The loss of an important video in the messenger is a stressful situation that many users face Android. It often happens that a video is deleted accidentally while cleaning dialogues, or the file disappears after updating an application or changing a smartphone. At this moment, device owners are looking for a way how to recover deleted video in Viber, hoping to return valuable memories or work information.
Data recovery in Viber has its own characteristics, since the messenger stores information both on servers and locally in the device’s memory. The success of the operation directly depends on how long ago the deletion occurred, whether you have automatic synchronization enabled, and whether third-party tools were used to create backups. In some cases, you can return the file in a couple of minutes, in others you will need a deep memory scan.
In this guide we will examine in detail all the available methods: from checking built-in backups to using specialized software. You will learn where to look for hidden folders with media files and how to act correctly so as not to permanently overwrite deleted data. The main thing is to act quickly and consistently, following the instructions below.
Checking the built-in Viber backup
The easiest and most reliable way to recover lost media files is to use the backup mechanism built into the messenger itself. Viber automatically creates backups of chats and media if this function has been activated in the settings in advance. However, it is important to understand that restoring from a backup copy will replace the current correspondence history with the one that was saved at the time the backup was created.
To check the availability of a current copy, you need to go to the application settings. Go to section Account → Viber backup. Here you will see the date of the last successful save of the data. If the video was recently deleted and a backup was made before this point, the chances of success are high. Local storage Google Drive may also contain current data if you have linked your account to it.
⚠️ Attention: The process of restoring from a backup copy will completely replace current chats with data from the backup. All messages and files received after the date the copy was created will be permanently deleted.
It is not enough to start the uninstallation procedure and reinstalling the application. You will need to perform a hard reset or reinstall Viber. When you first start it after entering your phone number, the system will offer to restore the history from the found backup. By agreeing, you will begin the data download process, which can take from several minutes to an hour depending on the size of media files.
What happens to the data during recovery?
When restoring from a backup, the SQLite database is overwritten. This means that the structure of folders and files within the application returns to its state at the time of the backup. Physical video files can be downloaded again from servers or restored from a local archive if it has not been cleared.
Searching for videos in the Android file system
Even if the video disappeared from the chat interface, its physical file could be saved in the internal memory of the smartphone. Messengers often cache received files, and simply deleting a message does not always immediately erase the file from the disk, especially if the autosave to gallery feature is enabled. Searching the file system is a critically important step before using complex software.
Use any file manager, for example Files by Google or the built-in Explorer. You need to go to the root directory of the internal memory and find a folder named Viber. The path may look like this: Internal memory → Viber → Viber Images or Viber Videos. In new versions Android (11 and higher), the path often changes to Android → media → com.viber.voip → Viber.
- 📂 Open the file manager and turn on the display of hidden files in the settings.
- 🔍 Go to the folder
Viberand check the subdirectoriesViber VideosandDownloads. - 📅 Sort files by modification date to find recent deletions.
- 💾 Check the folder
.thumbnailsthere may be smaller copies stored there video.
If you find a file with the extension .mp4 or .3gp, but it does not open or weighs 0 kb, this means that the data was damaged during deletion. In this case, conventional methods will not help, and you will need to use specialized utilities for data recovery. Do not try to open or edit the found files until you are sure of their integrity.
If you do not see the Viber folder in the root of the memory, try connecting the phone to the computer via USB and turning on the “File Transfer” mode. Sometimes the PC sees directories that are hidden from the phone’s built-in explorer.
Using data recovery apps
When built-in methods and manual search do not produce results, you have to resort to the help of third-party software. There are many utilities that claim to be able to recover deleted files from Android. The effectiveness of such apps varies and directly depends on the availability root access and the time that has passed since deletion.
Most modern recovery applications, such as Dr.Fone, DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver, work according to a similar algorithm. They scan the free space on the drive looking for file signatures. If the memory sector where the video was stored has not yet been overwritten with new data, the app will be able to reassemble the file. However, without superuser rights, the scan will be superficial and will only affect the cache.
| app name | Presence of Root | Scan type | Probability of success |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiskDigger | Optional | Cache and thumbnails | Medium |
| Dr.Fone | Recommended | Deep | High |
| Tenorshare UltData | Required | Full | High |
| Recuva (via PC) | Not required | Superficial | Low |
To achieve For maximum results, it is recommended to connect your smartphone to your computer and run the desktop version of the app. This will provide a more stable connection and allow for detailed sector scanning. Before starting the procedure, make sure that the phone's battery is charged at least 50% to avoid interrupting the process.
