Accidentally deleting precious photos from your Android phone can be a distressing experience. Whether it’s a recent mishap or a long-forgotten purge, the desire to recover those lost memories is often strong. Fortunately, retrieving deleted photos on your Android device is often possible, and this guide will walk you through the most effective methods to do so.
From checking temporary trash folders to employing powerful data recovery software, we’ll explore various techniques compatible with a wide range of Android devices, from Samsung to Google Pixel and Xiaomi. No matter the scenario, understanding your options is the first step to successful photo recovery.
Can Deleted Photos Really Be Recovered on Android?
Just like any other type of digital file, photos deleted from your Android phone aren’t immediately gone forever. As explained in our broader guide on recovering deleted files on Android, the operating system often marks the space occupied by these files as available for reuse, but the data itself might remain intact for a while.
Think of it like emptying a recycle bin – the bin is marked as empty, but the contents are still there until new items overwrite them. This principle applies to deleted photos on your Android device. The key to successful recovery lies in acting quickly before new data overwrites the space where your photos were stored.
However, Android’s security measures limit direct access to the system’s storage, making photo recovery slightly more complex than on a computer. Rooting your Android device, which grants you administrator-level access, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of data recovery tools.
The Role of Rooting in Android Photo Recovery
Rooting your Android phone is akin to jailbreaking an iPhone. It unlocks the operating system, providing you with complete control over your device. For data recovery, root access is advantageous because it allows recovery apps to perform a deeper, more comprehensive scan of your phone’s storage.
With root access, data recovery software can delve into the raw data partitions of your Android device, increasing the chances of finding and restoring deleted photos that might be inaccessible otherwise. Imagine having a master key that unlocks every door in your house – rooting provides that level of access to your Android’s file system.
However, it’s crucial to understand that rooting your phone after you’ve deleted photos might not be helpful and could even be detrimental. The rooting process itself involves writing new data to your phone’s storage, potentially overwriting the very photos you’re trying to recover. Therefore, rooting is only beneficial if it was done before the photo deletion occurred.
Understanding TRIM and Its Impact on Photo Recovery
Another factor that influences your ability to recover deleted photos is a technology called TRIM. Modern Android phones, like most devices using flash storage (SSDs), employ TRIM to optimize storage performance and longevity.
TRIM works in the background to proactively erase data in storage blocks that are no longer considered in use. This process helps maintain write speeds and prevent performance degradation over time. While TRIM is beneficial for your phone’s overall performance, it can complicate data recovery.
When TRIM runs – which can happen periodically, after system updates, or device reboots – it might permanently erase the data associated with your deleted photos, making recovery impossible. This highlights the urgency of attempting photo recovery as soon as you realize they are missing. The longer you wait, the higher the chance that TRIM or other system processes will overwrite the deleted photo data.
Common Scenarios and Solutions for Recovering Deleted Android Photos
The method you’ll use to recover deleted photos often depends on how they were lost and where they were originally stored. Here’s a breakdown of common scenarios and potential solutions:
Scenario 1: Recently Accidentally Deleted Photos
- Solutions:
- Check the Trash/Recycle Bin: Many Android apps, including Google Photos and file manager apps, have a temporary trash folder where deleted items are stored for a limited time.
- SD Card Scan with Disk Drill: If photos were on an SD card, use desktop data recovery software like Disk Drill to scan the card.
- DiskDigger App: For both internal storage and SD card recovery directly on your Android device.
Scenario 2: Permanently Deleted Photos from Phone Memory
- Solutions:
- DiskDigger App: A powerful Android app for deep scans of internal storage.
- SD Card Scan with Disk Drill (if applicable): If some photos were on an SD card, scan it separately.
- Google Drive Recovery: If you used Google Drive to back up photos, check the Google Drive trash.
Scenario 3: Permanently Deleted Photos from SD Card
- Solutions:
- SD Card Scan with Disk Drill: Desktop software is often more effective for SD card recovery.
- DiskDigger App: Can also scan SD cards directly on Android.
