What is a .rsv file?
Sony RSV files appear when recording is interrupted. They usually still contain your video.
Why you have a .rsv file
Section titled “Why you have a .rsv file”Sony cameras can write .rsv files when recording stops unexpectedly (for example power loss, card removal, or a crash). The name usually means the file is a reserved or incomplete recording.
What’s inside
Section titled “What’s inside”The file still holds your video (and usually audio). What’s missing is the usual wrapper (container) that tells normal players how to read it, so it won’t open like a regular MP4 or MOV even though the picture data is there.
Check your camera for recovery options
Section titled “Check your camera for recovery options”Before using any computer tool, see whether your Sony body can recover unfinished clips on the camera. Many Sony bodies offer some form of in-camera media check or recovery prompt, though whether it appears (and whether it helps) varies by model, firmware, and how the recording was interrupted. Try this first:
- Insert the memory card back into the camera.
- Power on and switch to playback mode.
- If the camera prompts you to recover video files, follow the on-screen instructions.
Results vary by firmware and situation. If recovery isn’t offered or doesn’t work, you can still use rsv.repair with just the .rsv file itself (see below).
What you need to fix it
Section titled “What you need to fix it”Just the .rsv file itself. The tool reads how your camera packed the data — codec, resolution, frame rate, audio layout, and timecode — straight from the .rsv and rebuilds a standard file you can play.
Codec support
Section titled “Codec support”Recovery supports H.264 and H.265 streams as used on typical Sony bodies. Very old or unusual setups may need different tools.