Accidentally deleting photos from your Android device can be frustrating. Luckily, there are several methods you can try to recover deleted photos, even if you don’t have a backup.
Can I recover deleted photos from Android?
Yes, it is often possible to recover deleted photos from Android devices. When you delete photos on Android, the files are not immediately removed from your phone’s storage. Instead, the space they occupied is marked as available to be overwritten by new data. As long as this space hasn’t been overwritten, data recovery software can scan your phone’s storage and restore deleted photos.
How does Android delete photos?
When you delete photos on an Android device, the files are not immediately removed from storage. Instead, the space they occupied is marked as “available to be overwritten.” The actual photo data still exists on your phone’s storage until new data overwrites it. This provides a window of opportunity to use data recovery software to scan the storage and restore deleted files before they are truly lost.
What are some ways I can recover deleted photos from Android?
Here are some common ways to recover deleted photos from Android devices:
- Use data recovery software designed for Android phones, such as DiskDigger Photo Recovery or EaseUS MobiSaver for Android. These tools scan your phone’s storage and restore recoverable photo and video files.
- Connect your Android phone to a computer and use desktop data recovery software, such as Recuva or Stellar Data Recovery, to scan the phone’s storage and recover deleted files.
- If you previously backed up your photos to cloud storage, such as Google Photos, you may be able to restore the deleted photos from the cloud backup.
- If you have a rooted Android phone, install data recovery apps like FRecovery or Dumpster to scan and recover deleted files.
How can I recover deleted photos without computer?
There are a few ways to recover deleted photos directly on your Android device without a computer:
- Use a dedicated Android data recovery app like DiskDigger Photo Recovery. These apps can scan your phone’s storage and restore recoverable photos.
- If you have root access on your Android phone, install root-only data recovery apps like FRecovery or Dumpster to scan for deleted files.
- Some Android manufacturers include built-in file recovery tools you can use, such as Samsung’s Recover Deleted Files feature.
- If you backed up photos to cloud storage, like Google Photos, you can restore deleted images from the cloud app on your phone.
The easiest option without a computer is to use a dedicated photo recovery app from the Google Play Store designed to restore deleted files from Android internal storage and SD card.
How can I increase chances of recovering deleted Android photos?
To maximize your chances of recovering deleted photos from your Android device, follow these tips:
- Avoid using your phone or taking new photos until you attempt recovery. New data could overwrite deleted files.
- Recover deleted photos as soon as possible before they are overwritten.
- Connect your Android phone to a computer and use desktop recovery software for the best results.
- Root your Android phone to install more powerful data recovery apps if needed.
- Scan both internal phone storage and external SD card for deleted photos.
- Store photos on the SD card instead of internal storage for easier recovery.
The sooner you use data recovery methods after deleting photos, the better chance you have of restoring them before overwritten.
Can I recover permanently deleted photos on Android?
If you permanently deleted photos on Android, either by using the “Erase from Device” option or formatting the storage, it becomes much harder to recover them. But it can still be possible in some cases.
For the best chance of recovering permanently deleted photos:
- Do not save or access any new files after deletion which could overwrite data.
- Use professional-grade data recovery software designed for formatted or damaged storage.
- Scan the storage device at a low-level to search for traces of erased photo data.
- Attempt recovery immediately for best chances – the more you use the device, the lower your chances.
While you may get some files back, there is no guarantee when recovering permanently deleted data. But it’s still worth an attempt using the right software and techniques.
What are the best Android photo recovery apps?
Some of the top-rated Android photo recovery apps include:
- DiskDigger Photo Recovery – Recovers lost images from internal storage and SD card. Free trial available.
- EaseUS MobiSaver for Android – Scans phone storage for image and video files. Allows previewing recoverable files.
- Recovery Robot – Quickly restores deleted photos with deep scan capabilities. Free version available.
- Dumpster – Requires root, but can recover permanently deleted files in some cases.
- FRecovery – Another root-only data recovery app great for phones with custom ROMs.
Make sure to research apps before installing to choose a trusted recovery tool. And remember they can only recover photos that have not yet been overwritten.
What is the best free deleted photo recovery app for Android?
The top free Android photo recovery apps include:
- DiskDigger Photo Recovery – Reliable recovery of deleted photos with free trial. Easy-to-use interface.
- Recovery Robot – Quick, deep scanning capabilities. Free version allows up to 500MB recovered.
- Dumpster – Requires root but can recover permanently deleted files in some cases.
- PhoneRescue – Allows undeleting images directly from the app. Free trial available.
The free trial version of DiskDigger is usually the best place to start for free photo recovery. It provides a user-friendly interface and consistent recovery capabilities without any hidden limits.
How can I recover deleted photos from Gallery on Android?
If you deleted photos from the Gallery app on your Android device, follow these steps to recover them:
- Avoid taking new photos or accessing Gallery until you attempt recovery, to prevent overwriting deleted files.
