Imagine getting ready to watch a video that you had added to your queue or playlist on YouTube, only to go online and find that the video has been deleted. This can be frustrating and confusing. The good news is digital permanence is real, and deleted YouTube videos are no exception.

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YouTube has no trash bin and no place to store deleted videos, thus there’s no official way to restore them. Nevertheless, accessing the video through other internet tricks is still possible. Read on to learn more.

Why Do YouTube Videos Get Deleted?

There are two likely explanations for videos being deleted. Firstly, the owner of the video may have deleted it from YouTube. YouTube may also remove a video if it violates terms and conditions, or has inappropriate content. 

It is easier to access a deleted video if you have its link or URL. Some of the places where you can find the link to the deleted video are:

1. Your history 

You can access the link if you have recently watched the video and have not cleared your history. Here is how you do it:

Step 1: Click on the Three Lines 

Step 2: Select History from the Menu

Step 3: Go to Watch history

Look for the video under Watch history.

Step 4: Click on the Video

Click on the video and get the link from the address bar.

2. Liked videos 

If you have liked the video, you can get the link from the Liked videos list. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Click on the three lines

Follow step 1 from the previous section. Open your account and click on the three lines in the top left corner.

Step 2: Liked videos

Scroll down to Liked videos in the menu.

Step 3: Find the Deleted Video 

Find the video in the list and click on it.

Step 4: Get the URL

Get the URL from the address bar.

3. Through a Playlist 

If you had created a playlist with the video, you can access the link using this playlist.

Step 1: Open the Library

Open your YouTube account and click on Library in the left sidebar.

Step 2: Open Playlist

Click playlist to open your playlists or a playlist you follow.

Right-click on the video and select Copy link address to get the URL.

Watching Deleted Videos with URL

Now that you have the link to the deleted video, you can look for the video on the internet. Methods that you can use to watch a deleted video on the internet include: 

1. Using the Wayback Machine

The Wayback Machine is a digital store that archives all information on the internet. The platform crawls information on the internet and has over 500 billion pages. If the deleted video you are trying to access was already in the Wayback Machine, you could retrieve it. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Go to Archive.org 

Open the Wayback Machine website through Archive.org.

Copy the link of the deleted YouTube video and paste it into the search bar.

Step 3: Wait for the Results

The Wayback Machine will perform the search. This may take a while. Eventually, it will show you the date and year that the video was archived. 

Step 4: Watch the video 

If you search for a video that fails to play, it means that the video was not archived. Additionally, if the video was not popular enough, it may not have been archived in the Wayback Machine. 

2. Using the Embedded Technique

The embedded technique involves removing the part of the YouTube video link from ‘watch?’ and replacing it with ‘embed’. For instance, if the link to your deleted video is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18iMt_QVyMo, you replace the watch ID and it becomes https://www.youtbe.com/embed/18iMt_QVyMo.

When you search this link, you get access to the video on other platforms where it could have been saved. However, if the deleted video is still new to the internet, it may fail to appear even after you’ve embedded it. 

3. Using Google Search Operators

Google search operators will help you find the deleted video if it was uploaded to other sites. To use this method, you need the watch ID of the video. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Get the URL

Get the URL of the deleted video. It’s located in the address bar.

Step 2: Get the Watch ID

The watch ID is the part starting with v=.

Step 3: Do a Google Search for the watch ID

If you are lucky, you might see the video uploaded to other sites, such as social media platforms.

4. Using YouTube Video Finder

YouTube video finder is a Chrome extension that helps you find deleted videos by looking for them in the Wayback Machine. Right-click on the video and select find video.

After a few seconds, the search opens in the Wayback Machine. You can use this as a shortcut to find deleted videos in the Wayback Machine without first copy-pasting the link to the Archieve.org site. 

Watching Deleted Videos Without a URL

Accessing deleted YouTube videos is easiest when you have the YouTube link. However, though minimized, there is hope for you to get the video even if you can’t get the link. Here are some of the ways to watch the video:

You can do a Google search of the video’s title, and you might get it on other platforms where it could have been posted. To search, enter ‘site:www.youtube.com‘ plus the video title.

For instance, if the video title was Playing the Piano, search site:www.youtube.com Playing the Piano. You will get a list of videos on YouTube under that name. You can also change the site’s URL to Instagram, Facebook, or any other site you think the video could have been posted to.

2. Check Other Social Media Platforms 

If the content creator who posted the video has other online platforms, it is possible to get the video from there. Check their Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter page and see if you get the video. 

However, if the video creator is the one who deleted it from YouTube, chances are high that they will have deleted it from other sites as well. You can also check other YouTube alternatives, such as MetaCafe, Vimeo, and Vevo. 

3. Use Reddit 

Reddit has a page called /r/tipofmytoungue that people use to find anything they want on the internet. You can visit the site at https://www.reddit.com/r/tipofmytongue/ and ask for the video URL or title. 

Ensure that you are clear and specific in your request so that it is easy to find what you are looking for. If somebody gets your request and happens to have what you are looking for, then you are in luck. 

4. Use the Wayback Machine 

You can use the Wayback Machine to access a deleted video if you know the exact title. Search the title in the search bar. If the video you are looking for was archived under that title, you will get it. 

Watching Deleted YouTube Videos from Your Account

If the YouTube videos you miss are those you posted from your YouTube channel, YouTube likely deleted them. Here are methods through which you can restore these videos:

1. Contact YouTube Support

If you are a YouTube Partner, you qualify for the ‘Get Creator Support‘ option. Therefore, open the option and follow the instructions to submit your issue via email. Alternatively, visit youtube.com, navigate to More help, and Get Creator Support. 

2. Use Cloud Backup

If your deleted YouTube videos were backed up online, you could access them from the backup. Log in to the cloud backup, select the video and download it to watch it on your phone or computer. 

Recover Deleted Videos Backed Up on Your Computer

If the video was saved on your computer, you could use third-party recovery apps to restore it. Some of the programs you can use to recover lost videos are:

1. EaseUs Data Recovery

This data recovery software is usable on both Mac and Windows computers. Get the version that fits your PC online and install it. Launch it and select the location you want to scan. After scanning, you get a list of recoverable files. If the deleted video is on the list, click on Recover to get it back. 

2. Recuva 

Recuva is used by Windows PC users to recover data. After you’ve downloaded and installed the program, scan to see the recoverable files, then select the file you want to recover. 

3. Disk Drill 

Disk drill is also available for both Mac and Windows and helps recover different data types, including videos. You will need to download and install the program on your computer and then scan for any recoverable files. When you get a list of recoverable files, click on Review found items and select the files you want to recover. 

Conclusion 

Recovering deleted YouTube videos is complicated but not impossible. If the video was not saved in the Wayback Machine or on another platform, it can be tricky to access it, even with a link. Fortunately, if the deleted video was saved on your device, you can scan and retrieve the video using data recovery programs. 

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