How to Recover Deleted Videos from iPhone iCloud: A Comprehensive Guide

Accidentally deleting a precious video from your iPhone can feel like a punch to the gut, especially if it holds irreplaceable memories. Thankfully, Apple’s iCloud offers several avenues for video recovery. The method you’ll use depends primarily on when and how the video was deleted, but rest assured, there’s a good chance it’s not gone forever.

The most direct approach is to check your “Recently Deleted” album within the Photos app. Videos reside there for 30 days before being permanently purged. If that doesn’t pan out, you might need to delve into your iCloud backup or, as a last resort, employ a dedicated data recovery tool. Let’s explore each method in detail.

Recovering Deleted Videos: Your Options

1. The “Recently Deleted” Album: Your First Stop

This is by far the easiest and most common method. Think of the “Recently Deleted” album as a recycle bin for your Photos app.

Steps:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down to the bottom and tap “Albums.”
3. Look for the “Recently Deleted” album (it might be hidden under the “Utilities” section).
4. If your video is there, tap “Select” in the top right corner.
5. Tap on the video(s) you want to recover.
6. Tap “Recover” at the bottom right. The video will be restored to its original album.

Important Note: If the video isn’t in the “Recently Deleted” album, it’s likely been longer than 30 days since it was deleted, or you manually deleted it from the “Recently Deleted” album itself. Time to explore other options.

2. Restoring from an iCloud Backup: A Time Machine for Your iPhone

If your video isn’t in the “Recently Deleted” album, restoring from an iCloud backup is your next best bet. This method effectively rewinds your iPhone to a previous state, including any videos that were present in your Photos library at the time of the backup. This will erase current data on your phone.

Before you begin, it’s crucial to understand the following:

• This process will completely erase your iPhone’s current data. Make sure you have a current backup of your current phone state before proceeding.
• You’ll need to know when the video was deleted to choose the most appropriate backup to restore from.
• This only works if you had iCloud Backup enabled before the video was deleted.

Steps:

1. Erase your iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions until you reach the “Apps & Data” screen.
3. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup.”
4. Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID and password.
5. Choose the backup that you believe contains the deleted video. Pick a backup created before the video was deleted.
6. The restore process will begin. This can take a significant amount of time, depending on the size of the backup and your internet connection speed.
7. Once the restore is complete, check your Photos app for the recovered video.

Warning: If you choose the wrong backup, you’ll lose data from the period between that backup and the present. So, choose carefully!

3. Using a Third-Party Data Recovery Tool: The Last Resort

If neither of the above methods works, you can consider using a third-party data recovery tool. These tools are designed to scan your iPhone’s storage (or iCloud backup) for deleted files and attempt to recover them.

Important Considerations:

• Success is not guaranteed. The effectiveness of these tools varies depending on how long ago the video was deleted and whether the data has been overwritten.
• Choose reputable software. Research the tool thoroughly and read reviews before downloading anything. Some tools may be scams or contain malware.
• Cost: Many data recovery tools require a paid license.
• Privacy concerns: Be cautious about granting these tools access to your iCloud account or iPhone.

General Steps (varies depending on the tool):

1. Download and install the data recovery tool on your computer.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer (or access your iCloud backup).
3. Run the scan for deleted data.
4. Preview the recoverable files and select the video(s) you want to recover.
5. Recover the video(s) to your computer.
6. Transfer the video(s) back to your iPhone (using iTunes or iCloud).

Popular data recovery tools include:

• Tenorshare UltData
• iMobie PhoneRescue
• EaseUS MobiSaver

Disclaimer: We are not endorsing any specific data recovery tool. Always research and choose a tool that is reputable and suits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long do videos stay in the “Recently Deleted” album?

Videos and photos remain in the “Recently Deleted” album for 30 days. After 30 days, they are permanently deleted.

2. Can I recover permanently deleted videos from iCloud?

Recovering permanently deleted videos is extremely difficult, but not always impossible. Your best chance is to use a third-party data recovery tool, but success isn’t guaranteed. The longer it’s been since the deletion, the lower the chance of recovery.

3. How do I enable iCloud Backup for my iPhone?

Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and toggle the “iCloud Backup” switch to the on position. Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi and your phone is plugged into a power source for the backup to occur automatically.

4. How often does iCloud automatically back up my iPhone?

iCloud automatically backs up your iPhone daily when your device is locked, connected to Wi-Fi, and plugged into a power source.

5. Will restoring from an iCloud backup delete all my new photos and videos?

Yes, restoring from an iCloud backup will erase all the data on your iPhone and replace it with the data from the chosen backup. That’s why it’s crucial to have a current backup before restoring from an older one.

6. What if my iCloud storage is full? Will it still backup my videos?

If your iCloud storage is full, iCloud Backup will likely fail to backup your videos and other data. You’ll need to either purchase more iCloud storage or manage your storage by deleting unnecessary files or turning off backup for specific apps.

7. Can I recover videos from iCloud Drive?

iCloud Drive is different from iCloud Photos. If you stored your videos specifically in iCloud Drive, check the “Recently Deleted” folder within the Files app. The same 30-day retention period applies.

8. Are there any free data recovery tools for iPhones?

Some data recovery tools offer free trial versions that allow you to scan your iPhone and preview recoverable files. However, you’ll typically need to purchase a license to actually recover the files. Be very wary of completely free tools, as they may be unreliable or contain malware.

9. How do I know which iCloud backup to restore from?

The iCloud backup list displays the date and time of each backup. Choose a backup that was created before you deleted the video but is as recent as possible to minimize data loss.

10. I deleted the video from my iPhone and also emptied the “Recently Deleted” album. Is there still hope?

The chances of recovery are slim, but not zero. A third-party data recovery tool is your only option at this point. The success rate will depend on whether the data has been overwritten.

11. Can Apple help me recover my deleted videos?

Apple support can provide guidance on using iCloud Backup and other features. However, they generally don’t offer direct data recovery services. They will likely direct you to the methods described in this article.

12. How can I prevent accidental video deletion in the future?

• Be careful when deleting photos and videos. Double-check before confirming deletion.
• Regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer.
• Consider using a cloud storage service like Google Photos or Dropbox as a secondary backup. These services often have their own “recycle bin” features.

By understanding the available recovery methods and taking preventative measures, you can minimize the risk of permanently losing your precious video memories from your iPhone.