⚠️ Attention: Installing recovery apps directly on the same drive (internal memory) from which you want to recover data may result in overwriting deleted files. Use a memory card or computer to install the software.
Recovery via cloud services and Gallery
Many users forget that their smartphones automatically synchronize media files with cloud storage. Even if the video is deleted from the chat Viber and from the messenger folder, a copy of it could be saved in the cloud. This is one of the safest methods that does not require installing suspicious software.
Check the application Google Photos. Go to the “Library” section and select “Trash”. Deleted files are kept there for 30 days (or 60 days if subscription is enabled). It's also worth checking the Archive folder and automatically created albums. If you have a smartphone Samsung, Xiaomi or Huaweithey have their own galleries with a built-in recycle bin.
- ☁️ Open Google Photos and check the folder "Trash".
- 📱 Go to the standard "Gallery" of your smartphone and find the "Recently Deleted" section.
- 📂 Check cloud drives: Google Drive, Yandex.Disk, Dropboxif you have auto-sync.
- 🔄 In the gallery settings, see if synchronization with the manufacturer's account is enabled.
Often videos from Viber automatically saved to the shared camera or downloads folder if “Save to gallery” is checked in the messenger settings. In this case, deleting in chat does not affect the file in the shared gallery, and it remains available through cloud synchronization. This is a common situation that users forget about.
Cloud services store deleted files in the recycle bin for a limited time. The faster you check Google Photos or the manufacturer's cloud, the higher the chance of finding the video untouched.
Request data from the interlocutor and archive chats
Sometimes the most obvious solution turns out to be the most effective. If the video was sent to you by another user or you sent it to someone, a copy of the file is guaranteed to exist on the interlocutor's device. Viber does not delete files on the recipients' devices when clearing the chat on your phone.
Simply write to the person with whom you were corresponding and ask to forward the file. This will take less time than trying to recover data using technical means. In addition, this is an excellent reason to set up the function archiving chats for the future, so that important dialogues are not lost when accidentally cleared.
To archive a chat in Viber you need to hold your finger on the dialogue in the list and select the box icon with an arrow down. Archived chats are hidden from the general list, but are not deleted. They can be found at the very bottom of the list of dialogs or in a separate “Archive” folder. This protects correspondence from accidental deletion, since deleting an archived chat requires additional steps.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and location of functions in Viber may vary depending on the application version and smartphone model. Current settings can always be found in the official help center of the messenger.
☑️ Action plan in case of video loss
Preventing data loss in the future
In order to no longer face the problem of losing important media files, you need to configure the backup system correctly. Prevention is always more effective and cheaper than restoration. Regularly creating backups ensures that you can roll back the system to a state where all data was safe.
In the settings Viber enable automatic backup to Google Drive. Select the frequency "Daily" or "Weekly". Also, in the “Storage and Data” section, activate the “Save to Gallery” option for all incoming media or only for selected contacts. This will create a duplicate file in your phone's secure storage.
Regularly audit important files and copy them to your computer or external storage device. Don't keep the only copy of an important video in Messenger. Using cloud storage in conjunction with local backups creates multi-level data protection, which is almost impossible to break through accidental deletion.
Why does the video get corrupted during recovery?
The Android file system marks the location of the deleted file as free. If new data is written to this space (photos, browser cache, application updates), the structure of the old video is destroyed. The recovered file may contain artifacts, green bars, or not play at all.
Is it possible to restore a video if more than a month has passed?
The probability is extremely low. Over the course of a month, the internal memory of a smartphone is repeatedly overwritten with new data. However, if the file was saved in the cloud or on an SD card that was not actively used, there is a chance.
Are root access needed to recover videos from Viber?
For deep scanning of internal memory - yes, they are required. Without root access, apps see only the cache and thumbnails. But to search in the cloud or the Trash folder, you do not need superuser rights.
Will restoring new messages from the backup?
Yes. When restoring from a backup, the database is rolled back to the date the backup was created. All messages and files received after this date will be lost if they are not saved separately.
Where are videos from Viber secret chats stored?
Videos from secret chats are not saved to the gallery and do not go into regular backups. They are encrypted and stored only in RAM while viewing. It is almost impossible to restore them after closing the chat.
Will connecting to a PC help with recovery?
Yes, connecting to a PC allows you to use more powerful data recovery software, which has more functionality than mobile applications. This also eliminates the risk of overwriting data when installing software on the phone.