How to Recover Dash Cam Footage After Accidental Deletion or Formatting

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A dash cam has become a must-have accessory for modern drivers.

It records valuable footage that can serve as critical evidence during accidents or disputes on the road. However, one problem many users encounter is accidentally deleting important footage or formatting the memory card, leading to the loss of vital videos.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to recover deleted or formatted dash cam footage, and how to prevent this issue from happening again in the future.

Why Does Footage Disappear?

Before jumping into recovery, it’s helpful to understand the causes of data loss:

1. Accidental deletion – Manually deleting important files by mistake
2. Unintended formatting – Formatting the memory card without realizing it contained vital footage
3. Loop recording – Most dash cams overwrite old footage when the card is full
4. Card corruption or device malfunction – Memory errors or damage to the card or device itself

Steps to Recover Deleted Dash Cam Videos

1. Stop using the memory card immediately

Once you realize the footage is lost, stop recording or using the card. Any new data written to the card could overwrite the deleted files, making recovery impossible.

2. Remove the card from the dash cam

Take the microSD card out of the dash cam and connect it to your computer using a reliable card reader.

3. Use trusted data recovery software

There are several tools designed to recover files from memory cards, including:

• • • Recuva
    • EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
    • Disk Drill
    • PhotoRec

These tools support recovering video files from FAT32 and exFAT file systems, which are commonly used in dash cams.

4. Scan the card for recoverable files

Open the software, select the card drive, and begin the scanning process. The scan may take a few minutes depending on the size and condition of the card.

5. Save recovered files to a different drive

Never save the recovered files back to the original card. This could overwrite other recoverable data. Instead, use an external hard drive or USB stick.

How to Prevent Future Data Loss

• Back up dash cam footage regularly
• Disable loop recording if unnecessary
• Use high-quality, endurance-rated memory cards
• Configure your dash cam to “lock” critical videos so they can’t be deleted or overwritten

Accidentally deleting or formatting your dash cam footage can be stressful — especially if the videos are related to an accident or legal matter. Fortunately, modern recovery software can help retrieve lost data, but prevention is always the best strategy. Be proactive by regularly backing up and handling your memory card with care.

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