When it comes to deleting photos from your devices, it’s natural to wonder if they are really gone for good or if traces still exist somewhere. With the prevalence of cloud backups and file recovery software, deleted photos can often be retrieved. However, the answer depends on where the photos were stored and how they were deleted.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to some common questions about deleted photos:
- Photos deleted from your camera or phone camera roll are recoverable as long as they haven’t been overwritten by new data.
- Photos deleted from cloud services like iCloud or Google Photos may be recoverable from device backups or cloud trash bins for a limited time.
- Permanently deleting photos from cloud services requires removing them from all devices, backups and trash bins.
- Recovering deleted photos from a computer depends on whether they were permanently deleted or just sent to the recycle bin.
- Overwritten files are generally unrecoverable without highly specialized tools.
Where Were the Photos Stored?
The location where photos were originally stored, and how that storage medium handles deletion, is a key factor in recoverability. Here are some common photo storage locations and what happens when you delete photos from them:
Camera or Phone Camera Roll
When you take photos with a digital camera or smartphone camera, they are typically saved to internal storage or a memory card in a special folder or database designed for photos. This storage is optimized for speedy saving and browsing of images.
When you delete photos through the camera interface, they are simply marked as deleted in the database but not immediately erased. Only when new data overwrites the deleted files will they become unrecoverable. So as long as no new photos have been taken to fill the space, recovery software can scan the raw storage and rediscover deleted files.
Computer Hard Drives
Photos stored on a computer hard drive are contained in regular file folders alongside all other files. When deleted, they are moved to the recycle bin. An additional deletion from the recycle bin is required to permanently erase them.
As long as the space occupied by deleted files hasn’t been overwritten, recovery software can restore them by scanning the hard drive and reconstructing file tables. However, once overwritten, traditional recovery is near impossible for average users without advanced forensics.
Cloud Storage Services
Cloud services like Apple iCloud, Google Photos and Dropbox allow syncing folders of photos across devices. When photos are deleted through a synced device or the cloud interface, there is a grace period where they can be recovered.
For example, iCloud has a Recently Deleted folder holding deleted photos for 30 days before final removal. Google Photos has a Trash bin that holds deleted photos for 60 days. Some services like Dropbox don’t have a built-in recovery option, but deleted files remain recoverable for 30 days using alternative methods.
Online Platforms
Photos uploaded directly to social networks or other online platforms are at the mercy of those services’ policies. They may be instantly erased or kept in a deletion buffer temporarily. Policies tend to be opaque for ordinary users, so it’s safest to assume online uploads are not easily recoverable after deletion.
Permanently Deleting Photos from Cloud Services
Since photos stored in cloud accounts remain recoverable even after deletion through normal means, further steps must be taken to permanently erase them.
For iCloud Photo Library, turning off iCloud Photos on each device will stop syncing. You can then delete photos from iCloud.com and empty the Recently Deleted folder. However, device backups stored in iCloud may still hold copies of the photos until those backups are deleted.
For Google Photos, removing photos from all linked accounts and devices will delete them completely after the 60 day grace period.
With Dropbox, deleting a file’s active and deleted copies plus clearing the Dropbox local folder on synced devices will permanently erase it.
In general, removing photos from all locations is needed for permanent cloud deletion. Be aware that some residual copies may still remain in backups or archives until they are also erased.
Recovering Deleted Photos from Computers
Trying to recover deleted photos from a computer depends on where they were stored and how they were deleted.
Recycle Bin
If photos were simply deleted into the Windows recycle bin or Mac trash folder, they remain recoverable through normal means until permanently erased. You can often restore them to their original location easily.
Hard Drive
Photos deleted from the hard drive more permanently can be recovered using data recovery software as long as the storage space hasn’t been overwritten. Programs like Recuva, Stellar, EaseUS and Disk Drill can scan the drive and restore recoverable files.
External Drives
The same principle applies to external hard drives and USB sticks. As long as the deleted photos on the drive have not been overwritten by new data, file recovery software can find and restore them.
SSD Drives
Newer solid state drives (SSDs) automatically trim deleted data blocks to optimize write speeds. This trimming occurs faster than on traditional hard drives, making recovery harder. Still, data recovery software can restore trimmed files to some extent if acted quickly before too much new data writes over them.
