Accidentally delete or lose your MXF videos? Do not worry. This comprehensive step-by-step guide from MiniTool will help you recover deleted MXF videos on Windows using quick methods. Moreover, it walks you through the steps to repair corrupted MXF videos.
Have you lost your MXF video files due to accidental deletion, hard drive formatting, file transfer errors, or other reasons? Or have you found that your MXF files are suddenly damaged and cannot be played?
As a commonly used file format in professional video production, MXF files play a great role. Once MXF videos are lost, it may affect the workflow. Do not worry, this article will take you to a comprehensive understanding of the MXF format and provide practical MXF video recovery and repair methods.
A Brief Introduction to MXF Video File Format
What Is MXF File
MXF, short for Material Exchange Format, is a container format for professional digital video and audio media, defined by a set of SMPTE standards. It is typically generated by high-end professional cameras and is widely used in professional video workflows.
What Program Opens MXF Files
Compared to MP4, MXF is not commonly used by general users, so not all media players support it. To open and play MXF files, you need a professional media player or video editing software that supports this format. Common MXF players or editing software include:
- VLC Media Player (free)
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- DaVinci Resolve
- Microsoft Clipchamp
How to Recover Deleted MXF Videos on Windows
After having a basic understanding of what an MXF file is, now you can start to recover deleted MXF videos.
Method 1. Use the Ctrl + Z Keyboard Shortcut
When an MXF video file is accidentally deleted, you can first try pressing the Ctrl + Z keyboard shortcut to undo the last operation. This shortcut is designed to reverse the most recent action in the following situations:
- You moved the file from one folder to another.
- You cut and pasted the file to the wrong location.
- You deleted the file from your computer.
- You renamed the file with an incorrect name.
- …
Method 2. Check the Recycle Bin
If the deleted MXF videos were stored on an internal hard drive or solid-state drive on your computer, they are usually sent to the Recycle Bin by default. Generally, the files remain there until the Recycle Bin is emptied.
So, when you notice the files have been deleted, double-click the Recycle Bin icon and check whether the required MXF videos exist. If yes, you can right-click the files and select Restore to recover them to their original locations. Alternatively, you can drag and drop them to any preferred folder.
If the target videos are not found in the Recycle Bin, you will need to try the following solutions.
Method 3. Use Professional Video Recovery Software – MiniTool Power Data Recovery
If the MXF videos are not in the Recycle Bin, these files may have been permanently deleted or bypassed the Recycle Bin. To recover them, you will need to rely on professional data recovery software. These tools can deeply scan your storage device and retrieve lost files even after deletion, formatting, or other complex situations.
Next, I will introduce professional data recovery software – MiniTool Power Data Recovery, and guide you through the recovery process step by step.
Does MiniTool Power Data Recovery support the MXF file format?
Yes, this tool supports the recovery of MXF files, along with many other video, audio, picture, document, and archive formats. As long as the deleted or lost files have not been overwritten by new data, this tool can help retrieve them.
What storage devices can MiniTool Power Data Recovery scan?
This free data recovery software can scan a wide range of file storage devices, including internal HDDs, SSDs, external hard disks, USB flash drives, SD cards, and more.
In which situations can MiniTool Power Data Recovery recover files?
This comprehensive file restore tool can recover files lost due to various reasons, such as accidental deletion, partition missing, disk formatting, drive corruption, virus infection, or even system crashes.
Is MiniTool Power Data Recovery free?
This software offers multiple editions, and the free edition allows you to recover up to 1 GB of data at no cost. For users who need to recover more data or access advanced features, there are Personal or Business editions available.
Now, download the free edition of this tool and use it to recover 1 GB of files for free.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 1. Launch the software to go to its main interface. Find the partition where the lost or deleted MXF files should exist, move your cursor on it, and click Scan.
Step 2. Once the full scan is done, you can go to the Type category and expand Audio & Video to find all MXF files. You can right-click on a file to change the view mode between list and thumbnails.
Step 3. Tick all required files and click the Save button. Then you will be prompted to choose a location to store the recovered files. Pick one separate from the original location and click OK to confirm.
Method 4. Turn to Data Recovery Services
It should be noted that if the MXF files were lost due to severe hard disk bad sectors or other physical failures, professional MXF video recovery software may not be able to recover your files. In such cases, it is recommended to seek help from a data recovery company equipped with specialized tools and technologies.
How to Protect MXF Videos Effectively
Next, I will explain how to protect your MXF files effectively.
