Meta Facebook remains a dominant platform for connecting with loved ones, accessing news, and engaging in communities. Many users have years of photos stored on Facebook, sometimes without backups. Losing these photos can be devastating. This comprehensive guide explores various methods to recover deleted Facebook photos, even those from years past, on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android devices.
Are Facebook Photos Permanently Deleted?
Not always. How you delete a photo impacts its recoverability:
- Deleting from Profile or Albums: Photos deleted this way are permanently removed, including from posts.
- Deleting a Post with Photos: Photos are moved to the Trash folder for 30 days before permanent deletion. You can restore the post (and photos) within this timeframe.
- Deleting Your Facebook Account:
- Temporary Deactivation: Photos remain accessible upon reactivation.
- Permanent Deletion: You have 30 days to cancel the deletion. After 30 days, recovery might be possible through Facebook support for up to 90 days, as data isn’t immediately purged from their servers.
Recovering Deleted Facebook Photos: Various Methods
Several methods exist for recovering deleted Facebook photos, often without third-party software:
1. Restoring from the Trash Folder
If deleted within the last 30 days, photos might be recoverable from the Trash folder:
- Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Activity log > Trash.
- Locate the post containing the deleted photos.
- Click the three-dot icon and select Restore to profile.
- Download the restored photos to your device.
2. Retrieving from Facebook Archive
Facebook allows archiving account data, including photos. If you’ve archived your data, recovery is possible:
- Visit the Accounts Center (https://accountscenter.facebook.com/).
- Go to Account settings > Your information and permissions > Download your information.
- Select the relevant archive and click Download.
- Enter your Facebook password.
- Open the downloaded zip file and locate your photos in the Media subfolder.
3. Canceling Account Deletion
If you’ve deleted your account within the last 30 days:
- Log into your Facebook account.
- Click Cancel Deletion.
4. Contacting Facebook Support
For accounts deleted over 30 days ago but under 90 days, contact Facebook support for potential assistance.
Recovering Permanently Deleted Facebook Photos on Computer
Even permanently deleted photos might be recoverable using data recovery software like Cisdem Data Recovery:
- Download and install Cisdem Data Recovery.
- Select the hard drive or storage device where the photos were stored.
- Filter by image file types (e.g., JPG, PNG).
- Preview and select the desired photos.
- Click Recover to restore them.
alt text: Using Cisdem Data Recovery to recover deleted photos
Recovering Deleted Facebook Photos on Mobile Devices
1. Checking Recently Deleted Folders
On iPhones and Android devices, check the Recently Deleted folder in the Photos app.
alt text: Recovering deleted photos from the Recently Deleted folder on iPhone
2. Utilizing Data Recovery Software
For permanently deleted photos, consider mobile data recovery software like FoneLab:
alt text: Using FoneLab to recover deleted photos from a mobile device
Conclusion
Recovering deleted Facebook photos is often possible. Utilizing built-in Facebook features, data recovery software, or backups can help retrieve precious memories. Always back up your data regularly to prevent future data loss.
