How to Repair Videos Corrupted by Malware: A Complete Guide

In today's digital age, we rely on our smartphones, DSLRs and other devices to capture and store our videos. But what happens if these videos become unplayable or corrupted on your computer or smartphone? This sudden corruption can be linked to any reason, but it is most likely a virus or malware attack.

As a content creator, I know how scary it could be to just think of losing your videos. That's why I've worked on this comprehensive guide to help you understand how videos get corrupted, how to protect them from corruption, and how to repair videos corrupted by malware. So read along.

Do Malware Target Video Files?

Malware and viruses do not specifically target only videos; however, this does not conclude that the videos are spared. Malware can target all types of files stored in a storage drive. Let’s say your computer’s or phone storage is virus-infected and you have saved videos. There’s a 99.99% chance that the videos will be corrupted by viruses or malware.

Virus or malware can make your videos unplayable or damage them severely. In the worst cases, your videos may disappear as well. But don't worry! With the right tools and a little know-how, you can get those videos working again.

However, a question may arise: Why will malware target video files? The answer is its big file size, which allows the malware to hide more easily in the file. Also, video files are most commonly shared, and users tend to send and receive video files across various devices through email attachments, USB drives, downloads, and other means. Hence, most viruses and malware, such as computer worms, can easily propagate from one device to another with the help of such video files.

Can I Rescue a Virus or Malware-Infected Video File?

Yes, in some instances, you can rescue a video file that has been corrupted or infected by a virus or malware. Here are some key scenarios where video file rescue is possible:

If the video file has been infected but the malware has not completely overwritten or destroyed the video data, repair tools like Stellar Repair for Video can often recover the file. These tools can detect and remove malicious code while reconstructing the original video.

Another scenario is if the video player or codec has been infected or damaged by the malware, causing the video to become unplayable. In this case, updating the video player software or converting the file to a different format using a tool like VLC Media Player may fix it. However, it’s still uncertain if you would be able to play the video again.

Also, if the video file has been partially deleted or the file structure has been damaged by malware, video recovery software like Stellar can scan the storage and recover the video content.

Ways to Repair Videos Corrupted by Malware

It is not difficult to determine if a video is unplayable or corrupt because of malware. However, the first thing you must do is always try opening the video on a different device or media player. Sometimes, changing the video player can fix any issues with the video file, and it may work fine on another.

If that does not help, you need to apply the below-provided methods to fix the malware-infected video file:

Run an Antivirus Scan

If your video is corrupted by malware or virus, there’s a 50:50 chance that a simple malware or virus scan with a powerful and reliable antivirus will fix the issue. Just make sure to use a powerful and reputable antivirus program. This will scan your device storage for viruses, malware, or trojans and try to quarantine or remove the threats and malicious programs from your device.

After the scan is complete, try to play the video and check if it resolves the issue.

Convert the File with VLC

Another way to fix a corrupt or damaged video file is to convert it to a different format using VLC. Malware may damage the video's codec or container, thus making it unplayable. Converting or transcoding the video to a new format can resolve compatibility issues. You need to simply use the convert feature in VLC media player to convert or transcode the video file to AVI before playing.

Use a Video Repair Tool

Lastly, you can try using a video repair tool. These are special tools designed to scan virus or malware-infected video files, find the root cause of problems, and then try to fix them with advanced algorithms. Stellar Video Repair is a popular option among such video repair tools. Download it, follow the steps, and see if it can rescue your corrupted video.

About this post

Posted: 2025-07-08
By: lslizzysmith002@gmail.com
Viewed: 17 times

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