How to Recover Deleted and Formatted Videos from Hikvision DVR

How to recover data from a Hikvision DVR? This is not straightforward even if the hard drive is intact and the files have not been deleted. The DVR uses a proprietary Hikvision file system that is not supported by any desktop operating system.

The task can be solved using another Hikvision DVR. Alternatively, use a computer and data recovery software that supports the Hikvision file system.

Hikvision DVR Data Recovery: Restoring Deleted and Formatted Videos

Another Hikvision surveillance device

If the Hikvision DVR is faulty but its hard drive is intact and the data has not been deleted, video can be recovered using another Hikvision DVR or any Hikvision surveillance device. Connect the hard drive from the non‑working DVR to the other device.

Then export the video from that disk.

How to recover data from a Hikvision DVR

How to export video from a Hikvision DVR to a computer

Option 1: plug a USB flash drive into the Hikvision DVR and use the DVR’s tools to create backups of the video files to the flash drive. Then copy them to the computer.

Option 2 (for modern Hikvision DVRs and other surveillance devices): download video files using the iVMS-4200 client or via the web interface when connected over IP.

If there is no other Hikvision surveillance device, or it does not detect the disk from the faulty DVR, a computer is required. But how do you access a Hikvision DVR hard drive on a computer?

As noted, these devices use the proprietary Hikvision FS file system, which desktop operating systems do not support. The solution is the same as for data loss scenarios: use data recovery software for Hikvision DVRs.

Software for recovering video from a Hikvision DVR

Consider common data loss scenarios on a Hikvision DVR. Videos may be deleted by a user—accidentally or without realizing their importance. The DVR storage may be formatted unintentionally. Video may disappear due to a DVR malfunction.

In such cases, disconnect the hard drive from the DVR and connect it to a computer. Use a data recovery tool with support for the Hikvision FS file system.

Do not perform operations such as initialization or formatting on the disk.

One of the few tools that support this is RS Partition Recovery. This software can recover video from a Hikvision DVR hard drive that is:

inaccessible via the DVR itself;
deleted by a user;
lost due to disk formatting or logical corruption;
lost due to DVR malfunctions.

The software is licensed, but a license is not required immediately. You can download, install, and run a free analysis to assess recoverability. If the scan finds the required videos, they can be recovered.

How to recover video from a Hikvision DVR using RS Partition Recovery?

RS Partition Recovery

All-in-one data recovery software

Download

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux

Download the software. On startup, the recovery wizard opens—cancel it. In the main window, locate the connected Hikvision DVR hard drive. It will be shown with the Hikvision FS file system. Click it.

Select the scan type. By default, Quick scan is a fast analysis mode. It is typically effective for accessible data or recently deleted files. It can be used as a first step in any case.

If Quick scan does not find the required files, run the analysis again and select Full scan. This is a time‑consuming deep scan intended for complex recovery cases.

How to access a Hikvision DVR hard drive on a computer

In the scan results, select the required videos and click “Recover”.

How to download video from a Hikvision DVR to a computer

Specify how to save the recovered data and the destination path. Click “Recover”.

Software for recovering video from a DVR

That’s it: after recovery completes, the videos will be available at the specified path.

Note: advanced Hikvision DVR models may support video storage on a RAID array. In this case, disconnect all array drives from the DVR and connect them to the computer. Then use RS RAID Retrieve.

Recovering video when the hard drive has failed

Video recovery software for Hikvision DVRs, including RS Partition Recovery, can help only if the hard drive is detected by the computer. If the disk is not detected despite a correct connection and BIOS settings, the drive has likely failed.

In this case, contact a data recovery service. If the drive is repairable, professional specialists may be able to recover the video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes. Power the DVR off immediately. Hikvision “initialize/format” usually removes indexes, not data; recovery is possible until overwritten. Success hinges on: - Overwriting: new recording quickly destroys old segments (bitrate, capacity, uptime matter). - Encryption/binding: if stream/HDD encryption or device-binding is enabled, you need the device/keys; without them, recovery is unlikely. - Drive health: fewer bad sectors and a clean clone help. Attempt recovery from a forensic clone with DVR-specific tools or a lab.

- Immediately stop all recording (Schedule: disable; Record: Stop). - Set HDD overwrite to “Stop,” not “Overwrite.” - Lock/protect critical clips; export them to USB. - Disconnect network clients to prevent motion/alarm triggers. - Power down gracefully; if UI is inaccessible, cut power to halt writes. - Remove the HDD, label it, and image it via a write-blocker; analyze the clone. - Do not initialize/format or run disk “repair.” - Contact professional data recovery if needed.

Usually yes—remove the drive; accessing it through the DVR can overwrite data. Power off/unplug, label cables, use anti-static handling. Connect via a SATA-to-USB dock/enclosure with a hardware write-blocker (or a dock with a read-only switch). Do not let Windows initialize/format the disk; use Linux or recovery software and create a sector-level image first (e.g., ddrescue) before recovery. If the DVR uses encryption/proprietary file systems, you may need the same DVR model or vendor tools.

- Read/extract: RS Partition Recovery, Magnet DVR Examiner, UFS Explorer (DVR/NVR), CnW Recovery, and Hikvision iVMS‑4200/VSPlayer (with Format Converter) for .dav; convert to MP4/AVI. FFmpeg/FFplay and VLC can play converted files. - Verify: play in VSPlayer and a second player; inspect with MediaInfo/ffprobe; run: ffmpeg -v error -xerror -i input.dav -f null - to flag decode errors; check timestamps/continuity; hash originals and keep logs.