A corrupted media file is a photo, video, or audio file damaged during transfer, saving, or due to storage/hardware issues. This damage alters the file's internal structure, causing glitches during playback or rendering it completely unreadable by standard applications. It differs from simply deleted files, as corrupted files are present but contain unusable or missing data crucial for decoding, stemming from incomplete transfers, software crashes, faulty storage sectors, or abrupt device shutdowns.

Practical solutions involve using desktop software or online services. For minor issues, tools like VLC Player (for videos) or dedicated file repair software can often fix playback errors by rebuilding header information or recovering partial data. More severely damaged files may require specialized commercial tools used by data recovery service providers, particularly when dealing with physically failing drives where the media originated. This is common in scenarios involving lost wedding videos, drone footage, or crucial business assets.

While successful repairs can save important memories or essential data, success rates are highly variable. The repair depends heavily on the nature and extent of corruption; extensive damage, especially missing critical video/audio chunks, may render the file permanently lost. Privacy considerations arise when using professional recovery services, as files must be shared externally. Continued innovation focuses on AI-based techniques to salvage more data from heavily damaged files, improving recovery potential over time.