Accidentally deleted important photos from your phone Samsung and now you're panicking? Don’t rush to despair - you have every chance to get them back! Modern smartphones on Android (including models Galaxy S23, A54, Note 20 and others) save deleted pictures in a special "Recycle Bin" for up to 30 days. Even if you have emptied the Recycle Bin or did not find the files you need there, there are alternative recovery methods.

In this article we will look at all possible ways to return photos from standard functions Samsung Gallery to using third-party applications and cloud services. You will learn how to proceed depending on the phone model, version Android and how much time has passed since the deletion. And also - what mistakes should absolutely not be madeso as not to lose data forever.

⚠️ Warning: If you deleted a photo more than a month ago or after that you actively used your phone (installed applications, shot new videos, updated software), the chances of recovery declines sharply. The sooner you start acting, the higher the likelihood of success.

📊 Which Samsung model do you have?
Galaxy S23/S22/S21
Galaxy A54/A53/A52
Galaxy Note 20/10
Galaxy Z Flip/Fold
Another model

The easiest and fastest method is to use the built-in one "Trash" in the application Gallery (Samsung Gallery. This feature is available on all smartphones Samsung s Android 9 (Pie) and later, including models Galaxy S, A, Note and Z series. Photos are stored there 30 days, after which they are automatically deleted without the possibility of recovery.

To return files:

  1. Open the application Gallery (icon with multi-colored squares).
  2. Tap on the three horizontal lines (☰) in the lower right corner.
  3. Select an item Cart (or Trash in the English version).
  4. Find the photos you need, click on them (you can select several) and tap Restore.

⚠️ Attention: If in the cart there are no deleted photos, check:

  • 🔍 Is the function Auto empty trash enabled in the gallery settings (path: Settings → General settings → Trash).
  • 📁 You may have deleted photos not through the gallery, but through a file manager (for example, My Files) - in this case they end up in another trash.
  • 🗑️ Have you emptied the trash manually (button Empty the Trash deletes files permanently).

☑️ What to do if the Trash is empty

Done: 0 / 4

2. Recovering via Google Photos (if synchronization was done)

If synchronization with Samsung synchronization with Google Photos, the deleted pictures could be saved in the cloud. The service stores the files in "Trash" 60 days (twice as long as the standard gallery). This method works even if you have emptied the trash on your phone.

Recovery instructions:

  1. Open the application Google Photos (if it is not there, install from Play Market).
  2. Login using the same account Googlethat was used for synchronization.
  3. Tap on your profile avatar → Cart.
  4. Select the required photos and click Restore.

🔹 Important: If synchronization was disabled, this method will not work. Check if the photos are displayed in the main album - sometimes they are simply hidden from view (for example, in the folder Archive).

⚠️ Warning: Pictures recovered via Google Photos will be returned to the cloud, but not necessarily to the phone gallery. In order for them to be displayed on Samsung, you may need:

  • 🔄 Manually download them back (long press → Save to device).
  • 🔗 Enable auto-sync in Google Photos settings.
How to check if it was enabled synchronization?

Open Google Photos → Profile → Settings → Backup. If the status is “Enabled” and the date of the last backup is recent, your photos are most likely in the cloud.

3. Using the My Files file manager

On phones Samsung have a built-in file manager My Files (or My files), which also has its own trash. If you deleted photos through this manager (and not through the gallery), you need to look for them here.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Open the application My Files (yellow folder icon).
  2. Go to section Trash (tab in the bottom menu).
  3. Find the folder DCIM or Pictures —photos are usually stored there.
  4. Select files and click Restore (or Restore).

📌 Tip: If the My Files recycle bin is empty, try searching for photos manually along the path: 

/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera

Sometimes files remain in the original folder, but become hidden To see them:

  1. IN My Files click ☰ → Settings.
  2. Activate the option Show hidden files.

⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse the recycle bin in My Files and the trash in Gallery are two different storages! If you deleted photos via Gallery, they will not be in My Files and vice versa.

4. Recovery via Samsung Cloud (for older models)

Until 2021 Samsung offered its own cloud service - Samsung Cloud, which automatically backed up photos. If your phone was released before Galaxy S21 (for example, S10, Note 9, A70), check if your photos are saved there.

How to check:

  1. Go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Samsung Cloud.
  2. Select Gallery and see if there are backups.
  3. If yes, click Restore and select the necessary files.

🔹 Limitations:

  • ❌ Since 2021 Samsung Cloud no longer supports gallery backup (replaced by Microsoft OneDrive).
  • ❌ On new models (Galaxy S22 and newer), this section in the settings may be missing.

Critical! If you see old backups in Samsung Cloud restore them as soon as possible - the service may delete them without warning if the account is inactive.

5. Third-party recovery applications (if the recycle bin is empty)

If all standard methods do not work, you can only resort to specialized utilities. They scan the phone’s internal memory and look for traces of deleted files. The effectiveness depends. on how much time has passed since deletion and how actively you used the phone.

🔝 Top 3 tested applications:

App Free version Photo recovery Requires root
DiskDigger Yes (with restrictions) ✅ JPEG, PNG ❌ No
Recuva (for PC) Yes ✅ All formats ❌ No
EaseUS MobiSaver No (3-day trial) ✅ JPEG, PNG, HEIC ⚠️ Partially

📌 Instructions for DiskDigger (the simplest option):

  1. Install DiskDigger from Play Market.
  2. Launch the application and select Start basic scan.
  3. Wait for completion (may take 10-30 minutes).
  4. View the found photos, select the ones you need and click Recover.
  5. Save the files to the cloud or to a memory card (not to internal memory!).

