By Pritibhukhan Borah, Computer Science Engineer · Last updated: 2026-11-02
The most common causes
1. Power loss during recording
A flat battery, a pulled power cable or a dashcam that loses car power stops the device before it can write the final index. This is the number one cause, and it is usually repairable because the footage was written correctly.
2. Removing the memory card too soon
If you eject a card while the device or computer is still writing, the end of the file may never reach the card.
3. Full storage
When storage fills during recording, the device may stop abruptly without finishing the file.
4. Interrupted transfers
Copying, downloading or syncing a file that stops halfway leaves a truncated copy. The original may still be fine, so copy it again before repairing anything.
5. Failing storage
Worn memory cards, loose cables and failing drives cause bit errors. These can damage picture data inside the file, which is harder or impossible to repair.
6. Crashes in software
Camera apps, screen recorders and video editors can crash mid-export and leave half-written files.
How to prevent video corruption
- Stop recording before you power off or remove the card. Wait for the activity light to stop.
- Charge batteries and use a power bank or dummy battery for long recordings.
- Use reputable cards with a speed rating that matches your camera's bitrate, and replace old ones.
- Format cards in the camera, not on a computer.
- Leave free space. Delete or back up old clips before a long shoot.
- Use segmented or loop recording when available, so a failure only affects one short clip.
- Back up quickly to a second drive, and verify the copy.
- Keep a short reference clip from each camera and setting you use, so a repair is easy if needed.
What to do when it happens
- Stop using the card or driveNew writes can overwrite recoverable data.
- Copy the file offWork on the copy.
- Try a repairUse the video repair tool with a healthy clip from the same device.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to keep using a card that corrupted a video?
If it happened because the battery died, the card is probably fine. If it keeps happening or other files are damaged too, back up the card, run the operating system's disk check and replace it if errors persist.
Does a faster memory card prevent corruption?
A card that is too slow for your camera's bitrate can cause dropped data or recording stops. Use a card whose rated write speed comfortably exceeds the camera's needs, but no card prevents corruption caused by power loss.
What is the most useful habit to avoid losing footage?
Stop recording before powering off or removing the card, and copy important footage to a second drive soon after shooting.