How to Retrieve Permanently Deleted Photos on Android without Backup

Losing important photos can be a frustrating experience, especially if they were accidentally deleted. However, just because photos are permanently deleted from an Android device, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are gone forever. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some methods you can use to try to retrieve permanently deleted photos on Android gallery  without backup

Where do Permanently Deleted Photos Go on Android?

When photos are permanently deleted on an Android device, they are typically removed from the device’s storage and are no longer visible in the Photos app or other photo viewer apps. However, the deleted photos are not immediately removed from the device’s memory, but rather the space they occupied on the storage device is marked as "available" for use by new data.

This means that if the deleted photos have not been overwritten by new data, they may still be recoverable using data recovery tools or services. These tools or services can scan the device’s memory for deleted files and attempt to recover them.

It’s worth noting that Android devices can have different ways of managing deleted data, depending on the make and model, as well as the version of Android running on the device. Some devices may have a trash or recycle bin feature that temporarily stores deleted files, while others may immediately remove the files from the device’s memory.

4 Ways to Retrieve Deleted Photos from Android Phone gallery ?

To increase the chances of recovering permanently deleted photos on Android phone, it’s important to act quickly and avoid using the device as much as possible after the deletion occurs, as using the device may overwrite the deleted files and make them unrecoverable.

Way 1. Check Your Google Photos App

Use Google Photos app: If you have Google Photos installed on your Android phone and have turned on the backup and sync feature, your photos may already be backed up in the cloud.

  1. Open the Google Photos app, tap on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner. S
  2. elect "Trash" from the menu. If your deleted photos are in the trash, you can select them and tap on "Restore" to retrieve them.

Way 2. Use Android Data Recovery Software

There are a number of data recovery apps available on the Google Play Store that may be able to recover deleted photos. One popular option is Dr.Fone, which scans your device’s memory for deleted files and allows you to recover them.

To use a data recovery app, you’ll typically need to connect your Android device to a computer and run the app on the computer. The app will scan your device’s memory for deleted photos and allow you to recover them if they are found. Note that the success of this method depends on whether the photos have been overwritten by new data or not.

Here are the steps to use Dr.Fone to recover deleted photos from your Android phone:

  1. Download and Install Dr.Fone: First, you need to download and install Dr.Fone on your computer.
  2. Connect Your Android Phone: Connect your Android phone to the computer using a USB cable. Make sure the phone is recognized by the computer.
  3. Enable USB Debugging: If you have not enabled USB debugging on your phone before, you need to enable it now. Go to Settings > About Phone > Build Number and tap on it seven times. This will enable Developer Options. Go back to Settings > Developer Options > USB Debugging and enable it.
  4. Launch Dr.Fone: Launch Dr.Fone on your computer and select "Android Data Recovery" from the main menu.
  5. Select the File Type: Select the "Gallery" option from the list of file types that you want to recover.
  6. Scan Your Android Phone: Dr.Fone will start scanning your Android phone for deleted photos. This process may take a few minutes, depending on how many photos you have on your phone.
  7. Preview and Recover Deleted Photos: Once the scanning is complete, you can preview the deleted photos that have been found. Select the photos that you want to recover and click on the "Recover" button to save them to your computer.

Note: It’s important to note that if you continue to use your phone after deleting the photos, the deleted data may be overwritten and become unrecoverable. It’s recommended to start the recovery process as soon as possible after realizing the data loss.

Way 3.  Recover deleted photos from android recycle bin

Android devices do not have a traditional recycle bin or trash folder, unlike computers. However, some Android devices and file manager apps have a feature similar to a recycle bin, where deleted files are temporarily stored before being permanently deleted. If your Android device or file manager app has this feature, you can use it to recover deleted photos. Here are the steps to recover deleted photos from Android recycle bin:

  1. Open your file manager app. If you do not have a file manager app, you can download one from the Google Play Store.
  2. Look for a folder labeled "Recycle Bin," "Trash," or "Deleted Items." If you do not see any of these folders, your device or file manager app may not have a recycle bin feature.
  3. Open the recycle bin folder and look for your deleted photos. If you find the photos you want to restore, select them by tapping and holding on the photo.
  4. Once you have selected the photos, tap on the "Restore" or "Undelete" button to recover them. The photos will be restored to their original location before they were deleted.