⚠️ Attention:

  • 🚫 Do not save recovered photos back to the phone's internal memory - this may overwrite the remaining deleted data.
  • 🔧 Applications like EaseUS require a connection to a PC and may prompt root access, which is not safe for beginners.
  • 💰 Free versions often limit the number of files recovered (for example, only 5 photos).
💡

Before using third-party utilities, turn off mobile data and Wi-Fi - this will reduce the risk of overwriting deleted data with new files (cache, updates, etc.).

6. Recovery via PC (for experienced users)

If there are no traces of deleted photos on the phone, but you are sure that they were not overwritten, you can try scanning the memory via a computer. This method takes more time, but sometimes saves you in hopeless situations.

🖥️ Required:

  • 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS.
  • 🔌 USB cable (preferably original).
  • 🛠️ app for recovery (for example, Recuva, PhotoRec, R-Studio).

📝 Step-by-step guide:

  1. Connect Samsung to the PC via USB, selecting the mode File transfer (MTP).
  2. Install and run Recuva (free version).
  3. Select file type - Images (JPG, PNG, etc.).
  4. Indicate the drive of your phone (usually a removable drive with the model name).
  5. Run a deep scan (may take several hours).
  6. Once completed, view the found files and restore them to your PC.

⚠️ Warning: Do not restore the files back to your phone - first save them to your PC hard drive or the cloud. Also avoid using your phone during the scan (do not take new photos, do not install them. applications).

💡

Deep scanning via PC is the most powerful method, but it only works if the deleted data has not yet been overwritten with new files. The less you used the phone after deletion, the higher the chances of success.

7. How to prevent photo loss in the future.

To never lose important pictures again, set up automatic backup. On phones Samsung there are several reliable methods:

🔄 Automatic backup methods:

  • 🌥️ Google Photos: Enable Backup and Sync in the application settings. Photos will be saved to the cloud with unlimited storage (for compressed photos).
  • ☁️ Samsung Cloud (for older models): If your phone supports it, activate gallery backup to Settings → Accounts and archiving.
  • 💾 Local copying: Regularly transfer photos to a PC or external drive via Smart Switch or My Files.
  • 🔗 Cloud services: Use Dropbox, OneDrive or Yandex Disk to automatically upload photos.

📌 Additional precautions:

  • 🚫 Do not empty the recycle bin manually - wait for automatic deletion after 30 days.
  • 📁 Before resetting your phone to factory settings, be sure to check the recycle bin and cloud storage.
  • 🔍 Review the folder periodically DCIM/.thumbnails - sometimes photo thumbnails are saved there even after deleting the originals.
What to do if the phone breaks down before the photo is restored?

If the screen does not work, but the phone turns on, connect it to the PC in MTP mode (you may need to unlock the screen blindly) If the phone does not respond, contact the service center and ask to extract the data via JTAG or memory chip.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about photo recovery on Samsung

❓ Is it possible to recover photos deleted more than 30 days ago?

If the recycle bin is emptied, the chances are extremely low, but there are options:

  • Try third-party utilities (DiskDigger, PhotoRec).
  • Check backups in Google Photos (stored for 60 days).
  • If the phone was connected to a PC, look for photos in the folder DCIM on the computer.

⚠️ The longer the time has passed, the higher the risk that the data is overwritten.

❓ Why are the recovered photos not displayed in the gallery?

Possible reasons and solutions:

  • 🔄 Photos recovered to another folder (for example, Download).Move them to DCIM/Camera.
  • 📂 The photo folder is hidden. My Files turn on display of hidden files.
  • 🔍 The gallery is not updated. Restart the application or restart the phone.
  • 🗑️ The files are damaged. Try opening them through another application (for example, QuickPic).
❓ Do these methods work on phones of other brands (Xiaomi, Honor, etc.)?

Most of the methods are universal for Android, but there are nuances:

  • 📱 On Xiaomi the cart in the gallery is called Recently deleted (stores photos for 30 days).
  • 🤖 On clean Android (Pixel, Motorola) the recycle bin may be missing - use Google Photos.
  • 🔧 Some brands (for example, Huawei) block access to memory without root, which complicates recovery via PC.
❓ Is it possible restore photos after resetting the phone to factory settings?

Unfortunately, hard reset almost always deletes the data permanently. Exceptions:

  • ☁️ Photos were uploaded to the cloud (Google Photos, Samsung Cloud).
  • 💾 You made a backup via Smart Switch or Titanium Backup.
  • 🛠️ The service center can extract data from the memory chip (expensive and does not guarantee 100% results).

⚠️ After reset impossible recover photos using standard methods (the recycle bin is emptied).

❓ Why are some photos restored without previews (black thumbnails)?

This is a sign that the file is damaged. Possible reasons:

  • 🔍 The photo was partially overwritten with new data.
  • 📱 The phone was turned off during deletion or recovery.
  • 🛠️ The recovery application did not restore the metadata correctly.

🔹 Try opening such a photo on your PC via Photoshop or GIMP —sometimes the image is saved, but the thumbnail is damaged.