How to retrieve permanently deleted photos？

Retrieving permanently deleted photos can be a challenging task, but there are several methods and tools you might consider, depending on the device and circumstances.

I. On Mobile Devices (Smartphones and Tablets)

A. iOS Devices (iPhone and iPad)

iCloud Backup

If you have enabled iCloud Backup on your iOS device, there’s a chance to recover your deleted photos. iCloud automatically backs up your device’s data, including photos, when it’s connected to Wi – Fi, plugged in, and locked.

To restore from an iCloud backup, you need to erase your device first. Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Reset” and choose “Erase All Content and Settings.” After the device restarts, you’ll be prompted to set up your device. During the setup process, when you get to the “Apps & Data” screen, select “Restore from iCloud Backup.” Sign in to your iCloud account and choose the most recent backup that contains the photos you want to recover.

It’s important to note that this process will overwrite all the current data on your device with the data from the backup. Also, if the backup was made after the photos were deleted, you won’t be able to recover them this way.

Recently Deleted Album

iOS has a “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app. When you delete a photo, it’s moved to this album first. Photos in this album are retained for 30 days by default.

To recover photos from the “Recently Deleted” album, open the Photos app, tap on “Albums,” and then select “Recently Deleted.” Tap on the photo you want to recover and then click “Recover.” The photo will be moved back to your regular photo library.

Third – Party Data Recovery Software

There are some third – party data recovery tools available for iOS devices, such as Dr.Fone. These tools usually require you to connect your device to a computer.

The software works by scanning the device’s internal storage for traces of deleted data. However, the success rate of such tools can vary depending on various factors, including how long ago the photos were deleted and whether the device’s storage has been overwritten.

Additionally, using third – party software may pose security risks, as some software may not be legitimate or may try to access more data than necessary. It’s crucial to choose a reliable and well – reviewed software and follow the instructions carefully.

B. Android Devices

Google Photos Backup

If you have backed up your photos to Google Photos, you can easily recover them. Google Photos offers free storage for high – quality photos (compressed) and paid storage options for original – quality photos.

Open the Google Photos app, tap on the menu (usually three horizontal lines), and go to “Trash.” Photos in the trash are retained for 60 days. Select the photos you want to recover and tap on “Restore.” The photos will be moved back to your Google Photos library.

If you have deleted photos from your device’s local storage and they were not backed up to Google Photos, you won’t be able to recover them this way. However, if you have enabled the “Backup & Sync” feature in Google Photos, it should automatically back up your photos as long as your device is connected to Wi – Fi and has sufficient battery.

Local Backup (if available)

Some Android devices offer local backup options. For example, Samsung’s Smart Switch allows you to back up your device’s data, including photos, to an external storage device or a computer.

If you have such a backup, you can restore your photos from it. The process usually involves connecting your device to the backup source (such as a computer with the backup files) and using the device’s backup and restore utility to select and restore the photos.

Third – Party Data Recovery Software

There are numerous data recovery software for Android, like DiskDigger. These software can scan your device’s internal storage and external SD card (if applicable) for deleted photos.

Similar to iOS data recovery software, the success of recovery depends on factors such as the time elapsed since deletion and whether the storage space has been overwritten. You usually need to install the software on your device (if it’s an app – based recovery tool) or connect your device to a computer (for software that runs on a PC and scans the device’s storage).

II. On Computers (Windows and Mac)

A. Windows Computers

Recycle Bin

When you delete a photo on a Windows computer, it’s usually moved to the Recycle Bin first. The Recycle Bin acts as a temporary storage for deleted files.

To recover photos from the Recycle Bin, double – click on the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop. Locate the photo you want to recover, right – click on it, and select “Restore.” The photo will be moved back to its original location.

If you have emptied the Recycle Bin, the photos are more difficult to recover, but it’s still possible using data recovery software.

Previous Versions (System Restore Points and File History)

Windows has features like System Restore Points and File History that can be used to recover files. System Restore Points are snapshots of your system’s settings and files at a particular time. File History is a backup feature that continuously backs up your files to an external drive or a network location.

To use System Restore Points for photo recovery, you need to access the System Restore utility. You can do this by typing “System Restore” in the search box and opening the utility. Follow the steps to restore your system to a point before the photos were deleted. However, this method may affect other system settings and files.

File History, if enabled, allows you to browse through previous versions of your files. Connect the external drive or access the network location where File History is stored. Navigate to the folder where the photos were located and look for previous versions of the photos you want to recover.

Data Recovery Software

Losing valuable data can be a frustrating experience, whether it’s a deleted photo, an important work file, or data lost due to a system crash. Panda Assistant is here to help a powerful, easy-to-use data recovery tool designed to retrieve lost or deleted files efficiently and securely.

With its intuitive interface and robust algorithms, Panda Assistant provides a reliable solution for recovering data from various storage devices, including hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards. It supports multiple file formats and offers advanced scanning modes to maximize recovery success.

Key Features

Comprehensive Recovery: Panda Assistant can recover documents, photos, videos, and more from formatted drives, corrupted systems, and even encrypted storage.

Quick & Deep Scan Options: The quick scan is ideal for recently deleted files, while the deep scan searches thoroughly to recover hard-to-find data.

Preview Functionality: Before restoring, users can preview files to ensure they’re recovering the correct ones.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works seamlessly on both Windows and macOS, catering to a wide range of users.

III. Cloud Storage Services (Other Than Google Photos and iCloud)

Many people use other cloud storage services like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Amazon Photos. If you have uploaded your photos to these services and accidentally deleted them, you can usually recover them.

For Dropbox, for example, deleted files are moved to the “Deleted Files” folder. You can access this folder, select the photos you want to recover, and click “Restore.” The process is similar for other cloud storage services, with each service having its own retention period for deleted files and a specific way to access and restore them.

IV. Factors Affecting Photo Recovery

Time Since Deletion

The longer the time since the photos were deleted, the lower the chances of successful recovery. When a file is deleted, the space it occupied on the storage device may be overwritten by new data. For example, if you continue to take new photos on your smartphone after deleting some, the chances of recovering the old photos decrease as the device’s storage is used for the new photos.

Device Usage After Deletion

If you have used the device extensively after deleting the photos, such as installing new apps, downloading large files, or performing other operations that write data to the storage, the deleted photos are more likely to be overwritten. On a computer, if you defragment the hard drive or use disk – cleaning tools after deleting photos, it can also reduce the chances of recovery.

Storage Type and Condition

Different storage types have different characteristics. Solid – state drives (SSDs) and traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) have different data storage and deletion mechanisms. SSDs, for example, use a process called “garbage collection” that can quickly overwrite deleted data. HDDs may have a better chance of data recovery in some cases, but they are also more prone to physical damage.