Photo Recovery: How to Recover Deleted Photos

Have you ever caught yourself smiling while viewing a picture of loved ones? We bet you have thousands of such valuable photos on your smartphone, PC or tablet. You would give anything to preserve these pictures of your kids, spouse, parents, favorite vacations or pets because they mean the world to you. Unfortunately, sometimes, we face unexpected circumstances where we can accidentally delete these photos or experience a device failure. In such cases, the possibility of losing these photos is big.

In this article, we will discuss photo recovery and how to restore deleted photos. If you are already wondering how this is possible, you are definitely in the right place. We will cover the best ways to recover your precious photos.

Accidentally deleting important photos and videos can be distressing, but understanding how deletion works on different devices and acting promptly can significantly improve your chances of recovery. Let's explore how to recover lost photos and restore deleted pictures across Android, iOS, and Windows platforms, the difference between soft and hard deletes, and why quick action is crucial.

Android: When you delete a photo or video on most Android devices, it's immediately moved to a "Trash" or "Recently Deleted" folder and remains there for 30 days before being permanently deleted. During this period, you can easily recover deleted pictures with just a few clicks.

iOS: Similarly, iOS devices move deleted photos and videos to a "Recently Deleted" album in the Photos app. These recently deleted photos stay there for 30 days before being automatically and permanently erased, allowing for straightforward restoration during this period. Unfortunately, after 30 days, your photos won't be recovered that easily, and sometimes they are erased for good.

Windows: On Windows computers, deleted files, including photos and videos, are usually sent to the “Recycle Bin.” They remain there until the bin is emptied, allowing you to recover deleted pictures and files quickly. However, photos deleted from external drives might bypass the recycle bin and be deleted immediately.

There are two types of deletion, and understanding the difference between soft and hard deletes is crucial for successful photo recovery.

This is the standard deletion process on most devices, where your deleted photo or video isn't immediately erased permanently; instead, the space it occupies is marked as available for new data. Your deleted files remain recoverable until that space is overwritten. This means that if you erase photos or videos by mistake, you must take immediate action to restore them before downloading new files.

This occurs when files are permanently deleted from storage, making it harder to recover. It happens when emptying your trash folder, using secure deletion apps or when soft-deleted data is overwritten. Under these circumstances, restoring these photos becomes virtually impossible. Therefore, having a backup of your data is the best option to restore your photos and files in the case of a hard delete.

Time is critical when trying to recover deleted pictures. Here's why acting quickly really matters:

1. Overwriting Risk: The longer you wait, the higher the chance that the space occupied by your deleted photos and videos will be overwritten, making recovery impossible.
2. Built-in Recovery Windows: Many devices offer time-limited recovery options (usually 30 days) in the recently deleted folder. Acting within this period makes it simple to restore deleted pictures.
3. File Integrity: Quick action reduces the risk of file corruption or partial overwriting, which can result in the incomplete or damaged recovery of lost photos.
4. Simpler Recovery Methods: Prompt action often means you can use built-in or simple recovery methods to recover deleted photos, avoiding complex and potentially costly data recovery services.
5. Stress Reduction: The sooner you attempt to recover deleted pictures, the less time you'll spend worrying about losing valuable memories.

Remember, understanding your device's deletion process and acting swiftly is crucial to successfully recovering permanently deleted photos. Regular backups and using cloud storage services can provide additional protection against the permanent loss of your photos and videos.

If your images and videos are still in the trash, you can recover them; however, files no longer in the trash are deemed permanently deleted and cannot be restored on your Android device. It is important to mention that backed up photos and videos will remain for 60 days in the trash; the ones that are not backed up will be available for only 30 days.

Google Photos app has designed a convenient way to recover deleted pictures on your Android device. If you have accidentally deleted a photo or video, you can retrieve it with just a few clicks through Google Photo's built-in recovery features.

You must open the Google Photos app on your Android device, click the menu icon in the upper left corner, and find "trash" or "bin". You can find and browse all the deleted files from the last 30 days (60 days if these files were previously backed up). Afterwards browse and find the desired photos you want to recover and select them by holding for a second on each one. The next step is to click the "Restore" button, and the selected photos will be restored to your photo library.

Nowadays, there are plenty of recovery apps for Android that work miracles in recovering deleted files. Having such an app on your side is a blessing because it provides peace of mind, knowing that your precious photos and videos won't be lost due to accidental deletion, hardware failure or a cyberattack. If you are searching for the best choice on the market, then we have you covered. Acronis Mobile App  is exactly what you need because it lets you easily back up photos, videos or contacts from your Android device. Furthermore, you can restore them all in a blink of an eye.