Can Your Service Provider Recover Deleted Photos?
Some people assume that calling their service provider can magically recover any lost or deleted data from their devices or accounts. However, the provider’s capabilities in this area are limited.
Cell phone carriers like AT&T or Verizon do not make backups of customer data. So they have no way to restore deleted photos from your phone’s camera roll or internal storage.
Cloud services like Apple and Google will only restore files that are recoverable through their standard retention policies and user accessible tools. For photos deleted outside those policies, the provider has no deeper access for recovery.
Computer and device manufacturers also have no special access to deleted files on a drive. So Dell, Lenovo etc. cannot recover deleted files that are no longer accessible to the user.
In general, if you cannot restore deleted photos through normal means yourself, your service provider will not be able to either. Specialized data recovery companies offer the best chance through low level techniques inaccessible to average users.
Can Formatting or Resetting a Device Delete Photos?
Performing a factory reset or format on a device like a phone, camera, computer or hard drive erases all user data by design. This includes photos stored on that device.
However, it’s important to note that formatting does not physically destroy data. It resets the directory so files are no longer accessible by name. The raw underlying data still remains until overwritten.
Therefore, photos deleted via formatting or resetting may still be recoverable using data recovery tools if the storage has not been reused. But act fast, as new data writes can quickly make overwritten files unrecoverable.
Is a Deleted Photo Still on Facebook or the Cloud?
When you delete a photo from your Facebook profile or feed, it is removed immediately from public visibility. However, Facebook may retain deleted photos on their servers for an undisclosed amount of time.
Their data policy states they keep data for “a reasonable period of time” after deletion for legal obligations, safety, and security purposes. However, they allow you to request permanent deletion.
Similar vagueness applies to deleted cloud storage files. iCloud, Google Photos and others will keep deleted files in a temporary trash bin, but it’s uncertain how long deleted items may remain on their servers before being discarded from backups and archives.
In essence, it’s safest to assume that any photo you upload to an app or online service may still exist there in some form until you specifically request permanent deletion.
Can Deleting Photos Free up Cloud Storage?
Yes, deleting photos you’ve uploaded from your phone or computer to cloud storage services can free up account storage space. However, there are a few caveats:
- Deleted photos may continue occupying storage temporarily until permanently erased from the cloud trash/recycle bin.
- Local device backups in the cloud may still retain deleted photo archives until those backups are also deleted.
- Metadata or analytics on your photos may remain in the cloud after deletion.
So while deleting photos will eventually free up space once fully removed, the cloud provider will likely retain some data related to them for a period of time. To maximize space freed up quickly, also empty the trash and remove device backups.
Can You Recover Deleted Photos after Factory Reset?
It is possible to recover deleted photos from a phone, camera, computer or other device even after a factory reset or format of the storage. This is because the reset simply erases file directories rather than physically overwriting data:
- Data recovery software can scan device storage and restore previously deleted files, including photos.
- Cloud services may retain backups of the device from before the reset, containing the deleted photos.
- Syncing apps may have copies of the deleted photos still accessible on other devices.
However, factory resets make data recovery harder due to overwriting risk. The sooner unrecoverable files are written to storage after the reset, the more likely original data can be overwritten and permanently lost. So act fast if you need to restore deleted photos post-reset.
Should You Use Data Recovery Software?
Data recovery software provides the most direct way to get back deleted photos from a digital device or hard drive. Ideally, it is used soon after deletion before file overwriting occurs. Some key points about recovery software:
- It can restore recoverable files when normal deletion methods fail.
- It accesses raw storage data inaccessible to the user.
- Freeware options like Recuva and Disk Drill can recover recently deleted files.
- Paid software like Stellar offer more advanced recovery capabilities.
- Using recovery software is advisable before device re-use.
Recovery software is often the last resort when normal means of retrieving your photos fail. As long as storage space has not been overwritten, it can restore photos by essentially un-deleting them from device directories.
Can You Recover Photos after Reinstalling Windows?
When you reinstall Windows on a computer, it formats the hard drive partitions and erases all user data, including photos. However, recovery is still possible in some scenarios:
- Backups on external drives unaffected by the reinstall may contain the deleted photos.
