Recover Recently Deleted Videos on iPhone

If you deleted a video on an iPhone recently, you may be able to restore it from the Photos app’s Recently Deleted album. You’ll need access to the iPhone and, if prompted, its passcode or Face ID; act promptly because deleted items are usually kept for only 30 days.

What You’ll Need

• The iPhone on which the video was deleted, or access to the same iCloud Photos library on an Apple device.
• The device passcode or Face ID/Touch ID if Recently Deleted asks you to authenticate.
• An internet connection if you’re checking iCloud Photos or another synced device.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Photos. On current iOS versions, open the Photos app. If the layout differs on your iPhone, use the app’s Albums view or scroll to the Utilities section to find Recently Deleted.
2. Open Recently Deleted. In the redesigned Photos app, scroll down to Utilities and tap Recently Deleted. On versions with an Albums tab, tap Albums, scroll to Utilities, then tap Recently Deleted. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode if requested.
3. Find the video. Browse the deleted items and check the thumbnail and date. Tap a video to preview it, if available, and verify it is the one you want. The remaining time before permanent deletion may be shown.
4. Select the video. While viewing the video, tap Recover. If you are looking at the item grid, tap Select, choose the video, then tap Recover. Confirm the action if the iPhone asks.
5. Check your library. Return to the main Photos library and look for the video, usually around its original capture date. It is restored to the library, not necessarily to the top of the most recent items. Search by date or scroll to the relevant day if you do not see it immediately.
6. Check other Apple devices if needed. If iCloud Photos is enabled, the photo library syncs across devices using the same Apple Account. Check Photos on another synced iPhone, iPad, or Mac, allowing time for syncing. Avoid deleting or changing items on another device until you confirm which copy is available.
7. Look for a separate copy if it is not there. Check the Files app, a Mac or PC where you imported the video, another cloud-storage service, or a backup made before deletion. Restore from a device backup only after considering what data may be replaced; see Troubleshooting below.

Common Mistakes

• Looking only in the main library. Deleted videos are moved to Recently Deleted first, so check that album before concluding the item is gone.
• Waiting too long. Items generally remain in Recently Deleted for up to 30 days, then are permanently deleted. If an item was manually removed from Recently Deleted, that can remove it immediately.
• Assuming Recently Deleted is a permanent backup. It is a temporary recovery area, not long-term storage. Save important videos in another suitable location.
• Checking the wrong Apple Account. iCloud Photos content is associated with the Apple Account used for the library. Confirm the account on each device before expecting the same videos to appear.
• Confusing a hidden video with a deleted one. If the video is missing from the library but not in Recently Deleted, check the Hidden album and any library filters or views you may have enabled.
• Restoring a whole backup too quickly. Restoring an iPhone backup can replace current device data. Do not erase or restore the phone just to retrieve one video until you understand the backup’s date and what it contains.

Tips

• Recover the video as soon as you notice it is missing, especially if the deletion date is unclear.
• Search the library by capture date after recovery; restored videos may return to their original place in the timeline.
• If you use iCloud Photos, allow the device to connect to Wi-Fi and power while it syncs. Check that iCloud Photos is enabled in Settings under your Apple Account’s iCloud photo settings.
• For important footage, keep an additional copy in a separate location. Syncing is not the same as maintaining an independent archive: deletions can sync too.
• Before restoring a backup, make a current backup if possible and note that a full restore may roll back newer information. A computer or cloud copy of the individual video is often a simpler option.

Troubleshooting

Recently Deleted is empty: The video may have passed its retention period, been permanently deleted manually, or been removed from a synced library. Check other devices and places where you might have saved or imported a copy. If you have an iCloud or computer backup from before the deletion, review its date and contents. Backups do not guarantee that a particular video can be recovered, especially if iCloud Photos was syncing the library separately.

The video is visible but Recover does not work: Close Photos and reopen it, then try again. Restart the iPhone if the problem continues. Make sure the device has enough available storage and is connected to the internet if the library is syncing. Update iOS through Settings > General > Software Update if an update is available and appropriate for your device.

The video is recovered but does not appear: Search Photos by date or inspect the library around the original capture date. Check whether a filter is hiding videos, and wait for iCloud Photos to finish syncing. Confirm that you are viewing the correct library and Apple Account.

You want to use a backup: First check whether the video exists on a computer, in Files, or in another cloud service. Then verify that the backup predates the deletion and understand that restoring a full backup may replace data currently on the iPhone. If the video is especially important and no copy appears, contact Apple Support for guidance before erasing or restoring the device; recovery is not guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do deleted videos stay on an iPhone?
Videos usually remain in Recently Deleted for up to 30 days. The displayed remaining time can help you determine how soon to act.

Can I recover a video after deleting it from Recently Deleted?
Usually not through Photos. Check an older device or computer copy, another storage service, or a backup created before the video was deleted.

Does recovering a video restore it to its original date?
It generally returns to the Photos library with its original capture date and time, so it may not appear at the end of the timeline.

Can I recover a video using iCloud?
If iCloud Photos is enabled, check Recently Deleted in Photos on a device signed in to the same Apple Account. Deletions and recoveries can sync across that library.

Will restoring an iPhone backup bring back one deleted video?
Possibly, if the backup contains the video, but a full restore can replace current data and may not restore Photos content managed by iCloud Photos. Check the backup and other copies first.

Can I recover a video deleted more than 30 days ago?
Not from Recently Deleted once it has been permanently removed. A separate copy or an eligible older backup may be the only remaining option.

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