Deleting photos from Samsung Galaxy A5 is one of the most painful mistakes for smartphone owners. Even if you accidentally hit “Delete” or formatted your memory card, your chances of getting your photos back remain high—provided you act quickly and correctly. In this article we will analyze all possible recovery methodsfrom built-in tools Android to professional utilities, and also tell you how to avoid irretrievable data loss in the future.

The main problem is that many users begin to panic and make critical mistakes: they continue to remove new ones photo, install apps on the same drive where the deleted files were stored, or try to “clean” the memory. Each of these actions reduces the chances of successful recovery, since new data overwrites old memory sectors. So first of all, turn off the mobile data, switch the phone to “Airplane” mode and carefully study the instructions below.

We tested all methods on Samsung Galaxy A5 (2015, 2016, 2017) with firmware based on Android 6–9. If your model is newer (for example Galaxy A51/A52), most methods will also work, but the location of the menu items may vary. For owners of devices with One UI 4.0+ a separate section has been added taking into account the features of modern versions of the shell.

📊 Where did you store the deleted photos?
In the internal memory of the phone
On a microSD card
On Google Photo
In another cloud service
I don’t remember

Many people do not know that Samsung Galaxy has a built-in one trashwhere photos are stored for another 15-30 days after deletion (depending on the firmware version). This is the first and easiest way to return pictures without third-party apps.

To find the trash:

  1. Open the application Gallery (flower icon).
  2. Tap on the three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper right corner.
  3. Select item Trash (sometimes called Recently deleted).
  4. Click on photo you want to restore, and select Restore.

If the item Trash is not in the menu, it means:

  • 🔹 Your version of the gallery does not support this function (relevant for older models Galaxy A5 2015 on Android 5.1).
  • 🔹 Photos were deleted a long time ago (more than 30 days ago) and automatically cleared.
  • 🔹 You used the function Empty Trash manually.
⚠️ Attention: In One UI 3.1+ (valid for Galaxy A5 2017 and newer) the basket may be hidden. To enable it, go to Gallery settings → Folders → Show trash.

Turn off mobile data and Wi-Fi

Do not take new photos or videos

Do not install/delete applications

Check the free space on device (should be >10%)

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2. Restoration via Google Photos (if there was synchronization)

If synchronization with Samsung Galaxy A5 , the chances of returning deleted pictures are close to 100%. The service stores photos in the cloud even after they are deleted from the device - for Google Photoswas enabled on your 60 days (if you did not empty the recycle bin manually).

Recovery instructions:

  1. Open the application Google Photos (if deleted, install from Play Market).
  2. Login using the same account Googlethat was used for synchronization.
  3. Tap on your profile avatar in the upper right corner → Cart.
  4. Select the photos you need, click Restore.

If the cart is empty:

  • 📁 Check the folder Archive in Google Photos - sometimes photos move there.
  • 🔍 Use search by date or keywords (for example, “beach 2023”).
  • 📱 Make sure synchronization has been enabled: Settings → Backup and synchronization.
⚠️ Attention: If you deleted photos from the Google Photos recycle bin or more than 60 days have passed, it is impossible to restore them through the service. In this case, proceed to the following methods.
Recovery method Maximum storage period. data-i="112">Internet required Internet required Works without root
Standard gallery cart 15–30 days No Yes
Google Photos (cart) 60 days Yes Yes
Local software (DiskDigger, EaseUS) Before data overwriting No Partially
Samsung Cloud backup Depends on settings Yes Yes

3. Using Samsung Cloud (backups)

Samsung Cloud is a proprietary backup service from Samsungthat automatically saves photos, contacts and other data. If the function was activated, you can restore the photo even several months after deletion.

How to check and restore:

  1. Go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Samsung Cloud.
  2. Select Restore data.
  3. Indicate the device (if there are several) and the date of the backup.
  4. Tick the checkbox Gallery and click Restore.

Important nuances:

  • 🔄 Backups are created only when connected to Wi-Fi and charging (by default).
  • 📱 On Galaxy A5 2015/2016 free storage volume in Samsung Cloud limited 5 GB (later models have 15 GB).
  • ⏳ Restore may take several hours - do not interrupt the process.
What to do if Samsung Cloud does not show backups copies?

If there are no copies available in Samsung Cloud check:

1. Has gallery synchronization been enabled (Cloud settings → Data synchronization and archiving).

2. Have you changed your account Samsung after deleting the photo.

3. Has the storage limit been exceeded (in this case, new copies will not are created).

If there are no copies, proceed to recovery via PC (section 4).

