How to Recover Deleted M2TS Video Files

Can I Recover Deleted M2TS Files?

Yes, it is possible to recover deleted M2TS files, but the success rate may vary due to different factors.

1️⃣ First, be sure there is no physical damage.

2️⃣ The degree of data loss also affects, and it's usually related to possible reasons, such as accidental deletion, power failure, formatting the disk without backup, file system errors, viruses or malware, etc.

3️⃣ Data overwritten also matters. Please be sure:

• Stop using theBlu-ray disc, HD cameras, SD cards, etc., immediately.
• Don’t capture new videos using your digital camcorder or video camera.
• Act promptly to recover deleted M2TS files.

In most cases, if there is no physical damage and the data is not overwritten, it will be much easier to recover deleted M2TS files using powerful data recovery software.

What Is an M2TS File?

M2TS, also known as MPEG-2 Transport Stream or BDAV (Blu-ray Disc Audio-Video), was developed by Blu-Ray Disc Association, which was introduced in 2004 and consists of several major companies, such as Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, Hitachi, Samsung Electronics, etc.

It is a video container format that compresses video, audio, and metadata, primarily related to AVCHD footage recorded by camcorders and commonly used for storing high-definition videos on Blu-ray discs, AVCHD, hard drives, HD cameras, SD cards, and other devices.

The video compressions support H.262/MPEG-2 Part 2 H.264/MPEG-4/MPEG-4 AVC codecs, while audio formatting uses Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD. It uses Variable Rate (VBR) Transport Streams to optimize the storage size.

📌📌 What is the footage format in AVCHD?

The footage recorded in AVCHD is saved as .mts but converted to .m2ts when transferred to your system. It can be played on devices supporting playback ofAVCHD, such as Sony PlayStation 3s, Sony Bravia TVs, Western Digital WDTVs, Xtreamer media player, etc.

📌📌How to open .m2ts files on a Windows PC?

You may receive an error message like “Windows cannot open this file” if you try to open the M2TS file directly on a Windows PC. It requires a specified program in the following:

• Microsoft Windows Media Player
• File Viewer Plus
• Roxio Creator NXT Pro 7
• CyberLink PowerDVD 20
• MAGIX VEGAS Pro 18
• VideoLAN VLC media player

To open M2TS files, locate and right-click it, and select Open with and the desired program, such as VideoLAN VLC media player.

How to Recover Deleted M2TS Files

AOMEI FastRecovery is one of the best data recovery software, released by AOMEI Tech, a leader in the data recovery industry, which can help you handle different data loss scenarios and recover deleted M2TS files in Windows 7, 8, 10, Windows 11, etc., easily and quickly.

AOMEI FastRecovery

Best File Recovery Software for Windows

• Recover data in any scenario, such as permanent deletions, disk formatting, system crashes, virus attacks, etc.
• Recover deleted M2TS videos as well asMP4, MOV, M2T, MTS, AVI, ASF, WMV, RM, FLV, QSV, RMVB, X3F, etc.
• 🔥 Top algorithms - Perform a Quick Scan automatically and integrate Deep Scan for more thorough results.
• Organize and display deleted or lost files by Type or Path, allowing you to sort, search, filter, and preview files.
• With Crashed PC recovery, create a bootable USB to recover data from hard drive without an OS.
• Compatible with different camcorder devices like Sony Handycam, Canon VIXIA, Panasonic HD camcorders, and JVC Everio.
• 👍It has a free edition that recovers data up to 500MB.

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In addition, the software does not require technical expertise and is friendly to novices, making the recovery process seamless.

Step 1. Launch Windows data recovery software - AOMEI FastRecovery. Hover the mouse over the drive with saved deleted files, and click Scan.

Step 2.  It will run Quick Scan automatically to find deleted files and display them by Type or Path. Under the Type section, check Videos and select M2TS. Or directly type the .m2ts extension to locate M2T files quickly.  

Step 3. Select your desired files and then click Recover to recover deleted M2TS files. You will then be asked to select a location. Please select a new location instead of the original location to prevent potential data overwriting.

For severe cases, it's best to seek help from professionals in data recovery services, such as Geek Squad, Ontrack, SalvageData, etc., with experienced specialistsandadvanced equipment, to handle even the most challenging data recovery scenarios.

How to Prevent M2TS File Deletion

You may not want to lose any important M2TS video files. To avoid the heartache of losing your precious M2TS files in the future, follow these preventive measures:

1. Use a UPS (Uninterrupted Energy Supply)

In fact, it is essentially a battery backup and gives you some time to save your files during a power outage.

2. Be cautious while handling files

Double-check before deleting any files, and avoid formatting storage devices without proper backup.

3. Regular backups

Backup your M2TS files using free Windows backup softwarelike File History, Backup and Restore (Windows 7), or AOMEI Backupper Standard and save at least 3 copies of them on two different devices, such asexternal hard drives, network drives, cloud storage, etc.

4. Run antivirus software regularly

 Scan your disk and remove any suspicious files or software to protect your system or storage device and minimize the risk of M2TS file deletion as much as possible.

Conclusion

Losing M2TS files can be distressing, especially when they hold cherished memories. But fear not, there are many methods to recover deleted M2TS files, and the method with the highest success rate is to use data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery.

Remember to act quicklyand be sure your data is not overwritten. Otherwise, your files will be much more difficult to recover. After data recovery, it’s suggested to back up your M2TS immediately and make it a habit in the future to prevent further data loss.

FAQs

1. Is it possible to recover permanently deleted M2TS files?

Yes, with the help of data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery, you may still be able to recover permanently deleted M2TS files, depending on the extent of data overwriting and the damage severity of your storage device.

2. How long does the data recovery process take?

The time required for data recovery varies depending on the size of the storage medium, the complexity of the data loss, and the data recovery method used. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

3. Can I recover M2TS files from a formatted hard drive?

Yes, in many cases, you can recover M2TS files from a formatted hard drive using data recovery software. However, be sure you don’t use the full format method, which will cause data overwriting during the formatting process.

4. How to recover deleted M2TS files on Mac system

Like Window system, Mac also has a Trash folder for recently deleted files. Please check this folder first. If deleted files are not there, it may be deleted permanently. Try data recovery software for Mac, such as PhotoRec, or restore files from Time Machine (if there are any available backup copies).