The Ultimate Android Guide: Recovering Deleted Photos Made Easy

Android devices are user-friendly, yet challenges like deleted photos can arise.

If you’re unsure how to recover deleted photos on Android, there’s no need to stress. Just follow a few straightforward steps and allow some time for the process.

Overview of Methods to Recover Deleted Photos on Android

You need to recover your deleted photos, and we have identified some effective methods. Here’s a concise guide to assist you.

Recover Photos from the Cloud – Access your backup storage to retrieve lost images.
Recover Deleted Photos from an SD Card – Use tools designed for SD card recovery inside your Android device.
Restore Deleted Images from Internal Storage—Use data recovery software to salvage photos directly from your device’s memory.
Use an Android App – Install applications specifically tailored for photo recovery on Android.
Recovery without Root Access – Retrieve photos without rooting your Android phone.
Alternative Methods for Photo Restoration on Android – Explore other viable options to return your lost pictures.

We will examine each method in detail below to equip you with the knowledge to proceed

Recover Photos from the Cloud

Most Android users back up their photos using cloud storage services. If you do, too, you’ll have a straightforward way to recover deleted photos on Android.

Method 1: Google Photos

Google Photos, developed by Google, is a staple for photo-sharing and storage. It backs up your images to the cloud and restores them as needed. Even if Google Photos automatically removes backed-up images, confusing, there’s no need to worry. Recovering photos is straightforward:

Open the Google Photos app on your Android device.
Choose the deleted photos.
Tap More (three dots) and choose Save to device.

Method 2: Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive provides an automatic photo backup and delete feature, which saves space on your device by storing pictures in the cloud. You can recover any uploaded image from any device:

Launch the OneDrive app on your Android device.
Tap Photos in the bottom menu.
Select the photos you wish to restore.
Tap More (three dots) and choose Save.

Method 3: Dropbox

For Dropbox users who have enabled automatic photo backup, photo recovery is simple and doesn’t require a computer:

Go to the Camera Uploads folder. If you moved the images elsewhere, go there instead.
Pick the photos you want to restore.
Tap More (three dots) and choose Save to Device.

Method 4: Google Drive

Since July 2019, photos in Google Drive don’t automatically appear in Google Photos. Yet, the automatic backup feature still uploads photos to Google Photos. Here’s how to get them back:

Open Google Drive on your Android device.
Select the photos to restore.
Tap More (three dots) and choose Download.

Recover Deleted Images from an SD Card Inside Your Android Device

Storing photos on an SD card in your Android device lets you keep more memories than just using your device’s built-in storage. Yet, this method has a downside: the risk of losing all those photos.

Here’s how you can get those deleted photos back using Disk Drill, a leading photo recovery software.

To begin the recovery process:

Install Disk Drill on your computer.
Connect your Android’s SD card to the computer.
Start the scan by pressing the ‘Search for lost data’ button.
Review the found photos using the preview option and decide which ones you want to recover.
Hit ‘Recover’ and choose where you want to save the recovered photos.

Restore Deleted Photos from Android Internal Storage with Data Recovery Software

Android devices typically store images in internal storage, visible in the gallery app. Depending on your system, use one of the methods below to retrieve deleted photos.

Essentials for Recovery

Ensure your device is rooted and active in USB debugging. See the upcoming section for guidance if you’re unfamiliar with these terms but need to recover photos quickly.

Method 1: Mac Users

Use Disk Drill for Mac, a reliable tool for recovering photos from Android devices. Here’s how:

Install Disk Drill on your Mac.
Confirm your Android is rooted and USB debugging is on.
Open Disk Drill and select ‘Android Devices’.
Connect your Android to your Mac, and authorize Disk Drill.
Choose your device, then hit ‘Search for lost data’. If unrooted, a warning appears. Root the device or use an SD card reader for the memory card.
Use filters to find photos, preview them, and press ‘Recover’. Choose where to save them.

Method 2: Windows Users

Windows does not support Disk Drill for this task. Instead, use dr.Fone to restore images:

Download dr.Fone for Windows.
Open dr.Fone, skip connecting your device initially.
Pick ‘Data Recovery’ on the main screen and connect your device.
Select photos for recovery, choose a scan type, and proceed.
After scanning, pick photos to either restore to your device or save to your computer.

Recover Deleted Images With Android Apps

Android photo recovery apps might not match the power of software like Disk Drill on Windows or Mac, but they still serve a purpose.

To recover photos effectively, ideally, your Android should be rooted. However, apps like DiskDigger can perform even without rooting your device.

To start recovering your photos, follow these steps:

Download DiskDigger from the Google Play Store.
Open the app and choose one of the two available scan methods.
Allow DiskDigger time to locate your deleted images.
Mark the photos you wish to recover.
Tap the ‘Recover’ button to start the process.

Recover Deleted Images from Android Phones Without Root

You don’t need root access to retrieve deleted photos from an Android device. Even without rooting, which could void your warranty, there are effective methods to get your photos back.

Backup and Restore

If you’ve backed up your device, you’re lucky. Android’s backup and restore feature might help you recover some of those deleted photos. However, the completeness of your recovery depends on how recent your backup is.

Not all devices have this feature readily available, and it could be under a different name depending on your phone’s brand and model. It’s worth a try to restore what you can.

Steps:

Open Settings on your Android phone.
Navigate to Accounts.
If necessary, log in using your credentials.
Search for the Backup and Restore option.
Select Restore.

Restore from SD Card

If your phone supports microSD cards, you might have been saving photos there unknowingly.

This is good news because you can now remove the SD card and use software like Disk Drill to recover photos directly from the card without needing root access.

Other Variants to Restore Deleted Photos on Android Devices

This article has outlined the primary techniques for retrieving deleted photos on Android.

However, additional methods may help you recover those valuable memories. Here are some less conventional but potentially effective approaches:

Emails and Messages: Check your email for any previously sent photos. If found, download them directly to your device.
Social Media: Look through your social media for photos shared by friends and family. This can serve as an unintended backup source.
Device Backups: You can recover photos from your Android device’s existing backups. However, you should make a new backup first to safeguard current data.

How to Protect Your Android Photos Better

Relying on photo recovery methods isn’t always a surefire way to regain your lost pictures. That’s why preventing photo loss is crucial. Here’s how to safeguard your photos effectively:

Regularly Back Up Your Phone

Backing up your phone is essential. With a full backup, you can restore deleted or lost photos, videos, and other data and settings. If you lose your device, just replace it and restore everything from your backup.

Delete Cached Images in the Android Gallery

Have you ever tapped a photo thumbnail in your gallery, and nothing loaded? This could be due to improperly generated thumbnails.

To solve this, remove the .thumbnails file from the DCIM folder. Use a file manager or a disk cleaner app for an easy fix.

Maintain Sufficient Storage Space

Low storage can cause your device to act up and lose data, including photos. Regularly check your storage space. If it’s critically low, it’s time for a cleanup.

Utilize Cloud Storage

Plenty of cloud services work well with Android and offer automatic backups. This method keeps your photos safe and accessible from any device, anywhere.

Exercise Caution

Since most Android devices lack a recycle bin, it’s vital to be cautious when deleting or managing files. Take a moment to think before you act, especially under stress.

Summary

This guide should have helped you recover all deleted photos from your Android device.

It’s smart to bookmark this page for easy reference later or to share it with someone who needs to retrieve their photos quickly. Act now; it might soon be too late to recover those valuable memories.