Back up Videos Regularly
Develop a habit of backing up your MXF files regularly to multiple locations, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage. This ensures that you have a copy if the original videos are deleted or damaged.
If you are looking for robust data backup software, MiniTool ShadowMaker is recommended. You can use it to perform backup actions on a regular basis to keep data safe. Download its trial edition that supports a 30-day free trial and confirm whether it satisfies you.
MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 1. Run the backup tool and click Keep Trial to enter its main interface.
Step 2. Go to the Backup tab from the left-hand menu bar.
Step 3. In the right panel, click SOURCE > Folders and Files to select all the MXF videos you want to back up. Next, click DESTINATION and choose a location to store the backup image file.
Step 4. Click Options if you want to flexibly configure the backup type (full, incremental, or differential backup) and adjust the schedule settings.
Step 5. Click Back Up Now and wait for the backup process to finish.
When you need to recover your files, launch the software, go to the Restore tab, and then click Restore next to the target backup image file.
Use Reliable Storage Devices
Many file loss incidents are caused by disk failure. Using high-quality and reliable storage devices, such as hard drives or SD cards, can help reduce the risk of data loss. Typically, well-known and reputable manufacturers like Samsung, Western Digital, or Seagate have better quality control.
Monitor Disk Health
As time goes by, your disk may encounter issues such as bad sectors, file system corruption, or even physical damage. Pay attention to the disk’s health using tools like MiniTool Partition Wizard or CrystalDiskInfo, then you can identify potential problems in a timely manner.
Next, I will show you how to perform a surface test and check the file system integrity of your disk using MiniTool Partition Wizard, a free partition management tool.
Step 1. Click the download button to get MiniTool Partition Wizard.
MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 2. Select the disk partition and choose the option from the left panel:
- Surface Test: Check whether there are bad sectors on the selected partition. After scanning, the partition block with a reading error will be marked in red.
- Check File System: Check the file system of the partition and fix detected errors.
Do Not Skip the Recycle Bin
Human error also accounts for a significant share of file loss. When you delete an MXF file by pressing Shift + Delete, it bypasses the Recycle Bin and is permanently removed from your computer. This makes it difficult to recover the files if you accidentally delete them.
In addition to the Shift + Delete key combination, sometimes you may unknowingly set the deleted files to bypass the Recycle Bin. It is recommended to disable this option. On your desktop, right-click the Recycle Bin icon and select Properties. In the new window, make sure the option of “Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted.” is unchecked.
How to Repair Corrupted MXF Videos
Now you should know how to recover and protect your MXF video files. In the next part, I will explain how to deal with corrupted MXF videos.
Convert MXF to Another Format
The first way to fix corrupted video files or resolve playback errors is to convert the file to another format. However, this method only works when the video has minor issues. If the video file structure is severely damaged, the converted file may still be unplayable or corrupted.
How to convert MXF to another format?
Many online MXF converters support converting between MXF and MP4 or other video formats. You can search on Google and choose one that suits your needs.
If you prefer using a desktop program, MiniTool Video Converter can help you. This reliable tool has a clear and intuitive interface, allowing you to easily convert MXF files not only to MP4, but also to AVI, MOV, VOB, and more. If needed, you can download it for free and give it a try.
MiniTool Video Converter FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Use Video Repair Tool
If converting the MXF video to another format does not resolve the playback issue, the file is likely damaged at a deeper file structural level. In this case, it is recommended to use a professional video repair tool to do the corrupted MXF video repair. You can search on Google for a trusted tool that supports the MXF file format.
Bottom Line
To sum up, this article introduces several methods to recover deleted MXF videos, including using the Ctrl + Z keyboard shortcut, checking the Recycle Bin, using the MiniTool data recovery software, and turning to secure data recovery services.
It also provides a series of practical tips to protect your MXF videos from loss or inaccessibility. Finally, it explains how to repair corrupted MXF videos effectively.
If you encounter any issues or have any questions when using MiniTool’s products, please do not hesitate to send an email to the support team via [email protected].
Recover Deleted MXF Videos FAQ
If you accidentally delete files from an external drive, connect it to your computer, access the drive, and open the $Recycle.Bin folder to check whether your deleted files are still there.
If not, you can use MiniTool Power Data Recovery to perform external hard drive recovery.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Shirley graduated from English major and is currently an editor of MiniTool Team. She likes browsing and writing IT-related articles, and is committed to becoming a professional IT problem solver. The topic of her articles are generally about data recovery, data backup, and computer disk management, as well as other IT issues. In spare time, she likes watching movies, hiking and fishing.
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