What Is MP4? How to Repair/Recover MP4 Video Files?

Issue: My MP4 Videos Are Missing/Corrupted

With the widespread use of digital media, the MP4 format has become the mainstream standard for video storage and distribution.

However, in our daily lives, MP4 video file loss or corruption is not uncommon. Such issues not only impact your experience but can also lead to the permanent loss of critical content.

This article aims to identify common causes of MP4 video file loss and corruption. And it also explores practical recovery and repair methods. Now, read on to repair and recover MP4 video.

What Are MP4 Files

At the beginning, I would like to introduce MP4 to you. MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is a widely used digital multimedia container format. It is used to store content such as videos, audio, subtitles, and images.

This file format was designed for efficient compression and flexible packaging. It results in small file sizes and high-quality content. These features make it particularly suitable for online streaming and cross-platform playback.

MP4 files use the .mp4 extension and support a variety of encoding methods, making them easy to play on mobile phones, computers, televisions, and web pages.

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Why Does MP4 File Loss and Corruption Occur

Here, you can know why MP4 videos are lost or damaged. These two situations can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

For MP4 loss:

• Accidental deletion: You may accidentally delete MP4 video files.
• Formatted device: The storage device was accidentally formatted, erasing all data.
• System crash or power outage: The write process was interrupted, preventing the file from being saved.
• Virus attack: Malware deleted or quarantined the MP4 file.
• Device failure: The hard drive, USB drive, or SD card was damaged, resulting in file loss.

For MP4 corruption:

• Transfer interruption: The transmission or saving process was interrupted by a power outage or disconnection.
• Software crash: The recording, editing, or conversion software unexpectedly crashed.
• Storage media issues: There were bad sectors on the hard drive, SD card, or USB drive.
• Malware or virus attack: Malware and viruses corrupted MP4 video files.

After knowing the possible causes, you can start recovering lost MP4s. The following content provides solutions based on Windows and Mac respectively. Follow the solutions that match your operating system.

How to Recover MP4 Video Files on Windows

If your MP4 video files are lost on Windows, this part is suitable for you.

Way 1: Restore from the Recycle Bin

When you need to recover lost files on Windows, it is usually best to check the Recycle Bin first. This is because deleted files are often temporarily stored in the Recycle Bin and not completely erased.

Here is how to recover MP4 video from the Recycle Bin:

Step 1:Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop.

Step 2:Browse the list to find the MP4 files you want to restore.

Step 3:Once you have found the target files, select and right-click them. Choose Restore from the pop-up menu.

The files will be restored to the original location. If you have emptied the Recycle Bin, this method will not work. Continue with the next way.

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Way 2: Try MiniTool Power Data Recovery

In terms of recovering files, data recovery software is the best choice. Here, I recommend MiniTool Power Data Recovery to you.

This tool can recover MP4 files even after accidental deletion, formatting, or virus attacks. Its powerful scanning and recovery capabilities can recover data from hard drives, SD cards, USB flash drives, and other devices.

This MiniTool tool allows you to preview MP4 videos before recovery to ensure they are correct. For lightweight video recovery needs, the free edition, with its 1 GB free recovery capacity, is sufficient.

Step 1: Download and launch the software

Download and install MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free by clicking the following button. After that, open the software to recover MP4 video.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 2: Scan the location where the lost MP4 files were stored

MiniTool Power Data Recovery provides multiple scanning entrances. In the main interface, you can see the following three parts:

• Logical Drives: Displays all recognized partitions, including existing partitions, lost partitions, and unallocated space.
• Recover From Specific Location: Provides a quick scan of the Desktop, the Recycle Bin, or a specific folder.
• Devices: Lists all connected physical storage devices, such as internal hard drives, external hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, etc.

Select a location and click Scan to start the scan process.

Step 3: Locate the MP4 file format list or search for MP4

After the scan is finished, switch to the Type bar and expand All File Types > Audio & Video > mp4. All MP4 files will be arranged on the right.

You can also enter mp4 or the partial or full file name in the Search box and press Enter to see the matching files.

Step 4: Preview the MP4 files before recovery

Previewing MP4 files is an important step before recovery. It can determine if they are correct and complete. This helps prevent the risk of accidentally recovering invalid files.

In the scanning results page, double-click the file you want to view, and MiniTool will open a built-in player window. You can watch the entire video.

Step 5: Save the MP4 files to a new and safe location

After confirming all the MP4 files, tick them and click the Save button. There will be a window prompting you to choose a storage path. It is best to select a new location to avoid file overwriting. Finally, click OK. The program will start recovering the files.

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How to Recover MP4 Video Files on Mac

This part provides two methods for Mac users to recover MP4 video files.

Way 1: Put Back from the Trash

Mac also has a temporary storage place for deleted files called Trash. When your MP4 files are lost on Mac, you can check the Trash first.

Step 1: Click the Trash icon in the Dock.

Step 2: Browse the list to find the MP4 files you want.

Step 3: Once found, select them, right-click, and choose Put Back from the pop-up menu.

The files will automatically be restored to the original path. Similarly, if the Trash is emptied, you will need to use data recovery software.

