Where to find the recycle bin on a Samsung phone: all methods for recovering deleted files

Have you accidentally deleted an important photo, video or document on your Samsung Galaxy and now you don’t know how to get it back? Don’t rush to panic - most modern smartphones Samsung have a built-in “Recycle Bin” function that temporarily stores deleted files. But its location and storage period depend on the version One UI, phone model and even on what application you used to delete.

In this article we will look all possible placeswhere the contents of the recycle bin can be stored on Samsung: from the standard gallery to cloud services. You'll learn how to recover files in a few clicks, what restrictions apply to different types of data, and what to do if the Recycle Bin is empty. And also - how to set up automatic backups to avoid losses in the future.

1. Built-in basket in the Gallery application

On most smartphones Samsung (starting from Galaxy S8 and Note 8 running One UI 2.0+) the Gallery application has its own basket. It works on the principle of “soft deletion”: files are not erased immediately, but are moved to temporary storage, where they remain from 15 to 60 days (depending on the settings).

To open the trash:

• 📱 Open application Gallery (icon with multi-colored photographs).
• 🔍 Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Cart.
• 🗑️ A list will appear in front of you deleted files. To restore, select the ones you need and click Recover.

Have all the necessary files been selected (can be restored in a batch)|

Is there enough space on the phone to return the files|

Has the storage period expired (usually 30 days)|

Is the phone connected to charging (for large videos)-->

⚠️ Attention: If you deleted files through ES Explorer, Files by Google or another file manager, they will not go to to the gallery trash. In this case, see the section about Android system trash.

2. Recycle Bin in the My Files application (Files by Samsung)

Standard file manager Samsung — My files (or Files by Samsung) also has a recycle bin function, but it works differently than in the gallery. Not only media files are stored here, but also documents, APKs, archives and other types of data. The default storage period is 30 days, but it can be changed.

How to find:

1. Open the application My files (yellow icon folders).
2. In the bottom menu, click Trash (trash can icon).
3. Select files and click Restore or Delete permanently.

File type	Stored in the recycle bin?	Max. storage period
Photo/video	✅ Yes	60 days
Documents (PDF, DOCX)	✅ Yes	30 days
APK files	✅ Yes	15 days
System files	❌ No	—

Important: Files deleted via a PC (when connecting the phone via USB) bypass the trash can and are erased immediately. If you cleaned memory via a computer, data can only be restored using specialized apps like DiskDigger or Recuva.

3. Android system trash (hidden folder .Trash)

At the operating system level Android 11+ there is a hidden folder .Trashwhere files deleted through some third-party applications (for example, Google Files) go. However Samsung often blocks access to this folder through standard means. To find it:

1. Connect your phone to the PC and turn on File transfer mode (MTP).
2. In Windows Explorer, follow the path:

   This computer\[Name of your phone]\Internal storage\.Trash

3. If the folder is not visible, turn on the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings.

⚠️ Attention: Do not try to manually delete files from this folder via your PC - this may interfere with the operation of the system recycle bin. Use only official recovery methods.

4. Recycle Bin in Google Photos (cloud storage)

If synchronization with Samsung , deleted photos and videos go to the cloud recycle bin, where they are stored. Google Photosis enabled on your 60 days. This is true even for files deleted through the standard gallery, if auto-upload was active.

How to restore:

• 🌐 Open the application Google Photos or go to the website photos.google.com.
• 🗑️ In the menu (three lines in the upper left corner) select Cart.
• ⏳ Select the files you need and click Restore. They will return to the main gallery.

Yes, all photos are synchronized|

Only via Wi-Fi|

No, disabled|

I don’t know how works-->

🔹 Feature: If you deleted photos before enabling synchronization, they will not go to the trash Google Photos. In this case, check the local gallery trash (section 1).

5. The cart in Samsung Cloud (for older models)

Until 2021 Samsung offered its own cloud service - Samsung Cloud, which also had a cart. However, with the release Galaxy S21 i One UI 3.1 the company closed support for this service for most countries. Now it only works for Notes, Contacts and Calendar, but not for media files.

If you have an older model (for example Galaxy S9 or Note 10), try:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Samsung Cloud.
2. Click Trash (if the option is available).
3. Recover the necessary files within 15 days from the moment of deletion.

What to do if Samsung Cloud does not work?

As of November 1, 2021, Samsung Cloud no longer supports storing gallery, music and documents. If you deleted files after this date, they will not be in the cloud. Use Google Photos or a local recycle bin.

6. Restoring files after emptying the Recycle Bin

If you have emptied the Recycle Bin or the files have expired, the chances of recovery are reduced, but they are there. Here's what you can do:

• 🔧 Use deep scanning apps:
  • DiskDigger (for photos and videos)
  • Recuva (for documents)
  • EaseUS MobiSaver (universal solution)
• 📱 Check your backups in Settings → Accounts and archiving → Backup and recovery.
• 💾 If the phone is rooted, try TWRP Recovery with the data recovery module.

⚠️ Attention: The more you use the phone after deleting files (removing new photo, install applications), the lower the chances of recovery. This is due to the fact that new data overwrite remote memory sectors.

7. How to increase the storage period for files in the Recycle Bin

By default, the Recycle Bin Samsung stores files from 15 to 60 days, but this period can be changed. To do this:

1. Open My files → ⋮ → Settings.
2. Select Trash.
3. Install required period: 15 days, 30 days or 60 days.

🔹 Tip: If you often work with important files, set the maximum period (60 days) and enable automatic archiving in Google Drive or Samsung Cloud (for supported models).

8. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Many users lose files due to ignorance of the nuances of how the recycle bin works. Here are the most common errors:

• 🚫 Delete via PC: Files erased when connecting the phone to the computer are bypassed from the trash can. Always use My files or Gallery.
• 🚫 Clearing the cache: In the menu Settings → Storage there is an option Clear cache. It does not affect the recycle bin, but can delete temporary application files.
• 🚫 Using third-party “cleaners”: Applications like Clean Master or CCleaner often empty the recycle bin without warning.

🔹 Rule: Before mass deleting files, always check if synchronization with the cloud is enabled (Google Photos or Samsung Cloud). This insures against losses even if the local recycle bin fails.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to restore files after resetting the phone to factory settings?

No, resetting completely clears the internal memory, including the recycle bin. The only chance is if the files were uploaded to Google Photos or another cloud service before the reset.

Why are deleted photos not displayed in the trash?

Possible reasons:

• Photos deleted more than 60 days ago (storage period expired).
• Files erased via third-party file manager (for example, Total Commander).
• Sync with Google Photosdisabled and files deleted before backup.

Check all possible recycle bins from this articles.

How to empty the Trash on Samsung if it is full?

To free up space:

1. Open My files → Trash.
2. Click Clear or select unnecessary files and select Delete permanently.
3. For automatic cleaning, enable the option Delete files older than 30 days in the recycle bin settings.

⚠️ After cleaning, recovery will be impossible!

Does the recycle bin work on Samsung phones with root access?

Yes, but with reservations:

• Standard recycle bin (My files i Gallery) works as usual.
• You can manually view hidden folders (for example, .Trash) via Root Explorer.
• Danger: careless actions with root access can damage system filesresponsible for the operation of the recycle bin.

Is it possible to return files deleted from the recycle bin?

Technically yes, but with a low probability of success. Try:

1. Recovery apps (DiskDigger, Recuva).
2. Contacting the service center Samsung (if files are critical).

🔹 The sooner you start recovery, the higher the chances. After deleting from the recycle bin do not write down new data to the phone.