Have you deleted important photos on Android, but they are no longer in the folder "Recently deleted" ? Don't panic - there is a chance of recovery even a month after emptying the trash. In this article we will look 7 working methodsincluding hidden functions of Google Photos, backups and specialized apps. It is important to act quickly: the longer it has been since deletion, the higher the risk that the system overwrite data with new files.

Standard recycle bin in the gallery or Google Photos stores deleted pictures 30–60 days (depending on the phone model and settings). But what to do if you empty the trash manually or the shelf life has expired? We tested the methods on Samsung Galaxy S23, Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 and Honor 90 —some of the methods worked even on phones without root access. Main rule: do not install new applications and do not take photos/videos until you try all recovery options.

⚠️ Attention: If you used features like “Free up space” in Google Photos, your files may have been deleted irrevocably - they cannot be restored by any of the described methods. This also applies to manually emptying the recycle bin through the “Delete forever” menu.

1. Check the archive and hidden folders in Google Photos

Many users do not know that Google Photos automatically archives some of the deleted files - especially if they were uploaded to the cloud before deletion. This method works even if the cart is empty.

Open the application Google Photos and go to the menu “Library” → “Archive”. The following can be stored here:

  • 📁 Screenshots and photos from messengers (if they were synchronized with the cloud).
  • 🔍 Geotagged photos, that the system considered “unimportant” (for example, duplicates or blurry photos).
  • 📅 Automatic backups from other devices (if you were signed in to the same Google account).

If there is nothing in the archive, try searching by keywords. For example, enter Paris 2023 or cat in the search bar - the system will find all photos with these tags, even if they are not displayed in the main feed.

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Google Photos has a hidden recovery function via the web version. Go to photos.google.com from your computer, click on your avatar → “Trash” → “Restore all” (if the button is active). Sometimes this works even when the cart is empty in the mobile application.

2. Restoring via Google Drive backups

If the function was enabled on your phone "Backup and synchronization" (located in Settings → Google → Backup), the chances of returning the photo increase. Google Drive can keep copies of media files even after they are deleted from the gallery.

Instructions:

  1. Open Google Drive and go to section "Trash". Files are stored here 30 days (longer than in Google Photos).
  2. If the Trash is empty, check the folder "Photo" or «Backups». Sometimes backup copies are located in subfolders with names like Pictures/2026-05.
  3. The found files can be downloaded back to the phone or transferred to Google Photos via the menu "Send copy".

⚠️ Attention: If you used the "Free up space" function in Google Drive, the backups may have been permanently deleted. Check your activity history drive.google.com/drive/trash (PC only).

How to find out if backup is enabled?

Go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Backup and recovery. If the slider is active and a Google account is specified, copies were created automatically. On some firmware (for example, MIUI on Xiaomi) this section may be called Advanced → Backup copying.

3. Use the manufacturer's built-in tools

Some brands add file recovery utilities to their firmware. For example:

Brand Utility Where to look Features
Samsung Samsung Cloud Settings → Accounts and archiving → Samsung Cloud Stores photos up to 15 GB for free, recovery is possible within 30 days
Xiaomi Mi Cloud Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud Backups are created only during manual synchronization
Huawei/Honor Huawei Cloud Settings → Huawei ID → Cloud Recovery is available only for files uploaded to the cloud before deleted
Oppo/Realme Oppo Cloud Settings → Accounts → Oppo Cloud Free storage - 5 GB, copies are stored for 60 days

On phones Samsung there is an additional function "Gallery → Menu → Trash"where photos are stored separately from Google Photos. On Xiaomi check the folder MIUI/Backup/AllBackup through the file manager - sometimes temporary copies remain there.

Samsung|Xiaomi|Huawei/Honor|Oppo/Realme/OnePlus|Other-->

4. Recovery apps without root access

If standard methods do not work, try specialized applications. We tested 5 popular utilities - the best results were shown:

  • 📱 DiskDigger - searches for deleted files by signature (supports JPEG, PNG, HEIC). The free version shows a preview, to restore you need to buy Pro.
  • 🔍 Dumpster - works like an extended recycle bin, but must be installed to deleting photos.
  • 💾 Recuva (via PC) - one of the most powerful solutions, but requires connecting the phone to the computer in MTP.

Step-by-step guide for DiskDigger:

  1. Install the application from Google Play (do not download from third-party sites!).
  2. Select "Start basic scan" (without root access).
  3. Tick the checkbox "Images" and click "Next".
  4. After scanning, select the desired photos and click "Recover". Save them to an SD card or to the cloud.