Scenario 4: Unclear How Photos Were Lost
- Solutions:
- Check the Trash/Recycle Bin in Apps: Start with the easiest and quickest check.
- Google Photos Gallery: Photos might be archived or moved within Google Photos.
- DiskDigger App: A general recovery tool for various data loss situations.
Scenario 5: After Factory Reset or Phone Reflashing
- Solutions:
- SD Card Scan with Disk Drill: Factory resets usually don’t affect SD cards directly.
- Google Photos Gallery/Google Drive: If you had cloud backups enabled, your photos might be there.
Step-by-Step Methods to Recover Deleted Photos on Android
Now, let’s delve into the practical steps for each recovery method. We’ll cover solutions ranging from simple trash folder checks to using dedicated data recovery software.
Method 1: Recovering Deleted Photos from Android SD Card Using Disk Drill
Disk Drill is a renowned data recovery software praised for its effectiveness, user-friendliness, and broad file format support, including over a hundred image and photo formats. Its compatibility with various SD card types used in Android phones makes it an excellent choice for SD card photo recovery.
Disk Drill needs to be installed on a Windows or Mac computer. It cannot directly scan the internal storage of an Android phone while it’s connected via USB in most cases due to Android’s security restrictions. Therefore, this method is primarily for photos stored on an SD card.
Alt text: Disk Drill interface showing an Android SD card selected for scanning to recover deleted photos.
Steps to Recover Photos from SD Card with Disk Drill:
- Connect the SD card to your computer: Power off your Android phone, remove the SD card, and insert it into your computer using a built-in SD card reader or an external USB card reader.
- Install and Launch Disk Drill: Download Disk Drill from the official website, install it, and launch the application.
- Select the SD Card: In Disk Drill’s main window, you’ll see a list of available drives and devices. Locate and select your Android SD card from the list.
- Initiate Scan: Click the “Search for lost data” button next to your selected SD card. Disk Drill will begin scanning the card for recoverable files.
Alt text: Progress bar showing Disk Drill scanning an SD card for deleted photo recovery on Windows.
- Review Found Items: Once the scan is complete, Disk Drill will display a list of recoverable files. Click “Review found items” to browse the scan results.
Alt text: “Review found items” button highlighted in Disk Drill interface after scanning an Android SD card.
- Filter and Locate Photos: Disk Drill categorizes found files. Use the “Pictures” category on the left or filters above the file list (like file type, date, size) to narrow down the results and find your deleted photos more easily.
Alt text: Disk Drill interface showing filters being used to find deleted photos from the scan results of an Android SD card.
- Preview and Select Photos for Recovery: Preview the photos you want to recover. Place a checkmark next to each photo you wish to restore.
Alt text: Disk Drill displaying preview of recoverable photos from an Android SD card, with checkboxes for selection.
- Initiate Recovery: Click the “Recover” button.
- Choose Recovery Location: Select a safe location on your computer to save the recovered photos. Crucially, do not save them back to the SD card you are recovering from, as this could overwrite other recoverable data. Click “Next”.
Alt text: Dialog box in Disk Drill prompting user to choose a destination folder on their computer to recover deleted photos from an SD card.
- Complete Recovery: Disk Drill will recover the selected photos to your chosen location. Once completed, you’ll see a confirmation message with a summary. You can click “Show recovered data in Explorer” (or Finder on Mac) to access the recovered photos.
Alt text: File Explorer window showing recovered photos from an Android SD card, recovered by Disk Drill.
For alternative SD card recovery solutions, explore our guide on how to recover deleted photos from SD cards on PC, Mac, and Android. If you’re dealing with a formatted SD card, our article on how to recover files from formatted SD cards on Android can provide further assistance.
Method 2: Recovering Lost Photos from Android Phone’s Internal Memory Using DiskDigger
For recovering photos directly from your Android phone’s internal memory, DiskDigger is a powerful and popular Android app. Unlike Disk Drill, DiskDigger runs directly on your Android device and can scan both internal storage and SD cards.