One of the biggest advantages of using the Acronis Mobile App is that it allows you to easily migrate data from Android to iOS and back again. Additionally, you should no longer worry about losing a single file because our cloud services are reliable and secure, protecting your data 24/7. The advantages of our app include:

✔️ Back up to the cloud and a local computer (PC or Mac) at the same time.

✔️ Protect your mobile backups via AES-256 encryption for greater privacy.

✔️ Browse the backup option to recover a specific item or make a full recovery.

✔️ Backup access is needed in order to retrieve data from your current device or from your other mobile devices.

✔️ Intuitive and user-friendly interface

✔️ Automatic backups run while your device is charging.

✔️ Extend your battery life and durability with a “save battery mode” that stops backups when power is low.

✔️ Ability to recover to the same or a brand-new device ― easily migrate data from Android to iOS and back again

Likewise, on Android devices, if you want to recover photos on iOS, you can do it from the Photos app. You just have to access Photos > Recently Deleted. There you can select and recover photos within 30 days; after that period, unfortunately, recovering deleted photos is a very hard task that can be completed with additional paid apps; sometimes even with such software, you wouldn't be able to restore them. The other option is to retrieve your files directly from iCloud, of course, if you have enabled the option to sync photos to iCloud from your device.

These photos will be stored in the "Recently Deleted Folder" on iCloud.com. Select the photos or videos you want to recover and click "Recover." Now they will be visible on your iPhone back in the photo app. Keep in mind that these will be stored there for 30 days; after that period, it will be impossible to recover them.

The good news is that you can provide yourself with a third-party backup and recovery software, giving you peace of mind knowing that you won't lose a single photo or video anymore. If you want to have the best backup and recovery app, then you should definitely choose the Acronis Mobile app. With it, you will have the best recovery option to restore deleted images and videos, benefit from our cloud storage, and, of course, from our advanced cybersecurity for your valuable data. You will be able to back up data from anywhere, in addition to the continuous protection that goes with you.

Our app provides you with flexible storage options that give you the opportunity to back up to Acronis Cloud and local storage. Furthermore, you will be able to defend all of your smartphones and tablets, guaranteeing that you will never lose another file. The effortless and express data migration is another game changer included in our product; you will be able to easily migrate data from Android to iOS and back again. By using the Acronis Mobile App, you won't need to worry anymore about a deleted photo or video because it will be recoverable in seconds.

Accidentally deleting your important photos can be a heartbreaking moment, but don't panic, because we got you covered! There are several ways to recover those deleted photos from both Windows and Mac computers, and we will explain these methods in order to make it easier for you. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you retrieve your accidentally deleted memories faster than the deletion itself.

1. Check the recycle bin:Open the recycle bin on your desktop.Search for your missing photos.Right-click on the deleted image and tap "Restore" to recover it in just a few seconds.
2. Open the recycle bin on your desktop.
3. Search for your missing photos.
4. Right-click on the deleted image and tap "Restore" to recover it in just a few seconds.
5. Use File History (if enabled):Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup.Click "More options" and then "Restore files from a current backup."Navigate to the folder where your photos were saved, and select the files you want to restore.
6. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup.
7. Click "More options" and then "Restore files from a current backup."
8. Navigate to the folder where your photos were saved, and select the files you want to restore.
9. Try recovery software:If the above methods don't work, consider using photo recovery software to find accidentally deleted images.
10. If the above methods don't work, consider using photo recovery software to find accidentally deleted images.

1. Check the trash:Click on the trash icon in the dock.Search for your missing photo.Right-click on the deleted image and select "Put Back" to restore it quickly.
2. Click on the trash icon in the dock.
3. Search for your missing photo.
4. Right-click on the deleted image and select "Put Back" to restore it quickly.
5. Use Time Machine (if enabled):Connect your Time Machine backup drive.Open the folder where your photos were saved.Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select "Enter Time Machine."Navigate to the time before the photos were accidentally deleted and tap "Restore."
6. Connect your Time Machine backup drive.
7. Open the folder where your photos were saved.
8. Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select "Enter Time Machine."
9. Navigate to the time before the photos were accidentally deleted and tap "Restore."
10. Try recovery software:If the above methods don't work, consider using photo recovery software to find missing photos.
11. If the above methods don't work, consider using photo recovery software to find missing photos.

And now let's talk for the most reliable photo recovery software, Acronis True Image:

Acronis True Image is a comprehensive solution that offers not only photo recovery but also full-scale backup and the best cybersecurity features. Here's why it's a great choice:

• Advanced Recovery: It can recover deleted images even if they're not in the recycle bin or trash.
• Full Image Backup: Creates a complete backup of your system, including all photos and files you want to restore.
• Active Disk Cloning: Makes an exact replica of your system while it's in use.
• Dual Protection: Automatically replicates local backups in the cloud.
• Active Protection: It safeguards your photos and other files from cyberthreats and ransomeware.

