[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Sani96:
Hello,

I've spent the entire day trying to solve this issue, it seems paranormal but (sadly) it's true and I didn't find a way to solve it.

Yesterday I recorded a very important video using my Xiaomi and Quick Video Recorder. For privacy reasons I prefer not explaining why it's so important to me but it would help me proving something really essential (I also used it more than once and everything has always been great), I had something like 3Gb of free space but I didn't check it and I was recording with high quality. Android told me that was running out of space, so I suddenly stopped recording (after about 3 minutes). I checked the video and used VLC to replay it and everything seemed to work fine.

After about 30 minutes, the file was missing. I checked everywhere, rooted the phone and tried with recovery applications such as Dr.Fone, but the file is completely disappeared. To be 100% sure I didn't dream it I also checked on Google Takeout and it confirmed I actually used the camera during that time and suddenly opened VLC to replay it...

What I'm asking is, is it possible for a large video (like 3/4Gb) to

completely

disappear from my system? Leaving no tracks on logs or somewhere else?

Does Android delete an entire video when it's too large? If so, how is it possible that I have been able to replay it once?

I didn't know what to do so I opened adb shell and tried with

ls -Rlat | grap -i '2019-12-18\ 17:

' (I recorded and then replayed the video around that time) and this is the result:

drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 files
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 playlists
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwx--x 2 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 1576685265
drwxrwx--x 2 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..
-rw------- 1 system system 0 2019-12-18 17:50 event_data@1576687815456.lost
-rw------- 1 system system 0 2019-12-18 17:08 event_data@1576685305699.lost
-rw------- 1 system system 0 2019-12-18 17:08 platform_stats_bookmark@1576685305937.lost
-rw------- 1 system system 0 2019-12-18 17:02 system_server_wtf@1576684937890.lost
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 org.videolan.vlc
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:24 com.kimcy929.secretvideorecorder
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:08 com.android.incallui
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:02 com.android.contacts
-rw------- 1 system system 897 2019-12-18 17:02 total
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx------ 2 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 13020307
drwx------ 2 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:24 .
drwx------ 2 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:24 245
drwx------ 2 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:24 .
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:24 ..
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:08 .
drwx------ 2 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:08 27
drwx------ 2 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:08 .
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:08 ..
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:02 .
drwx------ 2 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:02 100
drwx------ 2 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:02 .
drwx------ 3 system system 4096 2019-12-18 17:02 ..
-rw------- 1 u0_a131 u0_a131 0 2019-12-18 17:33 com.facebook.katana_3c8406f3-3e8a-80cd-85cb-0c1211088d8d.v3.txt_anr
-rw------- 1 u0_a131 u0_a131 0 2019-12-18 17:33 com.facebook.katana_3c8406f3-3e8a-80cd-85cb-0c1211088d8d.v3.txt_native
-rw------- 1 u0_a131 u0_a131 0 2019-12-18 17:33 com.facebook.katana_3c8406f3-3e8a-80cd-85cb-0c1211088d8d.v3.txt_wrotedump
-rw------- 1 u0_a131 u0_a131 250 2019-12-18 17:33 com.facebook.katana_3c8406f3-3e8a-80cd-85cb-0c1211088d8d.v3.txt_static
drwx------ 3 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:04 app_webview
drwxrws--x 4 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 cache
drwxrwx--x 2 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 shared_prefs
drwx------ 3 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:04 .
-rw------- 1 u0_a87 u0_a87 270 2019-12-18 17:04 pref_store
-rw------- 1 u0_a87 u0_a87 4885 2019-12-18 17:03 variations_seed_new
drwx------ 3 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 Default
-rw------- 1 u0_a87 u0_a87 0 2019-12-18 17:03 variations_stamp
drwx------ 3 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:04 ..
drwx------ 3 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 .
-rw------- 1 u0_a87 u0_a87 61440 2019-12-18 17:03 Web Data
-rw------- 1 u0_a87 u0_a87 0 2019-12-18 17:03 Web Data-journal
drwx------ 3 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 blob_storage
drwx------ 3 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 .
drwx------ 3 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 ..
drwx------ 2 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 aa41e68b-5b8c-4030-ab9b-9fd7dfb95ee8
drwx------ 2 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 .
drwx------ 3 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 ..
drwxrws--x 6 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 WebView
drwxrws--x 4 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 .
drwxrws--x 6 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 .
-rw------- 1 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 19900 2019-12-18 17:03 font_unique_name_table.pb
drwxrws--x 4 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 ..
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 Default
drwxrws--x 6 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 ..
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 .
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 ..
drwxrws--x 6 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 ..
drwxrws--x 6 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 ..
drwxrws--x 6 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 ..
-rw------- 1 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 40 2019-12-18 17:03 settings.dat
drwxrws--x 4 u0_a87 u0_a87_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 ..
drwxrwx--x 2 u0_a87 u0_a87 4096 2019-12-18 17:03 .
-rw-rw---- 1 u0_a87 u0_a87 127 2019-12-18 17:03 WebViewChromiumPrefs.xml
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:50 android_pay_temp_files
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:50 token_selector_anim
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 WebView
drwx--x--x 3 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 oat
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 0 2019-12-18 17:34 5Pvideo5Nmedia19I637855801993076728-1570660531011
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 0 2019-12-18 17:34 5Pvideo5Nmedia20I4589217858447806657-1570753081747
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 0 2019-12-18 17:34 5Pvideo5Nmedia20I5819926639731977934-1570751273785
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:50 .
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:50 .
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 24641 2019-12-18 17:50 07e11acfb6ad0a8825abe06d691f5a7c
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 Crash Reports
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 Crashpad
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 SafeBrowsing
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 attachments
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 completed
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 new
