How to recover deleted photos from your cell phone
Acting immediately after deletion is what most increases the chance of recovering the photos.
Why every minute counts
When you delete a photo, your phone doesn't instantly destroy the file. It only marks that space as free, and that's the space any new file can occupy.
Therefore, the first rule is to use the device as little as possible. Avoid recording videos, receiving large files on WhatsApp, or updating apps until you've finished trying.
Which path to choose?
Each situation calls for a different approach. See which one suits your case.
Deleted a little while ago: start with the trash can
On most Android devices, Google Photos comes pre-installed and saves deleted files to the trash: up to 60 days for backed-up items and about 30 days for those only stored on the device. It's the fastest attempt.
The trash can has already been emptied: search your memory
If the data has been deleted or the recycle bin has been emptied, the only remaining option is to scan the memory. Recovery applications read the storage in search of remnants of images that have not yet been overwritten by new data.
There is no guarantee of results. What appears depends on the time elapsed since the deletion, the available free space, and the phone model.
Want to avoid further losses? Activate protection
An extra trash can on your phone will hold onto anything that gets deleted from now on, so that the next accidental deletion can be undone.
Photos that arrived via WhatsApp
WhatsApp saves received images in a specific folder. Deleting from the gallery doesn't always delete them from this folder, so many remain there.
Open your file manager, find the WhatsApp images folder, and check it before attempting anything more time-consuming. If the conversation still exists, the photo might also be there.
HOW TO RECOVER PHOTOS →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take?
Using the recycle bin takes one or two minutes. Scanning the memory can take from fifteen minutes to over an hour.
Do I need to connect my cell phone to the computer?
No. The listed apps work directly on your phone.
Will videos also return?
They can be restored. Since these are larger files, it's more common for a portion to have already been overwritten.
Will I spend money?
No. The apps mentioned have a free version, and some offer paid extra features.
Can I continue using my cell phone?
Ideally, we should wait. The less new data available, the greater the chance.
Download the apps
Tap the app you want to install. The button opens its official page on Google Play.
