How to Recover Permanently Deleted Videos on iPhone in 2025

It is very upsetting when you realize that a treasure you’ve cherished has been completely deleted from the iPhone. These aren’t files; they are irretrievable slices of life—an accomplishment by the child, a pleasant family recollection, or an important event. The phrase “permanently deleted,” many a time, brings about agony, convincing several that retrieving it is entirely hopeless. However, in the year 2025, things are in many respects quite different and bright. Even when a video has been cleared from your “Recently Deleted” folder and is seemingly lost forever, recovery is still very much a possibility.

Here are some steps and possibilities:

1. Check "Recently Deleted" Album:

   • Open the Photos app.

   • Tap "Albums" at the bottom.

   • Scroll down and tap "Recently Deleted."

   • If your videos are there, select them and tap "Recover."

   • Note: Items stay here for 30 days before being permanently deleted.

2. iCloud Backup:

   • If you had iCloud Backup enabled before you deleted the videos, you might be able to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup. This will revert your phone to an earlier state, so any data added after the backup was made will be lost.

   • To check if you have an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > your Apple ID (at the top) > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Look at the "Last Successful Backup" date.

   • To restore from an iCloud backup: You'll need to erase your iPhone first (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings), then set it up again and choose "Restore from iCloud Backup."

3. iTunes/Finder Backup:

   • Similarly, if you regularly backed up your iPhone to your computer using iTunes (on Windows or older macOS) or Finder (on newer macOS), you might be able to restore from one of those backups.

   • Connect your iPhone to your computer, open iTunes/Finder, select your device, and look for the "Restore Backup" option. Again, this will revert your phone to the state of the backup.

4. Third-Party Data Recovery Software:

   • There are many third-party data recovery tools available for iOS devices (e.g., Disk Drill, Dr.Fone, FoneLab). These tools claim to be able to scan your iPhone's internal storage for residual data from deleted files.

   • Caution:

     • Their effectiveness varies, and success isn't guaranteed, especially if the data has been overwritten.

     • Some are expensive.

     • Be careful to download from reputable sources to avoid malware.

     • The sooner you try to recover after deletion, the better your chances, as new data can overwrite the "deleted" data.

Important Considerations:

• Stop Using Your iPhone Immediately: If you accidentally deleted something important and want to maximize your chances of recovery, stop using your iPhone as much as possible. This prevents new data from being written over the space where your deleted videos once resided.

• No Guarantees: Once data is "permanently deleted" and the space is overwritten, recovery becomes extremely difficult, often impossible, without specialized forensic tools.

Prevention is Key:

• Regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer.

• Consider using iCloud Photos or other cloud storage services (like Google Photos, Dropbox) to automatically sync and store your videos, providing an extra layer of protection against loss.

Could I illustrate some of these steps for you, perhaps showing what the "Recently Deleted" album looks like, or a representation of data recovery software?

 

Step 1: Open the Photos App
Tap on the Photos app icon on your iPhone's home screen. It looks like a colorful pinwheel

  

 

Step 2: Go to the "Albums" Tab
Once the Photos app is open, tap on "Albums" at the bottom of the screen.

 

Step 3: Scroll Down to "Recently Deleted"
In the "Albums" view, scroll down to the very bottom. You'll find an album labeled "Recently Deleted" under the "Utilities" section. Tap on it.