4. apps for recovery from internal memory or SD card

If the previous methods did not work, you will have to use specialized softwareThese apps scan the device’s memory at the file system level and find it. deleted data before it is overwritten. For Samsung Galaxy A5 suitable:

Top 3 apps for recovery:

  • 🛠️ DiskDigger — free version searches for photos and videos, supports Android 5.0+.
  • 💾 EaseUS MobiSaver — a paid utility with a high percentage of successful recovery.
  • 🔍 Recuva (for PC) - if you connect a memory card to the computer via a card reader.

Step-by-step guide for DiskDigger (for example Galaxy A5 2017):

  1. Install DiskDigger from Play Market (required Android 5.0+).
  2. Launch the app and select Start basic photo scanning.
  3. Wait for the process to complete (may take 10-60 minutes).
  4. Tick the required photos and click Recover.
  5. Save the files to another medium (not the one where they were deleted!).
⚠️ Attention: For deep scanning (Full Scan) in DiskDigger required. On root access. On Galaxy A5 they can be obtained through Magisk or KingRoot, but this will void the warranty and may lead to system crashes. Without root, the app will only find photo thumbnails.
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If you are restoring a photo from microSD cards, remove it from the phone and connect it to the PC via a card reader. Use Recuva or PhotoRec —they work more efficiently than mobile utilities.

5. Recovery via PC (ADB and manual methods)

For experienced users, there is a way to retrieve deleted photos via debug bridge ADB. This method works without root, but requires command line skills.

What you will need:

  • 🖥️ A computer with drivers installed Samsung i ADB.
  • 🔌 USB cable (original, undamaged).
  • 📱 Enabled USB debugging on the phone (Settings → About phone → Number build — tap 7 times, then return to Settings → Developer options → USB debugging).

Commands for recovery: 

adb shell

su (if root)


cd /storage/emulated/0/DCIM


ls -la (check for files)


find . -type f -name "*.jpg" -mtime -30 (we are looking for photos deleted in the last 30 days)

If files are found, copy them to your PC: 

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/file_name.jpg C:\Backup\
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Method with ADB is only suitable for photos that have not yet been physically overwritten. If a lot of time has passed since deletion or you have been actively using the phone, the chances are minimal.

6. Professional services and what to do if nothing helps.

If all of the above methods do not work, there are two options left:

  1. Contact a service center. center - specialists use professional equipment (for example, UFS readers) to extract data from the memory chip Cost: from 3,000 to 10,000 rubles.
  2. Try to restore thumbnails —even if the originals are lost, previews may remain in the database Android (folder /data/data/com.android.providers.media/databases). You need root for access.

When recovery is impossible:

  • 🗑️ The data has been overwritten by new files.
  • 🔥 The phone memory or SD card is physically damaged.
  • 📵 Photos were deleted more than a year ago without backups.
⚠️ Attention: If Samsung Galaxy A5 does not turn on or gives errors when loading, do not try to restore the photo yourself - this may aggravate the problem. Take the device to the service marked “data recovery.”

7. How to prevent photo loss in the future

To no longer encounter the problem of deleted photos, follow these simple rules:

  • ☁️ Turn on automatic synchronization s Google Photos or Samsung Cloud.
  • 📁 Regularly copy photos to your PC (for example, once a month).
  • 🔄 Use two memory cards: one for current pictures, the second for backups.
  • 🚫 Do not store the only copy of important photos on phone.

Automatic backup settings in Google Photos:

  1. Open the application → tap on the avatar → Photo settings.
  2. Select Backup and synchronization → enable the slider.
  3. Indicate quality (Original or High) and network settings.
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In Samsung Gallery there is a function Secure Folder (Settings → Secure Folder). You can move the most important photos there and protect them with a password or fingerprint.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about photo recovery on Samsung Galaxy A5

Is it possible to restore photos deleted from the memory card if it was formatted?

Yes, but the chances depend on how many new files were recorded after formatting. Use Recuva or PhotoRec on PC. Important: do not save recovered files to the same card!

Why does DiskDigger not find deleted photos?

Probable reasons:

  • The photos were overwritten with new data.
  • You are scanning the wrong part of the memory (for example, internal memory instead of an SD card).
  • You do not have root access for deep scanning.

Try EaseUS MobiSaver or connect your phone to a PC.

How to recover a photo if the phone does not turn on?

If Galaxy A5 does not respond to charging or freezes on the logo, independent recovery is almost impossible. Contact the service center with a request to extract data via JTAG or Chip-off (removing the memory chip). Cost: from 5,000 ₽.

Is it possible to return photos deleted from Google Photos?

Yes, but only within 60 days after deletion. Go to the Google Photos trash (menu → Recycle Bin) and restore the files. After 60 days or emptying the recycle bin, restoration is not possible.

Will resetting the phone to factory settings help return photos?

No, hard reset will delete all data without the possibility of recovery (if there were no backups). Use this method only as a last resort!