How do I recover a deleted video in Premiere Pro?

To recover a deleted video in Premiere Pro, you'll generally need to restore a previous version of your project folder from a backup or system restore point. Premiere Pro itself doesn't have a built-in "undelete" function for individual media files once they're permanently deleted from your system. Here's how you can attempt recovery:

Restoring from a Previous Version (Windows)

Windows often keeps previous versions of folders. This is your best bet for recovering a video deleted outside of Premiere Pro but referenced within the project.

1. Locate the Project Folder: Find the folder where your Premiere Pro project (.prproj file) is stored.
2. Right-Click and Select Restore: Right-click on the folder.
3. Choose "Restore previous versions": A window will open displaying available previous versions.
4. Select a Version: Pick a version of the folder before the video was deleted. Consider the date and time.
5. Click "Restore": Click the "Restore" button. Windows will replace the current folder with the older version. Caution: This will overwrite any changes made since that previous version. Consider copying the previous version to a new location first.
6. Check your Premiere Pro Project: Open your Premiere Pro project. If the deleted video was located within this restored folder, Premiere Pro should recognize it again. If the video was linked to the project from elsewhere, you'll still need to restore the video file itself (see below).

Restoring the Video File Itself

If the video file itself was deleted outside of Premiere Pro, you'll need to use these methods:

• Check the Recycle Bin: The first place to look is always the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (macOS). Restore the file if it's there.

• Use Data Recovery Software: If the Recycle Bin/Trash is empty, you'll need data recovery software. There are many options, both free and paid, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill. These programs scan your hard drive for deleted files and attempt to recover them. Important: Stop using the drive where the video was stored as soon as you realize the file is missing to increase the chances of successful recovery.

• Restore from a Backup: If you have a regular backup system in place (Time Machine on macOS, Windows Backup, or a third-party backup solution), restore the video file from your most recent backup.

Restoring Auto-Saved Premiere Pro Project Files

While these methods won't directly restore the video file, they can help recover a project that references the now-missing video:

1. Locate the Auto-Save Folder: By default, Premiere Pro auto-saves project files periodically. The location of this folder is defined in Premiere Pro's preferences. Go to Edit > Preferences > Auto Save. The path to the Auto Save folder will be displayed there.
2. Find a Recent Auto-Save: In the Auto Save folder, look for the most recent version of your project file (.prproj) before the video was deleted.
3. Open the Auto-Saved Project: Open the auto-saved project in Premiere Pro.

Important Considerations:

• Premiere Pro's Media Management: Premiere Pro links to media files. If you delete the source media file, Premiere Pro won't have access to it, even if it's referenced in your project.
• Preventing Future Data Loss: Implement a solid backup strategy to protect your video files and project files. Consider using cloud storage, external hard drives, or network-attached storage (NAS) for redundancy. Save your projects often and consider increasing the frequency of Premiere Pro's auto-save feature.
• Deleted Clips within Premiere Pro: If you deleted a clip (an instance of the video within your timeline) in Premiere Pro but didn't delete the underlying source video file, you can simply undo the deletion (Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z) or find the original clip in your Project panel.