Summary: This post shares how to recover CCTV/ DVR video footages lost due to deletion and corruption. It shares the best CCTV data recovery software that restores lost videos in original format. Also, know important checkpoints and ‘Don’ts’ when you face CCTV footage evidence loss.
Contents
Usually, the CCTV or surveillance camera video recordings are saved using either DVRs (digital video recorders) or NVRs (network video recorders) depending on the type of security camera. The DVR/NVR software saves the footage on external hard drives, USB Stick, and SD card of different sizes that enables you to save and view the videos later. But sometimes, hardware or software issues might occur that can lead to DVR/ NVR video corruption or footage loss. The CCTV security camera video loss issue can be related to:
Surveillance or CCTV camera videos and images are automatically recorded and archived via DVR/NVR in the hard drive, SSD, memory cards, USB drives, Cloud, or portable media players. The lost videos or photos on these drives can be easily recovered either from backup, CCTV recovery tool or at an ISO certified data center.
If you have maintained a backup of your security camera videos and photos at Cloud or other external drive, restore the videos from there.
The CCTV DVR recovery software — Stellar Photo Recovery comes to your rescue when you haven’t maintained any backup of lost videos or photos on a security camera. The software helps in CCTV videos and photos recovery from any data loss situation. Stellar Photo Recovery can scan CCTV hard disks up to 6 TB and recovers all DVR/ NVR formats of image and video files. The software can also recover lost videos from Wi-Fi security cameras.
Note: If you do not see the required footage in the list, opt for Deep Scan option at the bottom.
This method is the last resort in case of physically damaged DVR/NVR drive. If the security camera’s hard drive is physically damaged, you can retrieve its photos or video recordings at an ISO-certified data recovery center. These service centers are capable to recover lost data safely and securely from physically damaged CCTV hard disks.
Often due to virus infection, camera malfunction, read and write errors, or while copying the files to another drive the DVR/NVR videos may not play properly and get corrupt. The security camera videos may get jerky, jittery, flickering, or distorted. In such situations, Stellar Repair for Video is an effective tool to repair your corrupt videos. It can repair all types of visual and sound corruption in security camera videos. The software can repair security camera formats like MOV, MP4, M4V, 3G2, 3GP, and F4V.
Overwritten files mean videos or images were deleted from the storage drive and then another footage was written (saved) upon that unused file cluster on the storage drive. So clearly speaking, it is impossible to restore overwritten CCTV footage.
But having said that, some recovery tools such as Stellar Photo Recovery, are able to scan the DVR/ NVR drives by using file signature. And if they manage to find traces of file information, they may recover overwritten CCTV footage as well.
So you may try advanced recovery software once to restore overwritten CCTV footage.
Whichever brand and type of surveillance cameras you are using, be it – Foscam, Night Owl cameras, Swann CCTV, Netgear, Hikvision, or Zmodo, etc., below checkpoints, will help you prevent losing photos and videos in the future.
Although today’s security cameras are getting smarter and more advanced, they are not free from data loss and corruption issues. Thanks to CCTV recovery software such as Stellar Photo Recovery you can retrieve lost footage from all types of surveillance cameras.
So at the time of video loss, do not panic. First check the hardware setup including the wire/cable connections, internet connectivity, NVR/DVR ports, etc. If all is well with the surveillance system, recover the video loss on the security camera by using the software.
Remember to follow the good practice of keeping backup, so that even if your camera or storage device gets corrupt or stolen, you still have the video or photo evidence.
Sumona is a tech blogger, avid photographer, & technogeek with vast experience in writing about media file recovery tips and tutorials. She has over 10 years of experience in media file recovery/media file repair technology. She is passionate about Photography, Creative Designing, Music, and Exploring lesser-known destinations.
I took the backup but now I can’t find those footage from the backup. Please help.
Hi Ted,
If you have taken the backup of the footage, then it must be in any one of the folders. Check thoroughly and see if you can find those. Else try to perform the above steps mentioned in the blog to recover your lost footage.
I have transferred the CCTV footages from my drive to my computer, then I formatted the drive. Now due to some corruption, I can’t find those footage on my PC. Will your software be able to recover those footage?
Hi Ash,
Yes, our software, Stellar Photo Recovery will definitely find and recover your lost CCTV footage from your drive as well as your computer. All you have to do is just download the software and scan the listed drives to look for the footage you want back.
2 days video was recovered. Thanks.
Hi, I was wondering if you could recover old surveillance footage from security cameras from September 2018?
Hi Desmond,
Try our Stellar Photo Recovery software. You should be able to recover old footage from security camera. Thanks!
does how old video file is matters when I want to repair it?
Hi Desmond,
Yes. However old your files are, our video repair software can repair it.
Thanks!
Is it possible to track and trace cctv footage that
Was 5 year old
Hi Arjun, We would like to inform you that the demo software will work on the preview basis that means it will show the preview your deleted or lost files.
However, if the software is not showing preview that those videos will not be recovered possibly by the software.
We also provide manual repairing services for videos, if the client is interested then he can contact on support[@]stellarinfo.com for that.
It’s amazing in support oof me to have a site, which is
beneficial in favor of my experience. thanks admin
Hi Cornelius, Thanks for sharing your valuable feedback with us!
This often happens to us that we lost videos and we are looking for the ultimate solution to recover those. This content provides a stepwise method to recover those lost videos from the security system or surveillance camera.
Hi Philip, Thanks for sharing your valuable feedback with us. keep reading for our next updates!
Awesome post, thanks for sharing.
ok i found it thanks to your post i was able to google search live frame. upon doing that i found it on same asus site with all drivers ect. it was under utilities. so yea even thou video wasn’t what i was after it informed me of what the software was called…A++ Thanks Man Saved me allot time
Dear Alisha, Thanks for your words and Keep reading for our next updates!