the deleted video. You can preview it with a right-click.
Start Scan
Step 3.
Choose the target video, and click the blue button Recover .
Recover

To maximize the recovery success rate, make sure not to install the recovery software on the same drive where the videos were lost, as this may overwrite the deleted data and reduce the chance of recovery.

Part 5. Retrieve Deleted Videos Using Windows File Recovery (Windows 11)

If your videos got deleted for good and you are on Windows 11, there is a command-line tool pre-installed by Microsoft called Windows File Recovery. This way is pretty much only for power users who are comfortable with typing commands, since Windows File Recovery doesn't have a graphical interface. It can recover deleted videos from the local storage of devices, such as an internal drive, USB flash drive, and memory cards. Here’s how to use Windows File Recovery on Windows 11:

Step 1.
Launch Microsoft Store on your Windows 11 computer and download the Windows File Recovery app. Next, press Windows + X and click on Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
Step 2.
Enter the below simplified command structure:
Enter Command to Recover

winfr source-drive: destination-drive: /mode /switches

Step 3.
Let’s say you want to recover MP4 videos from the C: drive and save them to the D: drive. You would enter the following command:

winfr C: D: /regular /n *.mp4

Step 4.
Press Enter to complete the recovery process. On the drive you designated as your storage destination, the recovered videos will be located in a freshly made folder.

To prevent overwriting lost video data, which could lower recovery success, always store recovered files to a different drive.

Part 6. FAQs about Recovering Deleted Videos on Windows

How do I recover the permanently deleted videos?

Generally speaking, the Recycle Bin cannot retrieve permanently deleted videos. You can try to get them back through File History if you have a backup of the videos. You can also use Aiseesoft Data Recovery to solve this problem with ease. Operate as the guide above.

Is there free video recovery software for Windows 11?

Yes, there is. You can try the Windows File Recovery (command-line interface, average performance) to recover video files directly.

Can Aiseesoft Data Recovery restore the image or audio?

Yes. Aiseesoft Data Recovery can restore files in all formats, including images, audio, email, documents, etc. Moreover, it can fix damaged pictures with AI, making your photographs more explicit.

Conclusion

After reading this post, you now know how to recover permanently deleted videos in Windows 10. You can try different methods depending on your situation. The methods are powerful, and support videos, images, audio, and documents. If your friends or family face similar issues, sharing Aiseesoft Data Recovery with them can be a helpful solution.

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Aiseesoft Data Recovery is the best data recovery software to recover deleted/lost photos, documents, emails, audio, videos, etc. from your PC/Mac.

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