⚠️ Attention: Do not save recovered files to the phone's internal memory - this may overwrite the remaining data. Use an SD card or the cloud.

Phone charge > 50%|Turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data|Do not run other applications|Save recovered files to SD card-->

5. Recovery via PC (for advanced users)

If the phone does not have root access, but has access to a computer, you can try to restore the photo via ADB or apps like EaseUS MobiSaver. This method is more complicated, but often gives better results.

Method 1: Via ADB (without root)

  1. Install ADB Tools on PC and turn on "USB Debugging" on phone (Settings → About phone → Build number - press 7 times, then go back to Settings → System → For Developers).
  2. Connect your phone to the PC and do command: 
    adb shell "su -c 'find /storage/emulated/0/ -name \".jpg\" -o -name \".png\"'"

    It will find all images, including deleted ones (if they have not yet been overwritten).

  3. Copy the found files to your PC: 
    adb pull /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails/ C:\Restore

Method 2: Through EaseUS MobiSaver

The app scans the internal memory of the phone and recovers files based on signatures. Algorithm:

  1. Connect the phone to the PC in the File transfer (MTP) mode.
  2. Run EaseUS MobiSaver and select "Data recovery" Android".
  3. Mark "Gallery" and click "Scan".
  4. After scanning, select photos and save them to your PC.

⚠️ Attention: Not all apps work with the latest versions of Android (13+). On Samsung s One UI 5.0 you may need to disable protection Knox through the developer.

6. Contact a specialist (if all else fails)

If the photos are critically important (for example, documents or unique footage), and self-recovery is not successful, contact the service center. Specialists use professional equipment such as Chip-Off or JTAG, which reads data directly from the memory chip.

What you need to know before visiting the service:

  • 💰 Restoration cost: from 3,000 to 15,000 ₽ (depending on complexity).
  • ⏳ Time frame: 1–5 days (in some cases up to 2 weeks).
  • 📱 Guarantee: after Chip-Off, recovery may disrupt the operation of the phone (risk ~10%).

⚠️ Attention: Not all services work with phones on Android 12+ due to enhanced data protection. Check in advance if they have experience in recovering from your model.

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If the photos were deleted more than 6 months ago, the chances of recovery are close to zero - even professionals in 90% of cases will not be able to return them.

7. How to prevent photo loss in the future

To avoid losing important photos again, set up automatic backups and use cloud services. Recommendations:

  • ☁️ Google Photos: Enable "Backup and Sync" in the application settings. Select "High Quality" (unlimited storage) or "Original quality" (Google Drive counters).
  • 📱 Local backup: Once a month, copy photos to an SD card or external drive via a file manager.
  • 🔄 Synchronization with PC: Use Google Drive for PC or Syncthing to automatically download photos to your computer.

Additional measures:

  • 🚫 Disable the function "Free up space" in Google Photos - it deletes local copies without warning.
  • 📂 Create a folder "Important photos" in the gallery and manually copy the most valuable pictures there.
  • 🔒 Set a password for folders with personal photos (for example, via Gallery Lock or KeepSafe).
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In Google Photos there is a function "Mark as favorites" (heart at the bottom of the screen). These photos will never be deleted automatically, even when emptying the trash.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about recovering photos on Android

Is it possible to recover photos that were deleted more than a year ago?

After 6-12 months, the data is usually overwritten with new files. The exception is if the photos were. uploaded to the cloud (Google Photos, Yandex.Disk) and were not deleted from there.

Why doesn’t DiskDigger find my photos?

Probable reasons:

  1. The files were overwritten with new data (installing applications, taking new photos).
  2. You are scanning the wrong partition of memory (try selecting /storage/emulated/0/DCIM).
  3. The photos were in format HEIC or RAW — DiskDigger of the free version does not recognize them.
How to recover a photo from a damaged one SD cards?

Use PC apps: Recuva, PhotoRec or TestDisk. Connect the card via a card reader and perform a deep scan. If the card is not detected, try flashing its controller using Flash Drive Information Extractor.

Do the methods work on phones with Android 14?

Yes, but with limitations:

  • Google Photos and Google Drive work without changes.
  • apps like DiskDigger may require additional permissions.
  • Some firmware (for example, ColorOS 14) blocks access to system folders without root.
Is it possible to restore a photo after resetting the phone to factory settings?

Only if:

  • Photos were synced with Google Photos/Drive before reset.
  • You made a backup via adb backup or the manufacturer (Samsung Cloud, Mi Cloud).
  • Use professional services (Chip-Off) during the first 72 hours after the reset.

In other cases, the data is deleted irretrievably.