How to Recover Lost Videos and Photos from Insta360 Camera?

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Insta360 cameras have become increasingly popular among vloggers, content creators, and travel enthusiasts for their 360-degree videos and high-quality photos. However, like any digital device, they are not immune to data loss. Losing your cherished videos or photos can be stressful, whether it happens due to accidental deletion, SD card corruption, or software glitches.

Fortunately, several reliable methods exist to recover lost files from your Insta360 camera, including using cloud backups, SD card recovery tools, and file repair software.

This guide provides a comprehensive step-by-step approach to recovering lost videos and photos from Insta360 camera, helping you get your memories back safely and efficiently.

Why Videos and Photos Get Lost on Insta360 Cameras

Understanding why data loss occurs can help you prevent it in the future. Common reasons include:

Accidental Deletion

Users may accidentally delete files directly from the camera or through the Insta360 mobile app. Once deleted, these files may not appear in the recycle bin, making them inaccessible.

Corrupted SD Cards

Removing the SD card while recording, abrupt power loss, or physical damage can corrupt the files, rendering them unreadable.

File System Errors

SD cards formatted incorrectly or damaged file systems can prevent your camera from saving or reading videos properly.

Firmware or Software Glitches

Camera firmware or app crashes can sometimes result in missing files, especially during long recording sessions.

Other Causes

Viruses, malware, or accidental formatting of the SD card can also lead to permanent file loss.

Knowing these scenarios emphasizes the importance of handling your SD cards carefully and backing up your files regularly.

Preparing for Insta360 Camera Data Recovery

Before attempting recovery, it is crucial to take some preparatory steps:

Stop Using the SD Card or Camera

Continuing to record or save new files may overwrite the deleted files, making recovery impossible. Always remove the SD card and avoid using the camera until recovery is complete.

Check Basic Backups

Many users overlook the Insta360 app’s cloud backup feature. Files may already be saved in your Insta360 account, especially if auto-upload is enabled. Check both cloud storage and any local backups on your computer or phone.

Gather Required Tools

• USB card reader: For connecting the SD card to a computer.
• Data recovery software: Popular options include Disk Drill, EaseUS, Recuva, and Wondershare Recoverit.
• Insta360 official software: Insta360 Studio can repair certain corrupted INSV files.

2 Methods to Recover Lost Videos and Photos from Insta360 Camera

Method 1. Using the Insta360 App or Cloud

Insta360 cameras often sync with the Insta360 app on your mobile device. If you have enabled auto-upload to the cloud, recovery is straightforward:

1. Open the Insta360 app on your mobile device.
2. Log in to your Insta360 account.
3. Navigate to Cloud Storage or Album.
4. Look for the lost files. Deleted files may appear in a "Recently Deleted" folder.
5. Select the files and choose Restore or Download.

Limitations:

• Cloud backups depend on subscription plans (some free accounts have limited storage).
• Files deleted long ago may not be recoverable.

Method 2. Using Data Recovery Software

When cloud backups are unavailable or incomplete, SD card recovery is the most effective way to retrieve lost videos and photos from your Insta360 camera. This method works for both Windows and Mac users and is compatible with most Insta360 camera models.

Step 1: Connect the SD Card to Your Computer

Remove the SD card carefully from your Insta360 camera. Use a high-quality USB card reader; cheap or faulty readers can fail to read damaged cards properly.

Insert the card reader into your computer.

• On Windows: The SD card should appear as a new drive under This PC.
• On Mac: The SD card should appear in Finder or on the desktop as a mounted drive.

💡 Tip: If the SD card is not recognized, try another card reader or port. Sometimes switching computers helps, as some systems handle damaged file systems better than others.

Step 2: Choose a Reliable Data Recovery Software

There are multiple software options, each with its strengths. Selecting the right one can increase your chances of successful recovery:

Donemax Data Recovery (Windows/Mac)

• Pros: Can recover INSV (Insta360 video format), MP4, JPEG, PNG. Deep Scan detects files even from corrupted or formatted cards.
• Cons: The free version has a file size limit.

Disk Drill (Windows/Mac)

• Pros: User-friendly interface; allows previewing of recovered videos and photos before saving.
• Cons: Full version requires a paid license for unlimited recovery.