Apart from these methods for recovery, we would like to provide you with some tips for data backup and recovery:

↦ Regular Backups: Set up automatic backups of your important files and photos.

↦ Use External Storage: Keep copies of your photos saved on external hard drives or SSDs.

↦ Utilize Cloud Storage: Services like Google Photos or iCloud offer additional backup options.

↦ Act Quickly: The sooner you search for and try to recover missing photos, the higher the chances of success.

↦ Stop Using the Device: If you've accidentally deleted important photos, minimize use of the device to prevent overwriting.

↦ Enable Built-in Backup Tools: Turn on File History for Windows or Time Machine for Mac.

↦ Use Multiple Backup Methods: Combine local and cloud backups for maximum protection of your saved images.

Remember, prevention is better than cure. Regularly backing up your photos can save you from the stress of potential data loss. However, if you do find yourself needing to recover deleted photos, the methods and tools mentioned above can be your lifeline. Acronis True Image, in particular, offers a comprehensive solution that not only helps in recovery but also provides robust protection against future accidental deletions and data loss incidents.

Recovering photos from external storage devices is seen as a life-saving option because nowadays most of us use an external storage device to keep our priceless data like pictures, documents, videos, etc. When disaster strikes, quick action is key to restoring deleted photos. First, stop using the device immediately to prevent data overwriting. This simple step can make all the difference in a successful photo recovery.

For SD cards, USB drives, and external hard drives, the process to recover permanently deleted photos is similar, but you will need a professional recovery tool. Connect the device to a computer and use the specialized recovery software to scan for lost images or other files you want to recover. This thorough scan may take time, but patience is essential. Once completed, carefully review and select the deleted photos or files you wish to recover. Save these files to a different location to avoid overwriting the originals.

Taking precautions can prevent future data loss and the need to restore deleted photos. Always safely eject devices before unplugging them. This simple habit protects against file corruption and can save you a lot of headaches. Regularly back up your photos to multiple locations, including cloud storage. This redundancy ensures your memories are safe, even if one storage method fails. A quick reminder is to use the 3-2-1 backup strategy, which is known for being the most secure option to preserve your priceless data.

Another important aspect is to handle your devices with care to avoid situations where you need to recover permanently deleted photos. Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures, moisture, or physical shock.

Pay attention to warning signs that might necessitate photo recovery. If a drive makes unusual noises or performs slowly, back up your data immediately. These could be early indicators of impending failure. By staying vigilant and proactive, you can often avoid the need for recovery altogether.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure when it comes to deleted photos. By following these precautions and acting quickly when issues arise, you can protect your precious photographic memories from loss or corruption.

Cloud storage services have become essential for keeping our photos and other important files safe and accessible. However, accidental deletions can still occur. Fortunately, most cloud services offer ways to recover deleted photos. We have put in some effort to provide you with a step-by-step guide to follow when dealing with photo recovery. You will now learn how to recover deleted photos from cloud storage when using Google, iCloud, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

• Google Photos:

1. Open Google Photos and sign in to your account.
2. Click on the menu icon and select "Trash" or "Bin."
3. Browse through the deleted photos and select the ones you want to recover.
4. Click "Restore" to move the photos back to your main library.
5. Note that photos remain in the trash for 60 days before permanent deletion.

• iCloud:

1. Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. Click on "Photos" and then select the "Recently Deleted" album.
3. Choose the photos you want to recover.
4. Click "Recover" in the upper right corner.
5. Remember that photos stay in this folder for 30 days before permanent deletion.

• Dropbox:

1. Log in to your Dropbox account via web browser.
2. Click on "Files" in the left sidebar.
3. Select "Deleted files" from the menu.
4. Find and select the photos you want to recover.
5. Click "Restore" to move them back to their original location.
6. Dropbox keeps deleted files for 30 days for free accounts and longer for paid accounts.

• OneDrive:

1. Sign in to your OneDrive account online.
2. Click on the "Recycle Bin" in the left sidebar.
3. Select the photos you wish to restore.
4. Click "Restore" at the top of the page.
5. Files in the recycle bin are kept for 30 days for personal accounts and 93 days for work or school accounts.

Now you know how to recover your priceless photos in case you notice that they have been deleted. But what's even more important is the prevention you can take in order to ensure that your pictures will always be accessible and stored safely, in order to avoid photo loss.

Regularly back up your photos to multiple cloud services or external drives. Be cautious when deleting photos, and double-check before confirming any deletions. Consider using cloud storage services that offer versioning, which keeps multiple copies of files as they're changed over time.