- Download and install a photo recovery app – DiskDigger is a great free option.
- Grant the app’s requested permissions to access photos, media, and files on your device.
- Open the app and have it scan your phone’s internal storage and SD card.
- Preview and restore any deleted photos found by the app before saving them to your device.
Using a dedicated photo recovery app is the most effective way to restore images deleted directly from the Gallery. Act quickly before they are overwritten by new data!
What if my deleted photos are not showing up in the recovery app?
If you can’t find deleted photos using a recovery app, there are a few possible reasons:
- The deleted photos may have been permanently erased from your Android device already.
- The recovery app may not have the right permissions to access all of your phone’s storage.
- You may need to try a different photo recovery app for better results.
- The deleted photos were stored on external SD card, but you are only scanning internal storage.
- Your device was encrypted, making recovery much harder after deletion.
Tips when photos don’t show up:
- Double check that all storage – including SD card – is being scanned.
- Try a different, top-rated recovery app like DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver.
- Avoid using your phone to maximize chances of deleted data still existing.
- If photos were permanently erased, unfortunately they may not be recoverable.
Can I recover deleted photos without root?
Yes, you can recover deleted photos from Android without root access. Many data recovery apps only require basic storage permissions from your phone and do not need root.
For example, apps like DiskDigger Photo Recovery, EaseUS MobiSaver, and Recovery Robot all provide undeleting capabilities without needing root access. They can scan both internal storage and external SD card for deleted photos.
Root access enables more advanced data recovery capabilities in some cases. But phone rooting is not required to restore recently deleted photos using most apps.
Should I root my Android phone to recover photos?
Rooting your Android phone is not necessary for recently deleted photo recovery in most cases. Many data recovery apps work effectively without root permissions.
However, there are some potential benefits to rooting your device before attempting data recovery:
- Root apps like Dumpster and FRecovery can recover even permanently deleted files in some cases.
- Root access allows deeper scanning and inspection of your phone’s storage partitions.
- Recovery apps can gain full administrative permissions for your phone’s storage.
Overall, rooting can give photo recovery apps more capabilities – but it also carries risks. Weigh the benefits and drawbacks before rooting your device for data recovery purposes.
Can third-party apps recover permanently deleted photos?
In some cases, third-party data recovery apps can restore even permanently deleted photos that were erased from your Android device. This is possible because data isn’t always fully removed from storage when “permanently” deleted.
Recovery apps designed for formatted or damaged storage can sometimes find traces of permanently erased files. For example:
- Disk Drill can recover data after factory reset on Android devices.
- FonePaw Android Data Recovery advertises permanent file recovery capabilities.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard has a sector-by-sector deep scanning mode to find deleted data.
Success is not guaranteed when recovering permanently deleted files. But specialized third-party tools provide the best chance compared to standard undeleting apps.
Should I avoid using my phone after deleting photos?
Yes, it’s highly recommended to avoid using your Android device after accidentally deleting photos. This gives you the best chance of recovering the deleted data before it gets overwritten.
Specifically, you should avoid:
- Taking new photos, which could overwrite deleted image data.
- Downloading apps or files, which fills up storage.
- Deleting anything else, which marks additional space as “available to overwrite.”
The more you use your phone after deletion occurs, the higher chance of permanent data loss. Power down the device if possible and immediately attempt photo recovery.
Where are deleted photos stored on Android?
When you delete photos on an Android device, the files are not immediately removed from storage. Instead, the space they occupy is marked as available to be overwritten by new data.
So until new content overwrites them, deleted photos remain in their original location:
- If on internal storage, they remain in the /DCIM folder.
- If on SD card, they remain in the same folder they were originally saved.
This allows data recovery software to find and restore deleted photos – if acted quickly before an overwrite occurs.
Can I recover deleted photos after factory reset?
It is possible to recover deleted photos after a factory reset, but difficult and not guaranteed. When you factory reset an Android device, all user data is marked to be fully erased and overwritten.
However, some data fragments often remain, giving recovery a chance:
- Use professional-grade recovery tools like Disk Drill or Recoverit.
- Avoid using the device after reset to prevent overwriting files.
- Rooting the device first can improve chances slightly.
- Deep scan the raw storage partitions to search for traces of erased files.
While factory reset significantly lowers your chances, you can still attempt photo recovery using the right methods. But there is no guarantee of success.
Conclusion
Accidentally deleting photos doesn’t have to mean losing them forever. Using data recovery software, you have a good chance of restoring recently deleted images from Android internal storage or SD card. Just don’t save anything new after deletion, and act fast! Some recovery apps even claim to restore permanently erased files in rooted devices. Just be sure to choose a trusted recovery tool and provide it the permissions needed to fully access your phone’s storage. With persistence and the right app, you can recover your lost Android photos.