diff --git a/crates/constants/src/lib.rs b/crates/constants/src/lib.rs
index 3b523de..4b6a7bc 100644
--- a/crates/constants/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/constants/src/lib.rs
@@ -76,7 +76,9 @@ pub mod filename {
         pub const VIDEO: &str = "recording.mp4";
         /// The input recording file
         pub const INPUTS: &str = "inputs.csv";
-        /// The metadata file
+        /// The metadata file, before validation
+        pub const METADATA_UNVALIDATED: &str = "metadata_unvalidated.json";
+        /// The metadata file, after validation
         pub const METADATA: &str = "metadata.json";
     }
 
diff --git a/src/record/local_recording.rs b/src/record/local_recording.rs
index eb0710d..6f049c8 100644
--- a/src/record/local_recording.rs
+++ b/src/record/local_recording.rs
@@ -404,6 +404,8 @@ impl LocalRecording {
         let uploaded_file_path = path.join(constants::filename::recording::UPLOADED);
         let upload_progress_file_path = path.join(constants::filename::recording::UPLOAD_PROGRESS);
         let metadata_path = path.join(constants::filename::recording::METADATA);
+        let metadata_unvalidated_path =
+            path.join(constants::filename::recording::METADATA_UNVALIDATED);
 
         // Get the folder name
         let folder_name = path
@@ -438,7 +440,8 @@ impl LocalRecording {
             })
         } else {
             // Not uploaded yet (and not invalid)
-            let metadata: Option<Box<Metadata>> = std::fs::read_to_string(metadata_path)
+            let metadata: Option<Box<Metadata>> = std::fs::read_to_string(&metadata_path)
+                .or_else(|_| std::fs::read_to_string(&metadata_unvalidated_path))
                 .ok()
                 .and_then(|s| serde_json::from_str(&s).ok())
                 .map(Box::new);
@@ -542,7 +545,8 @@ impl LocalRecording {
         recorder_extra: Option<serde_json::Value>,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         // Resolve metadata path from recording location
-        let metadata_path = recording_location.join(constants::filename::recording::METADATA);
+        let metadata_path =
+            recording_location.join(constants::filename::recording::METADATA_UNVALIDATED);
 
         // Create metadata
         let duration = start_instant.elapsed().as_secs_f64();
diff --git a/src/validation/mod.rs b/src/validation/mod.rs
index d085d63..d5e0b9d 100644
--- a/src/validation/mod.rs
+++ b/src/validation/mod.rs
@@ -70,16 +70,24 @@ fn validate_folder_impl(path: &Path) -> Result<ValidationResult, Vec<String>> {
             csv_path.display()
         )]);
     }
+    // Determine source: prefer unvalidated (original), fall back to validated (old recordings)
+    let unvalidated_path = path.join(constants::filename::recording::METADATA_UNVALIDATED);
     let meta_path = path.join(constants::filename::recording::METADATA);
-    if !meta_path.is_file() {
+
+    let source_path = if unvalidated_path.is_file() {
+        &unvalidated_path
+    } else if meta_path.is_file() {
+        &meta_path
+    } else {
         return Err(vec![format!(
-            "No metadata file found in {} (expected {})",
+            "No metadata file found in {} (expected {} or {})",
             path.display(),
+            unvalidated_path.display(),
             meta_path.display()
         )]);
-    }
+    };
 
-    let metadata = std::fs::read_to_string(&meta_path)
+    let metadata = std::fs::read_to_string(source_path)
         .map_err(|e| vec![format!("Error reading metadata file: {e:?}")])?;
     let mut metadata = serde_json::from_str::<Metadata>(&metadata)
         .map_err(|e| vec![format!("Error parsing metadata file: {e:?}")])?;