Note that the recycle bin feature on Android devices or file manager apps may vary depending on the make and model of your device or the app you are using. Some devices may not have a recycle bin feature, and some apps may automatically empty the recycle bin after a certain period of time. Additionally, if you have cleared the cache or data of the file manager app, the recycle bin folder may be emptied, and the deleted files may not be recoverable.

If you cannot find your deleted photos in the recycle bin, you can try using a data recovery app or service as mentioned in the previous answer to retrieve your lost photos.

Way 4. Contact a professional data recovery service

If you’ve tried the above methods and are still unable to recover your deleted photos, you may want to consider contacting a professional data recovery service. These services specialize in recovering data from damaged or corrupted storage devices, including Android devices. Note that these services can be expensive, so it’s important to weigh the value of the lost photos against the cost of the service.

How Far Back can Deleted Photos on Android be Recovered?

The length of time for which deleted photos can be recovered on Android devices varies and depends on several factors. The success of photo recovery depends on whether the deleted data has been overwritten by new data or not. If the deleted data has been overwritten, the chances of recovery decrease significantly.
Generally, on Android devices, the deleted photos can be recovered for up to a few weeks to a few months, depending on how frequently the phone is used and how much new data is created. If the deleted photos are still in the phone’s storage and have not been overwritten, they can be recovered using data recovery software or other methods. However, if the deleted photos have been overwritten, they may not be recoverable.

It’s important to note that the exact time frame for which deleted photos can be recovered is difficult to determine since it varies based on several factors, including the make and model of the phone, the storage capacity of the device, and the type of data recovery software used. Therefore, it’s always recommended to backup your important data regularly to avoid permanent loss in the event of accidental deletion or device failure.

Take Preventive Measures to Avoid Accidental Deletion of Photos on Android

Taking preventive measures to avoid accidental deletion of photos is crucial as it can save you the trouble of trying to retrieve the deleted photos later. Here are some reasons why it’s important to take preventive measures to avoid accidental deletion of photos:

  1. Preventing the loss of valuable memories: Photos often capture moments that are unique and cannot be replicated. Accidentally deleting these photos can result in the loss of valuable memories that cannot be recovered.
  2. Saving time and effort: Recovering deleted photos can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Taking preventive measures to avoid accidental deletion can save you the time and effort required to recover the photos later.
  3. Avoiding the cost of professional data recovery: In some cases, recovering deleted photos may require the services of professional data recovery experts. These services can be costly and may not always be successful. Taking preventive measures to avoid accidental deletion can help you avoid these expenses.
  4. Protecting personal information: Photos often contain personal information that you may not want to share with others. Accidentally deleting photos can result in the loss of this personal information and may compromise your privacy and security.

Some preventive measures you can take to avoid accidental deletion of photos on Android devices include:

  1. Backing up photos regularly to cloud storage or an external hard drive.
  2. Locking important photos using a password or fingerprint scanner.
  3. Using apps that require confirmation before deleting photos.
  4. Avoiding deleting photos in bulk to minimize the chances of accidentally deleting important photos.
  5. Using file recovery software to restore deleted files.

By taking these preventive measures, you can minimize the chances of accidentally deleting photos and avoid the inconvenience and stress of trying to recover them later.

Conclusion

Losing photos can be a frustrating experience, but with the methods outlined above, there is a chance that you may be able to recover them. It’s important to act quickly after discovering the loss of photos and to avoid using your Android device as much as possible, as using the device may overwrite the deleted photos and make them unrecoverable. With a little luck and persistence, you may be able to retrieve permanently deleted photos and keep your memories intact.