While DiskDigger is available on the Google Play Store, its effectiveness is significantly enhanced on rooted Android devices. On unrooted phones, DiskDigger can still perform a “basic scan,” but the recovery might be limited, and recovered photos might be lower resolution thumbnails rather than the original full-size images.
Alt text: Google Play Store search results showing DiskDigger app for Android photo recovery.
Steps to Recover Photos from Internal Memory with DiskDigger:
- Install DiskDigger from Play Store: Search for “DiskDigger” in the Google Play Store and install the app on your Android phone.
- Grant Permissions: When you launch DiskDigger, it will request permission to access your device’s photos, media, and files. Tap “Allow” to grant these permissions.
Alt text: Android permission request dialog asking to allow DiskDigger to access photos, media, and files on the device.
- Start Basic Photo Search: Tap the “Start Basic Photo Search” button. DiskDigger will begin scanning your device’s storage for recoverable photos. If your device is rooted, you’ll have the option to perform a “Full Scan” for more thorough results.
Alt text: DiskDigger app interface showing “Start Basic Photo Search” button to initiate photo recovery scan.
- Select Photos for Recovery: As DiskDigger scans, it will display thumbnails of found photos. Review the found photos and place a checkmark on the ones you want to recover.
Alt text: DiskDigger app displaying thumbnails of recovered photos with checkboxes for selection before recovery.
- Tap “Recover”: Once you’ve selected the photos, tap the “Recover” button (usually at the bottom of the screen).
- Choose Recovery Method: DiskDigger will prompt you to choose how you want to recover the files. You’ll have options to save them to a local folder on your device, upload them to cloud storage (like Google Drive or Dropbox), or send them via email or FTP.
Alt text: DiskDigger app prompting user to select a method to save recovered photos, including saving to device, cloud, or FTP.
- Complete Recovery: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the recovery process based on your chosen method. For example, if you choose to save to a local folder, you’ll be asked to select a destination folder on your Android device.
Alt text: Example of DiskDigger sending recovered photos via email, showing email app selection.
DiskDigger is a versatile app for on-device Android photo recovery. For more alternatives, refer to our guide on the best SD card recovery apps for Android, many of which can also recover photos from internal storage.
Method 3: Restoring Photos from the Trash Folder in Files by Google
Many Android file manager apps now include a trash or recycle bin feature, similar to desktop operating systems. Files by Google, Google’s official file manager app, is one such example. If you accidentally deleted photos using the Files by Google app, they might be temporarily stored in its Trash folder.
Alt text: Interface of Files by Google app on Android, showing file browsing and menu icon.
Steps to Restore Photos from Files by Google Trash:
- Open Files by Google App: Launch the Files by Google app on your Android device.
- Access the Menu: Tap the “burger menu” icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner, or swipe from the left edge of the screen to open the app’s menu.
Alt text: Files by Google app menu highlighted, showing the “Trash” option to access deleted files.
- Go to Trash: Tap on the “Trash” option in the menu. This will open the Trash folder, containing recently deleted files.
- Locate Deleted Photos: Scroll through the Trash folder to find your accidentally deleted photos.
- Select Photos for Restore: Tap and hold on each photo you want to recover to select them. You’ll see checkmarks appear next to the selected photos.
Alt text: Files by Google Trash folder showing deleted photos with checkboxes selected for restoration.
- Restore Photos: Once you’ve selected all the photos you want to restore, tap the “Restore” button (often located at the bottom of the screen). The photos will be moved back to their original locations.
Alt text: “Restore” button highlighted in Files by Google app, used to recover selected photos from the Trash folder.
Method 4: Retrieving Photos from Google Photos Trash
If you use Google Photos to manage your photos, either as your primary gallery app or for backup, deleted photos are moved to its Trash folder for a limited time before permanent deletion.
Alt text: Google Photos app interface highlighting the “Trash” shortcut at the top to access deleted photos.
Steps to Recover Photos from Google Photos Trash:
- Open Google Photos App: Launch the Google Photos app on your Android device.
