How can I get back my deleted photos?

Data Recovery
1

I accidentally deleted some important photos from my phone and I really need to get them back. They were from a family event and I didn’t have them backed up. Is there a way to recover these photos? Any help would be appreciated.

2

Deleting photos accidentally is totally gut-wrenching, especially if they’re from an important family event. I’ve been there myself. Luckily, there are a few methods you can try to recover them. Here’s a rundown:

  1. Check Recently Deleted Folder:
    Most smartphones (both iOS and Android) have a “Recently Deleted” or Trash folder in the Photos or Gallery app. These usually hold onto deleted pictures for 30 days. Start there. Navigate to the Recently Deleted folder, and if the photos are there, you can restore them directly.

  2. Use Cloud Backups:
    Even if you don’t remember backing up, it’s worth checking if any automatic backups have been done. If you use iCloud for iPhone or Google Photos for Android, your photos might be stored there even if you didn’t explicitly back them up.

    • iCloud: Go to icloud.com, sign in, and check the Photos section.
    • Google Photos: Open the Google Photos app or visit photos.google.com and see if they’re there.

  3. Android Specific Options:
    Sometimes, Android phones might have their own backup solutions like Samsung Cloud or other manufacturer’s apps. It’s worth checking those too.

  4. Third-party Recovery Apps:
    If direct methods don’t work, turn to third-party recovery software. Trust me on this one, some of these tools have saved my bacon several times. One highly recommended app is Disk Drill

    . It’s versatile and reliable for data recovery.

    Disk Drill is a powerful tool that works on both Mac and Windows, and guess what? It supports mobile data recovery as well. You can find more information and download the software from Disk Drill Data Recovery Software.

    • How to use Disk Drill:
      1. Download and install the Disk Drill software on your computer.
      2. Connect your phone to the computer using a USB cable.
      3. Launch Disk Drill, and select your phone once it shows up in the app.
      4. Follow the prompts to initiate a scan for deleted photos. Depending on your phone and storage size, this could take a while.
      5. Once the scan completes, you’ll get a list of recoverable files. Simply select the photos you need and restore them.

  5. Professional Recovery Services:
    If all else fails, or if the photos are too important to risk not recovering on your own, professional data recovery services might be your last resort. This can be expensive, so weigh your options.

Feel free to ask any more questions if you get stuck at any stage. Good luck!

1 Like
3

If you’ve already tried the “Recently Deleted” and cloud backup options @byteguru mentioned and still haven’t found your photos, there are additional steps you can consider that sometimes get overlooked:

  1. Local Computer Sync:
    Had you connected your phone to a computer recently? Maybe iTunes or another sync program might’ve backed up your media content. For iPhones, if you regularly use iTunes, your photos might be in the most recent backup. For Android, check any software specific to your phone brand.

  2. File Manager Exploration:
    Dive into your phone’s directories using a file manager app. I’ve had instances where deleted pictures still hung around in hidden folders before they were genuinely wiped out.

  3. SD Card Recovery:
    If your Android phone uses an SD card, remove it and use an SD card reader. Load it onto your computer and use programs like TestDisk or even Disk Drill (yeah, it’s pretty versatile) to recover lost files. Disk Drill is available at https://www.disk-drill.com/ and is straightforward to use.

  4. Contact Your Carrier or Manufacturer:
    Both service carriers and device manufacturers occasionally have recovery tools or services available to customers. Sure, it’s a bit of a long shot, but sometimes resorting to official channels can be surprisingly fruitful.

  5. Third-Party App Specific Backups:
    Don’t forget any other apps you might’ve used for sharing or storage. WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram often store local or cloud copies of photos temporarily.

  6. Forensic Options:
    As a drastic measure, forensic data recovery is an option. This involves hiring experts specializing in recovering data from hardware. It’s pricey, but nothing’s too precious when it comes to irreplaceable family memories, right?

Remember, it’s crucial to stop using the phone to prevent overwriting the space where the deleted photos might exist. Every new file you create or download might occupy the space of recently deleted files.

To my surprise, last year, I accidentally learned about Disk Drill’s deep scan feature. Trust me, going through their step-by-step guide made the process fairly painless.

Finally, a bit of a pro tip here: Once you’ve got your photos back, take a moment to set up an automatic backup system. You never know when you might need a failsafe. Shayne O’Neill or Linus Sebastian often point out in their blogs how crucial redundancy is, and for a good reason!

Good luck! Let others in the forum know how it goes or if you find a new method that works.

4

Hey there! Not gonna lie, recovering deleted photos can be quite the hassle, but since others have already shared some great suggestions, let me add a few more pointers to the mix:

First off, I’d emphasize the importance of acting fast. Continuing to use your phone increases the chances of overwriting the space where your deleted files once existed.

  1. Hidden Cache Files:
    Sometimes, your phone’s cache may still hold onto parts of deleted files. Apps like Dumpster on Android act sort of like a Recycle Bin, potentially storing deleted photos. On iOS, while there isn’t an exact equivalent, checking third-party apps with cache storage is a good start.

  2. Contacting App Developers:
    If you lost the photos within specific apps (say Tinder or Snapchat), reach out to their support. Some apps keep temporary server-side data.

  3. Restore from Social Media:
    It might sound odd, but check if you’d shared these photos on any social media platforms or with friends who might still have access. Downloading them back could save the day.

  4. Data Partition Recovery:
    Advanced users can try accessing recovery partitions especially on rooted Android devices. Apps like TWRP (a custom recovery) can sometimes help mount old partitions where photos might still exist.

  5. Backup Services Outside Cloud:
    Check if your phone manufacturer offers any unique backup solutions. Functions like Huawei’s HiSuite or Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud might have unexpected saves.

Now, about Disk Drill — I’ll second that it’s a robust option for recovery purposes. The positives? It’s versatile, user-friendly, and handles both mobile and computer data recovery pretty well. But, legit heads up: the free version has limited recovery capacity. You might have to splurge for the pro version if you need a higher data quota retrieval.

If you’re on the hunt for alternatives, tools like Recuva and EaseUS MobiSaver offer similar functions. However, user experiences can vary, and Disk Drill often edges out in popularity for its smooth interface and effective scans.

Lastly, while @byteguru and @codecrafter have laid down excellent groundwork, do keep forensic data recovery as an absolute last resort. It’s super costly and usually reserved for dire situations.

To emphasize a key point made before — if you’ve connected your phone to your computer, don’t forget about local backups. Software like iTunes or Android File Transfer sometimes store unexpected surprises (I’ve had luck with that once or twice).

Remember: Set up a robust automatic backup solution once you’ve navigated this – trust me, it saves heartache. Tools like Google Photos with automatic sync can set and forget, ensuring your memories are always safeguarded.

Hope this additional info helps someone. If you discover new solutions or tips, keeping the forum updated benefits everyone! Cheers.