Way 2: Use Stellar Data Recovery for Mac

Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is ideal for MP4 file recovery because it boasts a powerful suite of features designed for almost all file formats.

This tool can recover deleted, formatted, or corrupted MP4 files, no matter the source is your Mac’s internal disks, external hard drives, SD cards, or USB drives.

It’s compatible with file systems like APFS, HFS+, and exFAT. And the simple operation makes the scanning and recovery process easy, even for non-technical users.

Step 1: Download and open the software

Click the following button to download and install Stellar Data Recovery for Mac on your computer. After the installation is over, launch it to recover MP4 videos.

Data Recovery for MacClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 2: Select the file type to scan

On the What To Recover page, check only Videos under the Or Customize Your Scan section to speed up the scan. Click Next to continue.

Step 3: Select the disk to scan

Go to the Recover From tab, select the partition or disk you want to recover files from, and then click Scan.

Step 4: Find the required MP4 videos

After the scan is complete, browse the scan results to find the target MP4 video files.

Step 5: Recover the selected files

Tick all the target files and click the Recover button. The trial edition only includes free scan and preview functions. To recover files, you must activate it. Click Get Now to get the activation code.

I believe you have recovered the MP4 files successfully. Now, let’s repair your corrupted videos together.

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How to Repair Corrupted MP4

MP4 file corruption is frustrating, but don’t worry, there are always ways to do an MP4 repair. Try the following fixes one by one.

Fix 1: Utilize VLC Media Player

VLC media player isn’t just a versatile video player; it also offers basic video repair capabilities, especially for damaged MP4 files. This tool is free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. And it provides different methods to repair corrupted MP4s.

Option 1: Use VLC’s Convert feature

Step 1: Open VLC media player and click Media > Convert / Save from the menu bar.

Step 2: In the pop-up window, click Add and select your damaged MP4 file.

Step 3: Click the Convert / Save button.

Step 4: In Profile, select Video – H.265 + MP3 (MP4).

Step 5: Click Browse to set the output file location and click Start.

VLC will attempt to repair the video file during the conversion process. The repaired video will be saved in the folder you specified. Try to see if it plays properly.

Option 2: Try the Always fix feature

The Always fix feature automatically attempts to repair structural errors in damaged MP4 files when playing them.

Step 1: Create a copy of the MP4 file and change the extension to AVI.

Step 2: Open VLC media player, click Tools, and choose Preferences.

Step 3: Switch to the Input / Codecs section.

Step 4: Click the Damaged or incomplete AVI file box to select Always fix.

Step 5: Hit the Save button.

Step 6: Open the renamed AVI file by using VLC. VLC will attempt to repair and play the video automatically.

VLC’s repair capabilities are limited and are suitable for videos with mild damage or index errors. If the MP4 file is severely damaged, refer to the following fixes.

Fix 2: Run the FFmpeg Command

FFmpeg can also repair MP4 files. It restores playback functionality by rebuilding the video index, ignoring damaged frames, and repackaging the file structure.

Step 1: Download and install FFmpeg from the official website.

Step 2: Open an administrative Command Prompt or Terminal (Admin).

Step 3: Type the following command and press Enter. Replace xxx.mp4 with the name of your damaged file.

• To check MP4 file errors: ffmpeg -v error -i xxx.mp4 -f null – 2>errorlog.txt
• To repair MP4 file (Stream repair): ffmpeg -i xxx.mp4 -c copy repaired.mp4
• To rebuild moov atom of your MP4: ffmpeg -i xxx.mp4 -movflags faststart -c copy repaired_faststart.mp4

After executing these commands, go and check if your MP4 files are in good condition.

Fix 3: Seek an Online Video Repair Service

When local tools like VLC or FFmpeg can’t repair your MP4, you have to seek an online video repair service.

These services analyze healthy video samples of the same type to reconstruct the damaged file’s structure and data streams. They are particularly effective for severely damaged MP4 files.

How to Protect Your Important MP4 Videos

Finally, let’s look at some suggestions on how to protect MP4 files. The key is to establish good storage and backup habits, as well as to prevent unexpected risks. Here are some practical and effective strategies.

• Back up your files regularly: Copy your MP4 files to an external hard drive or cloud storage to ensure you have multiple, secure copies.
• Use high-quality storage devices: Choose a hard drive, USB drive, or SD card from a reliable brand to reduce the risk of hardware failure.
• Safely remove external devices: Use the Safely Remove Hardware or Eject Media function before unplugging a storage device.
• Avoid sudden power outages or shutdowns: Maintain a stable power supply while recording or editing videos to prevent damage to the file structure.
• Use compatible video codecs: Ensure that your MP4 files are compatible with your playback or editing software.

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To Summary

This article provides several methods to help you repair and recover MP4 video files. Let’s summarize them.

To recover MP4 videos, check the Recycle Bin and Trash first, then consider using data recovery software. MiniTool Power Data Recovery and Stellar Data Recovery for Mac are highly recommended.

To repair MP4s, VLC media player and FFmpeg can help. If that fails, seek an online repair service. Hope your MP4 will function normally again.

If you have any questions about the MiniTool product, feel free to contact us at [email protected].