Remember, while cloud storage provides an excellent safety net for your photos, it's not infallible. Always maintain local copies of your most precious memories. By following these steps and taking preventive measures, you can ensure that your important photos remain safe and recoverable, even in the face of accidental deletions. The best-known practice for protecting your pictures and important files is to follow the 3-2-1 backup principle. This strategy ensures data safety by keeping three copies: the original and two backups. Store these on two different media types, with one copy off-site. This protects against hardware failure, accidental deletion, and local disasters, providing robust data recovery options.

When it comes to photo recovery, Acronis True Image stands out as the top choice. Our comprehensive solution offers not just photo recovery, but also full-scale backup, cloud storage, and complete cybersecurity protection. Our product's advantages include:

• Integrated backup and recovery system
• ML, AI-powered anti-malware protection
• Cloud storage option for added security
• User-friendly interface suitable for all skill levels
• Ability to recover entire systems, not just photos
• Regular updates preventing modern cyberthreats
• Scheduled automated backups
• Scalability and flexibility depending on your needs
• While Acronis provides a complete data protection package, other tools also offer valuable photo recovery options.
• Disk Drill:
• User-friendly interface
• Supports various file systems and storage devices
• Preview function before recovery
• Additional tools for disk health monitoring Recuva:
• Free version available
• Deep scan option for thorough recovery
• Portable version that doesn't require installation
• Simple, intuitive interface
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard:

• Recovers from various scenarios (deletion, formatting, system crash)
• Supports over 1000 file formats
• Preview feature for recovered files
• Bootable media creation for system crash recovery
• PhotoRec:

• Open-source and free
• Works on multiple operating systems
• Recovers various file formats beyond just photos
• Doesn't write to the drive it's recovering from, preventing further data loss

These are the best photo recovery tools that you can rely on to protect your priceless photos and files, by using them you won't lose a single photo anymore.

Check the recycle bin or trash, use file history, or use previous versions. For phones, check recently deleted folders.

Sometimes, if not overwritten. Act quickly and stop using the device. Then use professional recovery software.

It is rarely possible without a prior backup. A factory reset overwrites data.

Popular options: Recuva, Disk Drill, and EaseUS Data Recovery. Choose based on your specific needs and device.

Open Google Photos, go to "Trash," select photos, and click "Restore." Act within 60 days; otherwise, the deleted photos will be lost for good.

Yes, stop using the card; use recovery software like PhotoRec or Recuva.

Restore from an iTunes or iCloud backup, or use third-party software to extract photos from backup files.

Check the service's trash or recently deleted folder. Most cloud services offer recovery options for 30–60 days.

Try different software, consult a professional data recovery service, or restore from a backup if available.

We all have been in the situation of deleting important photos and files by mistake. This really can make us feel like we lost a piece of ourselves. The good news is that nowadays we are able to create copies of our important photos in order to protect them from accidental deletion, cyberattacks, or natural disasters, preventing permanent loss.

Acronis True Image is the best choice you can make in order to ensure yourself peace of mind, knowing that whatever unexpected scenarios happen, your photos and files will be protected. Nowadays, there are five major reasons for losing data: accidental data loss, cyberattacks, identity fraud, hardware failure, or theft. Our product is able to cover your back in all these unpleasant situations, your data will always be protected and able to be restored whenever you need it with just a few clicks. The complete protection that you will be provided with is a powerful weapon against the countless sophisticated cyberthreats.

By leveraging the cloud, you will have the ability to access your files from different devices whenever you need to. And our intuitive and user-friendly interface will impress you with its ease of use. Another crucial benefit is the opportunity to schedule automated backups; thus, your latest photos and different files will be uploaded to the cloud instantly, providing an up-to-date database. Another important thing is that the recovery process itself happens in the blink of an eye.

On your side, you will have an intuitive protection dashboard, making you able to monitor everything, including protection stats and account info. Furthermore, the remote data access will give you the ability to easily manage the backups of your household straight from the cloud.

In a simplified language, Acronis True Image gives you everything that you would ever need to protect your priceless digital database. We can definitely say that our product delivers capabilities that others can't. Acronis guarantees that your data will always be secure, and of course, last but not least, it will reduce the TCO by more than 55%, because of the fact that one solution will provide you with everything needed to ensure your cybersecurity, backup, and recovery, eliminating the need to buy and use several different tools.

If you wondered at the beginning of the article how to restore your photos and which software could cover your back in unexpected situations, you already know the answer! Don't hesitate any more; provide yourself with peace of mind and join the family of Acronis in order to protect you digital database and get the best value for your money!