DiskDigger: How to find deleted photos on memory and card
When the photo is no longer in the trash, a recovery app can find what's left of it.
What the app is looking for
Deleting a file does not clear the space it occupied. The system only marks that section as free, and the image remains there until something new is written over it.
DiskDigger reads the internal memory and SD card for these leftover files, recognizes what looks like a photo, and shows a preview before you save it.
JPG and PNG photos are the most common. Images that were deleted a long time ago, or are on a heavily used phone, may reappear cropped, small, or not at all.
Step-by-step recovery
Do everything at once, without using your cell phone for anything else in between.
Do not take photos or download files. If the photos were on the card, do not copy anything to it until you are finished.
Download the app from Google Play and then immediately activate airplane mode. This prevents automatic synchronization and downloads during the search.
On the home screen, tap the basic search. It doesn't require root access and scans the storage that the app can read, including the memory card in your phone.
The search may take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. Keep your phone charging and don't close the app, or the reading will start all over again.
In the search settings, set a minimum file size to hide icons and stickers. Tap each thumbnail to see if the photo is complete.
Select the photos and tap Recover. Choose Google Drive or another folder, never the same card that is being read, so as not to overwrite what has not yet been found.
If the photos were on the card
If your phone doesn't recognize the card or asks you to format it, refuse. Formatting greatly reduces the chance of finding the images.
In this case, insert the card into a reader connected to the computer and use the Windows version of DiskDigger, which performs the same search on the removable disk.
What to expect from the result
Some photos come back perfect, others in low resolution or with missing parts. This happens when new data has already occupied some of the space.
Even a thumbnail can be worth saving. Before you start, though, check the Google Photos trash: if the photo is there, it will be restored in its entirety.
1. DiskDigger
Google Play
Search your internal memory and SD card for photos that haven't been overwritten yet, previewing them before saving.
Basic search works without root access.
Download on Google Play
2. Files by Google
Google Play
This helps to check if the photo is actually in another folder before starting the search.
Download on Google Play
3. Google Photos
Google Play
It's worth opening his trash can first. If the photo is there, it will come back without losing quality.
Download on Google PlayFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need root access?
No. Basic search works without root access. Root access only enhances the search capabilities on some devices.
Does it work with an SD card?
It works, and the card usually performs better than the internal memory.
Can I pause the search and continue later?
It's not worth it. If the app is closed, the reading starts again.
Why did so many small images appear?
These are icons, stickers, and covers from other apps. A minimum file size in the settings hides most of them.
Is DiskDigger a paid service?
Searching for and retrieving photos is free. The paid version adds other file types.
