Recover Deleted or Lost Webcam Videos | 2 Ways

Webcam videos are a great way to preserve the best moments of your life, such as record travel memories, video tutorials or training sessions, hold video conferences, share videos on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, etc.

However, your Webcam videos are usually stored on an internal or external disk and are prone to data loss due to different reasons. In this article, we will explore the reasons for webcam video deletion and, more importantly, effective methods to recover deleted or lost Webcam videos.

Common Reasons Behind Webcam Video Loss

It is necessary to understand the possible causes of webcam video loss, which will help how to recover deleted or lost videos. Here are some common reasons below:

• Accidental Deletion

One common reason for webcam video loss is accidental deletion. Users might mistakenly select important videos and hit the Delete button, leading to a loss of webcam videos.

• Formatting

Sometimes, when you connect the disk containing webcam videos, you may be asked to format it and hit the Format option without intention. Or try to fix disk errors without backup.

• Malware or Viruses

Malware or viruses present on a device may delete your data, such as webcam videos, or make it hidden. As a result, your videos are missing.

• Software or Hardware Issues

The corrupted files, software glitches, or hardware malfunctions may also cause your webcam video not showing up on a disk.

• Physical Damage

If you put the webcam in extreme environments, such as high temperatures, moisture, etc, your videos may be also affected. This also occurs due to drop, shock, etc.

• Lost Partitions

Partition loss can also lead to the loss of webcam videos. This can be due to file system corruption, accidental deletion, etc.

Can You Recover Deleted Webcam Videos?

In most cases, it’s possible to recover deleted webcam videos and the success rate depends on data loss scenarios and if there is a backup.

Have You Tried Searching the Recycle Bin?

In general, If it is just a deletion, first check the Recycle Bin folder. All the deleted files will be moved there. Just double-click the Recycle Bin icon, find your video files, and select Restore.

If not, it may be Shift + Delete or large video files. These files are permanently deleted directly bypassing the Recycle Bin. But you still can employ reliable data recovery software to get them back quickly.

How Did You Lose Your Videos?

Except for deletion, there are many other reasons, such as formatting, virus infection, physical damage, etc. Is it recoverable? Yes, but the recovery method may be different.

For example, if you use a quick format method, just references to your files are deleted, not real data, try data recovery software. Conversely, if you use a full format method or it’s physical damage, directly try a data recovery service.

In addition, there is an exception for partition loss scenarios. You need to use partition recovery software instead of data recovery software or services. It will scan your disk and get your entire partition & data back.

Do You Have a Backup?

Backup images are always a great way to recover your files, whether it is documents, images, videos, etc. But it requires you to create a file backup before data loss. If you happen to do this, it’s worth checking out how to restore files from backup.

If you just change the webcam videos and want to go back to a previous version, try to use the Restore Previous Versions feature. Right-click the folder containing your videos, and select Properties and Previous Version. Then, check the folder versions and click Restore to return your previous webcam videos.

How to Recover Deleted Webcam Videos Permanently

After checking the previous content, some of you may get your webcam videos back. If not yet, no worries, there are two other most effective methods in this article, namely using data recovery software and services.

If your disk is severely damaged or has physical damage, directly try a data recovery service. If not, reliable data recovery software is perfect enough to recover deleted or lost webcam videos.

Recover Deleted or Lost Webcam Videos with Software

Windows data recovery software like MyRecover can be a lifesaver in most data loss scenarios and will scan your disk thoroughly to find as many files as possible for webcam video file recovery.

• Retrieve files lost in any scenario, such as accidental deletion, formatting, virus infection, corrupted disk, etc.
• Recover webcam video formats, such as AVI, MP4, WEBM, ASF, MJPG, etc.
• Filter video file type, date modified, and size to locate them quickly.
• Compatible with different file systems, such as FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, etc.

In addition, the software does not require technical expertise and is friendly to novices, making the recovery process seamless. Please download this reliable Windows data recovery software to have a try!

Step 1. Connect the disk containing webcam videos to your computer. Launch this reliable data recovery software - MyRecover. Hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

Step 2. It will run Quick Scan and Deep Scan automatically to find out all the deleted or lost webcam video files, such as MP4, ASF, etc. To locate them quickly, use the Filter feature or go to the original location in the left panel.

Step 3. Select your desired video files and then click Recover x files to recover deleted or lost webcam videos. You will then be asked to select a location. Please select a new location instead of the original location to prevent potential data overwriting.

Notes:  

• The restore button will display the number of selected video files and their full size. You can use it to determine the integrity of the recovered videos.
• You can recover webcam videos for free, up to 500MB. Once exceeded, please upgrade to the advanced editions.
• In addition, you still can use this software to recover different file types, such as recover deleted JPG images, recover Word documents, etc.

Seek Professional Data Recovery Services

If you fail to recover webcam videos using data recovery software or your disk has physical damage, the best practice is to seek assistance with professional data recovery services, such as CBL Data Recovery, Ontrack, SalvageData, etc. They usually employ experienced specialists and have advanced equipment to deal with more complex situations.

Before contacting them, learn them from different aspects and find the most satisfying service. Also, considering the expensive price, please be sure your data is very important. The price depends on damage severity and recovery difficulty.

Tips for Preventing Webcam Video Loss

• Regular Backups

Creating regular backups of important webcam videos can save users from heartache in case of accidental deletion or other data loss scenarios. The best practice is to create at least 3 copies of files and save them on two different locations, one of which is offsite, such as external disk, cloud drive, etc. Reliable Windows backup software - AOMEI Backupper Standard will help you.

• Employ Antivirus Software

Installing reliable antivirus software and scanning your disk regularly can protect the device from malware and virus infection. It’s a common cause of webcam video loss.

• Handle Webcam Videos Carefully

Be cautious while handling webcam videos and don't delete them hastily, as this will prevent accidental loss. Also, take care of the disk containing webcam videos and avoid shock, drop, moisture, etc physical damage.

• Stop using Your Device Immediately

Continue using the device containing deleted webcam videos after data loss may cause data overwriting and make data recovery more challenging.

Conclusion

It’s necessary to act promptly to recover deleted webcam videos because it holds many cherished memories and valuable information, such as video tutorials, meetings, etc, and has a higher success rate.

In most cases, reliable data recovery software like MyRecover will help you. But if necessary, try to contact a professional data recovery service to recover webcam videos quickly. In addition, take proactive measures like regular backups, you can safeguard your precious webcam videos.

FAQs

1. Can I recover webcam videos deleted a long time ago?

The chances of recovering videos decrease with time, but it's still worth trying using file recovery software or seeking professional help.

2. Is it safe to use file recovery software?

Yes, reputable file recovery software is generally safe to use, but it's essential to research and choose reliable options.

3. What should I do if my webcam videos are lost due to a hardware issue?

In case of a hardware issue, it's best to consult a data recovery expert to maximize the chances of retrieving the videos.

4. Can I prevent webcam video loss on my smartphone?

Yes, similar preventive measures like regular backups and using antivirus software apply to smartphones as well.

5. Why does antivirus software matter in webcam video protection?

Antivirus software helps detect and eliminate malware and viruses that can cause data loss, including webcam videos.