- Go to Trash: At the top of the Photos app, you’ll see shortcuts like “Photos,” “Albums,” and “Trash.” Tap on “Trash.” This will take you to the Trash folder.
- Select Photos for Restore: In the Trash folder, you’ll see your recently deleted photos. Tap and hold on each photo you want to recover to select them.
Alt text: Google Photos Trash folder displaying deleted photos with checkboxes selected for recovery.
- Restore Photos: After selecting the photos, tap the “Restore” button, usually located at the bottom right of the screen.
- Confirm Restore: A confirmation prompt will appear. Tap “Restore” again to confirm and recover the selected photos. They will be returned to your main Google Photos library.
Alt text: “Restore” prompt in Google Photos app, confirming the user’s action to recover photos from the Trash.
Method 5: Recovering Deleted Photos from Google Drive Trash
If you utilize Google Drive to back up your photos, either manually or through automatic syncing, deleted photos might still be recoverable from the Google Drive Trash folder.
Alt text: Google Drive app menu highlighted, showing the “Trash” option to access deleted files in cloud storage.
Steps to Recover Photos from Google Drive Trash:
- Open Google Drive App: Launch the Google Drive app on your Android device.
- Access Menu and Trash: Tap the “burger menu” icon in the top-left corner or swipe from the left edge to open the menu. Select “Trash.”
Alt text: Google Drive Trash folder showing deleted files, with one file selected for restoration.
- Locate and Select Photos: Browse the Google Drive Trash folder to find your deleted photos. Tap and hold on each photo you want to recover to select them.
- Restore Photos: Once you’ve selected all the photos, tap the three-dot menu icon (More options) usually located at the top right. Select “Restore” from the menu.
Alt text: Google Drive “More options” menu highlighted, showing the “Restore” option to recover selected files from the Trash.
Important Note: Files in Google Drive Trash are typically kept for 30 days before permanent deletion. Act promptly to recover your photos within this timeframe.
Conclusion: Act Fast to Maximize Your Chances of Photo Recovery
Recovering deleted photos on Android is often achievable, thanks to trash folders in apps, cloud syncing, and powerful data recovery tools. However, the key to success is acting quickly. The longer you wait after deleting photos, the greater the risk of them being overwritten by new data or permanently erased by system processes like TRIM.
By utilizing the methods outlined in this guide, you can significantly increase your chances of retrieving your precious lost photo memories, even without a dedicated backup.
FAQ Section
How To Find Deleted Photos On Android?
You can find deleted photos on Android by first checking the Trash or Recycle Bin folders in apps like Google Photos and Files by Google. For more deeply deleted photos, use Android data recovery apps like DiskDigger directly on your phone. For SD card recovery, connecting the card to a computer and using desktop software like Disk Drill often yields better results due to more robust scanning capabilities and no need for root access.
How to recover permanently deleted photos from the Gallery?
“Permanently deleted” from the Gallery app usually means photos are no longer in the Gallery’s Trash folder. However, recovery is still possible using data recovery apps like DiskDigger. To attempt recovery:
- Install and launch DiskDigger.
- Tap “Start Basic Photo Search” (or “Full Scan” if rooted).
- Select the photos DiskDigger finds and tap “Recover.”
- Choose a save location to restore your photos.
How can I retrieve deleted pictures from my Android?
There are multiple ways to retrieve deleted pictures:
- Check App Trash Folders: Look in the Trash folders of apps like Google Photos, Files by Google, and cloud storage apps (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
- Use Android Recovery Apps: Install and use apps like DiskDigger on your Android device to scan internal storage and SD cards.
- Use Desktop Recovery Software: For SD card recovery, use software like Disk Drill on a Windows or Mac computer by connecting your SD card.
How to retrieve deleted photos on Samsung?
Samsung devices use Android, so the same recovery methods apply. You can use trash folders, Android recovery apps, and desktop software as described above. Samsung also offers its own cloud backup service, Samsung Cloud, which might be another place to check for backups if you used it. For more specific guidance, you can refer to guides focused on recovering photos from Samsung phones or Samsung SD cards.