Recuva (Windows only)

• Pros: Free and lightweight; good for recovering recently deleted files.
• Cons: Limited support for proprietary INSV video format; may require converting files afterward.

Wondershare Recoverit (Windows/Mac)

• Pros: Excellent for recovering corrupted or formatted SD cards; supports a wide range of video formats.
• Cons: Slower scan speeds on large cards.

💡 Tip: If you have a large SD card (64GB or higher), choose software with Deep Scan mode for higher success rates.

Step 3: Scan the SD Card

Open your selected recovery software. Select the SD card as the target device to scan. Choose a scanning method (Donemax Data Recovery will run deep scan automatically):

• Quick Scan: Faster but may miss corrupted or formatted files.
• Deep Scan: Slower but thorough; can detect almost all recoverable files.

Click Scan and wait. Scanning time depends on the card size, speed, and level of corruption. For example:

• 32GB card: 20–40 minutes for deep scan.
• 128GB card: 1–2 hours or more.

💡 Tip: Avoid interrupting the scan. Doing so may reduce the chance of full recovery.

Step 4: Preview and Recover Files

• After the scan is complete, most software allows you to preview recoverable files. This is useful to ensure you only recover what is needed.
• Filter results by file type:
  • Photos: JPEG, PNG
  • Videos: INSV, MP4, MOV
• Select the files you want to recover.
• Important: Save recovered files to a different drive, not the same SD card. Writing files to the original SD card may overwrite lost files, making recovery impossible.

💡 Tip for INSV files: INSV is a proprietary Insta360 video format. If the file preview fails after recovery, don’t panic. Recovered INSV files can often be repaired or converted using Insta360 Studio or third-party repair tools.

Repair Corrupted or Partially Recovered Files

Sometimes recovery restores files that are corrupted or unplayable. Insta360 provides tools to repair such files:

Using Insta360 Studio

1. Download and install Insta360 Studio on Windows or Mac.
2. Open the recovered INSV file.
3. Use the Repair or Convert option to save the file as a usable INSV or MP4.

Using Third-Party Repair Tools

• Stellar Repair for Video
• Wondershare Repairit
• VLC Media Player (for minor repair attempts)

Always preview repaired files before deleting the original corrupted versions.

Tips to Prevent Future Data Loss on Insta360 Camera

Prevention is always better than recovery. Implement these best practices to safeguard your files:

• Regular Backups: Upload your videos and photos to the Insta360 cloud, Google Drive, or an external hard drive.
• Safely Eject SD Cards: Avoid removing SD cards while the camera is recording or transferring files.
• Use High-Quality SD Cards: Insta360 cameras work best with UHS-I/U3 SD cards to prevent corruption.
• Firmware and App Updates: Keep your camera firmware and mobile app updated to minimize software-related data loss.
• Avoid Frequent Formatting: Only format SD cards in the camera when necessary.

FAQs about Data Recovery for Insta360 Camera

🇶 1: Can I recover permanently deleted Insta360 files?

Yes, if they haven’t been overwritten. Recovery software can often restore permanently deleted files.

🇶 2: Which SD card types are safest for Insta360 cameras?

UHS-I, U3, or V30 cards with high write speed are recommended for smooth recording and reduced corruption risk.

🇶 3: Does recovery software work for all Insta360 camera models?

Yes, as long as the SD card or internal storage is accessible. Proprietary formats like INSV can be repaired with Insta360 Studio.

🇶 4: How long does recovery take?

Scan time depends on SD card size and software. Deep scans of large 128GB or 256GB cards can take 1–3 hours.

Conclusion

Losing videos or photos from an Insta360 camera can be frustrating, but with the right approach, most files can be recovered. Start by checking cloud backups, then move to SD card recovery using reliable software. For corrupted files, Insta360 Studio and third-party repair tools can restore your precious footage.

By following these steps and implementing preventive measures, you can protect your Insta360 memories and minimize the risk of future data loss. Remember: the key is acting quickly, avoiding further use of the affected SD card, and maintaining regular backups.

With patience and the right tools, it’s entirely possible to recover lost videos and photos from your Insta360 camera and preserve your most valuable moments.