- Recovery software can find recoverable copies of deleted files on the newly formatted partitions.
- Cloud services like Google Photos or Dropbox may have retained the deleted images if previously synced.
The key is to act quickly following the reinstall before new data writes to the hard drive partitions make original files unrecoverable. Cloud backup is also your friend for keeping copies of files through events like an OS reinstall.
Can You Recover Deleted Photos without Software?
There are a few ways to potentially restore deleted photos without dedicated recovery software:
- Restore from recycle bin or trash folders if photos are still there.
- Try time machine backups on Mac to access deleted file history.
- Use file search utilities that can resurface deleted files.
- Retrieve files from system restore points or snapshots if enabled.
- Access iCloud, Google Photos or Dropbox if files were synced there.
However, these methods are limited compared to recovery software. Once normal deletion pathways fail, only data recovery programs have the capabilities to truly dig into raw storage and undelete files. So turn to software if you’ve exhausted your other options.
Can Hidden Temporary Files Recover Deleted Photos?
Possibly, with the right circumstances. When working with photos, devices and apps create temporary files that may retain copies of images even after deletion:
- Device storage caches store temporary versions of accessed photos.
- App working files hold unsaved image edits and previews.
- Web browsers cache visited images.
- Preview generator files hold photo thumbnails.
If you have sifted through these temporary locations soon after photo activities, before caches are cleared, you may find recoverable copies. However, relying on temporary files for recovery is unrealistic in most cases.
Can You Recover Photos Deleted from SD Card?
Photos deleted from an SD card or other removable flash storage can be recovered as long as the deleted files are not overwritten by new data writes. When deleted files remain intact, recovery software can restore them by scanning the raw SD card contents.
However, SD cards are risky for recovery because:
- Their fast write speeds make file overwriting more likely.
- They wear out after repeated writes, corrupting data.
- They are easily misplaced and physically damaged.
So recover deleted photos quickly from removable media, and copy them to safer storage. Leaving deleted photos on an SD card risks permanent loss.
Can You Recover Photos Deleted from iCloud?
Recovering photos deleted from iCloud depends on a few factors:
- The iCloud Recently Deleted folder holds deleted photos for 30 days.
- iCloud backups of devices retain deleted photos until the backup is deleted.
- After the grace period, deleted iCloud photos are likely unrecoverable.
So check the Recently Deleted folder and any backups quickly. Beyond that window, you likely need professional help to extract deleted files from Apple’s cloud servers.
Do Phone Carriers Store Deleted Photos?
No, phone carriers like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile do not monitor or store customers’ device photos. So they cannot recover photos deleted off your smartphone’s camera roll or storage.
Carriers only handle network transmission of data like photos. They do not actually store your photo contents. Phone manufacturers also do not retain copies of photos taken with their devices.
Your only recovery options are the phone’s local storage and any cloud services you may have backed up photos to. The carrier does not serve as a backup for deleted phone photos.
Can You Recover Deleted Photos on Android?
It is possible to recover deleted photos on Android phones and tablets under certain conditions:
- Un overwritten photos can be restored using data recovery apps.
- Cloud services like Google Photos may have retained deleted images if auto-sync was enabled.
- SD card photos that were only “soft deleted” can be undeleted.
However, Android photo recovery carries risk if automatic sync is not used. Enabling backup to the cloud provides an extra safeguard for restoring deleted images if local recovery fails.
Are Deleted Photos Gone from Google Photos?
When you delete photos from Google Photos, they are moved to the trash bin for 60 days before being permanently discarded. During this grace period, deleted photos remain recoverable.
However, even after the 60 days, Google states deleted items may persist in backups, archives, and storage systems. So there is a chance traces remain on their servers until completely overwritten.
To maximize the likelihood of permanent deletion from Google Photos, you must also remove that content from all synced devices and backups.
Conclusion
In summary, the chances of recovering deleted photos depends strongly on:
- Where the photos were originally stored – camera, hard drive, cloud service etc.
- Whether storage space has been overwritten by new data.
- How much time has passed since deletion.
- Whether backups capturing the deleted state exist.
Acting quickly with data recovery software before file overwriting provides the best odds of restoring deleted photos. However, prevention via diligent backup practices is ideal to avoid loss in the first place.
