- Photos deleted on an Android will land in the ‘Trash’ folder for up to 60 days
- There is software for photos that disappeared on iPhone or Android
- Stay tech-savvy with expert Kim Komando’s free newsletter, over 600K people do. Sign up here
You’re browsing photos on your camera roll, your finger slips and poof – a cherished image is gone forever.
Before you panic, know there might be a way to bring it back from the dead.
The best part? It works even if you accidentally deleted something days ago.
Perfect for those times you realize, ‘Dang it, I deleted the best pic I took of my dog/kid/self the other day.’
Many people have accidently deleted the perfect photo, but there are several ways to recover it
Google Photos
Google Photos is one of the most forgiving apps for accidental deletions. An ‘undo’ button usually flashes on your screen for a few seconds after your misstep.
Any photo you delete will land in the ‘Trash’ folder for up to 60 days — as long as you’ve enabled ‘Back up and Sync.’
Dang, a whole two months to change your mind!
● On your iPhone or Android, open Google Photos.
● At the bottom, select Library > Trash.
● Touch and hold the photo you want to keep. Tap Restore.
FYI: Even if you don’t have ‘Back up and Sync’ enabled, there’s a good chance your photo will stick around for up to 30 days.
If you empty the ‘Trash’ folder, you’re out of luck.
Apple Photos
Any images you delete will appear in the Recently Deleted album. Whether you have iCloud enabled or not, you’ll have up to 30 days to get them back
Any images you delete will appear in the Recently Deleted album.
Whether you have iCloud enabled or not, you’ll have up to 30 days to get them back.
● Open the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
● Select Albums and tap Recently Deleted.
● Use Face ID or Touch ID if prompted.
● Select the deleted photo and tap Recover.
If you can’t find a deleted pic, there’s a slim chance it’s actually ‘hidden.’
● Open the Photos app. Select Albums and tap Hidden under Utilities.
● Use Face ID or Touch ID if prompted.
● Select the photo you want to unhide. Tap the More button and select Unhide.
Voila! And now your deleted (or hidden) photo is back.
Let’s say you struck out …
A cute picture of your dog/cat/kid isn’t in the ‘Trash’ folder. It’s time to bring in the heavy hitter.
When all else fails, you can try a third-party tool.
Stellar Data Recovery is a popular option, but it’s not cheap.
The program starts at $29.99 for Android users and $39.99 for iPhone users.
It’s not the cheapest software out there — but it’s a safer alternative when compared to nasty, invasive programs that claim to be free.
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how it works:
● Download Stellar Data Recovery onto your computer.
● Connect your Android or iPhone via USB, then launch the software.
● Choose the type of data you’d like to recover. In this case, photos.
● Select your Android or iPhone device and click Scan.
● Once finished, any recoverable photos will be displayed.
Laura Adams is a tech enthusiast residing in the UK. Her articles cover the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets, providing readers with a glimpse into the future of technology.