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 pending
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
drwx--S--- 4 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 HTTP Cache
drwx--S--- 6 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx--S--- 4 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 109082 2019-12-18 17:34 d495fa4a78df46ba_0
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 5555 2019-12-18 17:34 dfe6b2497a7513ba_0
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 24 2019-12-18 17:34 index
drwx--S--- 4 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
drwx--S--- 4 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 ..
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 280 2019-12-18 17:34 6aaed60636ee0201_0
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 24 2019-12-18 17:34 index
drwx--x--x 3 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwx--x--x 2 u0_a16 u0_a16 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 arm64
drwx--x--x 2 u0_a16 u0_a16 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwx--x--x 3 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx------ 2 u0_a16 u0_a16 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 leveldb
drwx------ 2 u0_a16 u0_a16 4096 2019-12-18 17:34 .
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16 322 2019-12-18 17:34 LOG
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a305 u0_a305_cache 122880 2019-12-18 17:14 picasso-cache
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a305 u0_a305_cache 122880 2019-12-18 17:14 .
-rw-rw---- 1 u0_a190 u0_a190 2511 2019-12-18 17:02 com.google.android.gms.appid.xml
-rw-rw---- 1 u0_a190 u0_a190 168 2019-12-18 17:02 io.fabric.sdk.android:fabric:io.fabric.sdk.android.l.xml
-rw------- 1 u0_a190 u0_a190_cache 917285 2019-12-18 17:07 ded7ae5db1953d37df58cda73b06c144b288976c03223f6912a34c6b5180e8a2.0
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 cache
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwx--S--- 4 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 53248 2019-12-18 17:14 org.chromium.android_webview
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 24576 2019-12-18 17:14 picasso-cache
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 WebView
drwx--S--- 4 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 53248 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 4 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 53248 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 8192 2019-12-18 17:14 js
drwx--S--- 4 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 53248 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 8192 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 8192 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 24576 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 Crashpad
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwxrws--x 10 u0_a143 u0_a143_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwxrws--x 7 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 cache
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 12288 2019-12-18 17:14 fragment
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 8192 2019-12-18 17:14 header
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 28672 2019-12-18 17:14 volley
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 20480 2019-12-18 17:14 downloads
drwxrws--x 7 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 cronet
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 12288 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwxrws--x 7 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 8192 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwxrws--x 7 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 28672 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwxrws--x 7 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 2 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 20480 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwxrws--x 7 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 .
drwxrws--x 7 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
drwx--S--- 3 u0_a118 u0_a118_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:14 ..
-rw-rw---- 1 u0_a139 u0_a139 2513 2019-12-18 17:34 com.google.android.gms.appid.xml
-rw-rw---- 1 u0_a139 u0_a139 411 2019-12-18 17:33 FBAdPrefs.xml
-rw-rw---- 1 u0_a139 u0_a139 168 2019-12-18 17:33 io.fabric.sdk.android:fabric:io.fabric.sdk.android.l.xml
-rw------- 1 u0_a139 u0_a139_cache 49670 2019-12-18 17:34 20f9fcfcbe9fdb98_0
-rw------- 1 u0_a139 u0_a139_cache 109037 2019-12-18 17:34 f038e94cb33282ab_0
-rw------- 1 u0_a139 u0_a139 4885 2019-12-18 17:34 variations_seed
-rw------- 1 u0_a139 u0_a139 0 2019-12-18 17:34 variations_stamp
-rw------- 1 u0_a139 u0_a139 1467 2019-12-18 17:33 com.crashlytics.settings.json
drwxrwxr-x 3 media_rw u0_a20187 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 files
drwxrwxr-x 3 media_rw u0_a20187 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwxr-x 3 media_rw u0_a20187 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..
drwxrwxr-x 3 media_rw u0_a20187 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 playlists
drwxrwxr-x 3 media_rw u0_a20187 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwxr-x 2 media_rw u0_a20187 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 1576685265
drwxrwxr-x 2 media_rw u0_a20187 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwxr-x 3 media_rw u0_a20187 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..
drwxrws--x 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:22 cache
drwxrws--x 2 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 4096 2019-12-18 17:22 .
-rw------- 1 u0_a16 u0_a16_cache 0 2019-12-18 17:22 .lib.lock
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 files
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 playlists
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwx--x 2 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 1576685265
drwxrwx--x 2 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwx--x 3 u0_a187 sdcard_rw 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..
drwxr-x--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 files
drwxr-x--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxr-x--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..
drwxr-x--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 playlists
drwxr-x--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxr-x--- 2 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 1576685265
drwxr-x--- 2 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxr-x--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..
drwxrwx--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 files
drwxrwx--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwx--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..
drwxrwx--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 playlists
drwxrwx--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwx--- 2 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 1576685265
drwxrwx--- 2 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 .
drwxrwx--- 3 u0_a187 everybody 4096 2019-12-18 17:07 ..

Also, I found different files into /data/system/dropbox folder (I think it's not referring to Dropbox cloud service because I didn't have it installed) created that same day and called like 'event_data@1577627373.lost' and 'platform_stats_bookmarks.lost'. What they do refer to?

I would be so grateful to any help, my goal is to recover even a small portion of that video but if I can't at least I'd like to understand what happened under the hood to avoid it in the future..:rolleyes: