Get Back Deleted Screen Recordings: What to Try

Updated 9 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Deleted screen recordings may be recoverable if they are still in a Recently Deleted or Trash folder, included in a backup, or present in a cloud-synced copy. Check those places promptly; if the file was permanently deleted and no copy exists, recovery may be impossible, especially after the device has reused its storage.

Start with Recently Deleted or Trash

Many phones and computers keep deleted videos temporarily before removing them for good. The folder name and retention period depend on the device, operating system, app, and settings, so do not assume every deleted recording will be kept for the same number of days.

iPhone or iPad: Open Photos and look in the Recently Deleted album. Select the recording and choose Recover if it is still there. The album may require device authentication. If you used another app to record or save the video, check that app’s own deleted-items area as well.
Android: Check the Gallery or Photos app’s Trash or Bin. The exact location varies by manufacturer and app. If you use Google Photos, check its Trash too; items backed up and items not backed up can have different recovery windows.
Windows: Check the Recycle Bin on the desktop, then restore the video if it appears. If the recording was saved to a cloud folder or removable drive, check that service’s deleted-items area and the drive itself.
Mac: Check the Trash in the Dock. If the recording is there, use Put Back or drag it to a folder. Also inspect any cloud storage app that managed the file.

After restoring a video, open it to confirm it plays and make a second copy in a separate location. A file can reappear in a folder but still be incomplete or damaged.

Check where the recording was saved

A screen recording does not always go to the location you expect. Phones commonly place recordings in a camera roll, Photos library, Gallery, or a screen-recordings folder. Computers may save to a default Videos folder, Desktop, Downloads, or a location selected in the recording software. Search the device for likely file types such as MP4, MOV, or a recording app’s project format, and sort results by date.

Search for part of the filename if you remember it, but also search by date and video type: automatic names may not contain the words “screen recording.” Check folders on internal storage, SD cards, external drives, and any folder you chose when exporting. If the app records to a project library rather than a regular video file, reopen the app and inspect its library or recent projects.

Also check whether the recording was shared, attached to a message, or uploaded for a class or meeting. A sent copy, exported edit, or recipient’s download can be a usable replacement even if the original on your device is gone.

Look for cloud copies and device backups

Cloud sync and backup are different. Sync keeps a library or folder aligned across devices; deleting a file in one place can delete it elsewhere too. Some services retain deleted items temporarily, while a backup may preserve a snapshot from before deletion. Check the service’s web interface as well as its app, because the web view may show a Trash, Recently Deleted, or restore option that is easy to overlook.

For a device backup, find out whether it was made before the recording disappeared and whether it includes the relevant photos, videos, or files. Restoring an entire phone or computer backup can replace newer data, and the exact contents depend on backup settings. Before restoring, preserve current important files and read the device or backup provider’s instructions. If possible, restore to a spare device or extract the video without replacing the current setup.

For synced folders, check other devices that may not yet have connected to the internet. If one still has a local copy, copy the video elsewhere before allowing sync to update. Avoid changing sync settings blindly: disconnecting a device may protect a local copy in some situations, but it is not a guaranteed recovery method.

If the file was permanently deleted

When a file is removed from Trash, recovery depends on how and where it was stored. On a hard drive, deleted data may remain until new data overwrites it. Solid-state drives and phones can use storage-management features that make old data unavailable quickly. Encryption, file-system behavior, and the recording app’s storage method also affect what recovery tools can do.

If the missing video matters, reduce activity on the device: avoid recording new videos, installing recovery apps, downloading large files, or saving recovered results to the same storage. These actions can overwrite data. For a removable memory card, stop using it and connect it to another computer only if you know how to do so safely. A reputable data-recovery professional may be able to assess a drive, but no tool or service can guarantee success.

Be cautious with recovery software. Use a known provider, read its privacy and access requirements, and do not grant broad permissions without understanding them. Never save a recovered file back to the same drive or card you are scanning; use a separate storage device. If the recording is valuable or the storage device is physically failing, avoid repeated scans that could worsen the problem and consider professional help.

Why recovery sometimes fails

The retention period ended: Recently Deleted and Trash folders often remove items automatically or after a user empties them.
Deletion synced everywhere: A cloud service may have propagated the deletion to other devices, though its own Trash may still offer recovery.
No suitable backup exists: A backup made after deletion will not normally contain the missing recording.
The storage was reused: New files may overwrite deleted data, leaving little or nothing to recover.
The app stored a project, not an exported video: Recovering a finished MP4 may not restore editable project files, and vice versa.

“Deleted” does not always mean “immediately erased,” but it also does not mean the video can certainly be restored. The quickest, safest checks are built-in deleted-items folders, other devices, cloud copies, and backups made before the loss.

Prevent losing future recordings

Once the video is recovered—or if recovery is no longer possible—set up a routine that does not rely on one copy. Keep important recordings in at least two locations, such as the device and a separate drive or cloud backup. Confirm that uploads finish, and periodically open a few files to verify they work. For especially important recordings, keep a second copy that is not subject to the same automatic sync or deletion rules.

Check the recording app’s save destination and available storage before starting a long capture. Export recordings you need to keep from an editing app, since a project library may not be a standalone video. Make sure you understand how each backup service handles deleted files and how long it retains them; those details can change with settings and service policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a screen recording after emptying Recently Deleted?
Possibly, if another copy exists in a backup, cloud Trash, another device, or a shared location. Without a copy, recovery depends on storage type and whether deleted data has been overwritten; success is not guaranteed.

Where do deleted screen recordings go on Android?
It depends on the Gallery or Photos app and where the recording was saved. Check the app’s Trash or Bin, any screen-recordings folder, and cloud storage used by the device.

Can I get back a deleted screen recording on an iPhone?
First check Photos > Recently Deleted and any app or cloud service used to save it. If it is not there, check backups made before deletion; restoring a backup may replace newer device data.

Does recording another video make recovery harder?
It can. New data may overwrite storage previously used by a deleted file, so stop saving files to the affected device or card if the recording is important.

Can recovery software restore every deleted video?
No. Results depend on the storage, deletion method, encryption, and whether data has been overwritten. Use trusted software carefully, save recovered files to another drive, and treat any success claim as uncertain.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.