How to Recover Deleted Photos: A Step-by-Step Guide for iPhone & Android

Part 1: What To Do Immediately After Deleting Photos

1. Stop all phone use

The very first thing to do is to stop using your phone for anything new— for instance, don't take photos, download apps, or install updates. Every new file or app adds to the likelihood of overwriting the deleted photos.

2. Look at the "Recently Deleted" or Trash folder

Here's how to recover deleted photos after deleting from recently deleted:

• On iPhone: Launch the Photos app > Albums > Recently Deleted. Photos are normally kept here for 30 days.

• On Android: Open Google Photos app > Library > Trash.

3. Restore if located

In case the deleted photos of yours are in these folders, all you have to do is select the photos and click "Recover". Most of the time, this is the solution to the problem and the easiest one.

4. Unable to find

The pictures are most likely not in the Recently Deleted/Trash folder—or you've deleted the folder altogether. Please don't panic. It's best not to reset or restore your device at this point as you may end up erasing the recoverable data permanently. Just continue with the recovery methods suggested in the subsequent sections.

Part 2: How to Recover Deleted Photos from Built-in & Cloud Backups

A. For iPhone/iPad Users: Recover Deleted Photos Using iCloud

If you have enabled iCloud Photos, there is a chance that you can recover your deleted photographs directly from iCloud. Here's how to retrieve deleted photos:

• Step 1: Find "Recently Deleted" in iPhone.
• Step 2: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings".



• Step 3: During setup, select Restore from iCloud Backup.

B. For Android Users: Recover Deleted Photos Using Google Backups

One of the simplest photo recovery methods for Android users is Google Photos. Assuming your pictures have been backed up in the cloud, it will only take a few minutes to restore them. Besides that, some manufacturers provide cloud storage such as Samsung Cloud or Mi Cloud that can assist with image retrieval when lost. It will be easier to recover your data successfully if you act immediately before new files overwrite the deleted ones. Here's how to restore photos:

• Step 1: First, launch Google Photos on your Android phone.
• Step 2: Either you can search for the deleted photo using the search feature or go to Library > Trash to see if it's there. Photos will be kept in Trash for up to 30 days.



• Step 3: In case you see the photos, select them and hit Restore to get them back to your gallery.
• Step 4: Not finding the photos in Trash means you should check your device manufacturer's cloud service. Log in and find the backup that may have your photos.
• Step 5: Besides, you may have a Google One backup of your device, and by restoring your device from the backup, you will be able to get back your deleted photos. The Google One app has the steps to restore backup.

C. For Both: Restore Deleted Photos from Computer Backups

Windows File History

If you had stored your photos on a Windows PC, one direct method to retrieve your deleted photos is to utilize File History.

• Step 1: Make sure that your computer is switched on and connected to a power supply. Then launch File History or navigate to the backup folder of your photos.
• Step 2: Browse to the directory of the photos that have been deleted.
• Step 3: You may employ the timeline or the previous versions to locate a date which is before the photos got deleted.
• Step 4: Select either the photos or the folders to which you want to go back.
• Step 5: Press the Restore button and they will be copied to the original place or to a new one, as you prefer.

macOS Time Machine

If you happen to be a Mac user, then Time Machine should be your primary backup as well as restore tool.

• Step 1: To open Time Machine, you have first to connect your Time Machine backup drive.
• Step 2: Use the timeline on the right to spot the specific date prior to when the photos were deleted.
• Step 3: Decide on the photos and/or folders to retrieve.
• Step 4: Select Restore if you want to save them either to the default folder or a location of your choice.

Part 3: How to Retrieve Permanently Deleted Photos Without Backup

Losing photos of great value or important WhatsApp messages or documents on Android can be quite stressful if there's no backup to rely on. Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (Android) is a good and powerful tool that supports more than 6,000 Android models and over 14 file types. It gives the chance to recover data from charred phones, black screens, or phones that don't have root access, providing live preview and selective recovery features.

Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (iOS) provides a dependable way to bring back lost data at the highest success rate to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users. It has the capability of supporting 35+ file types like photos, messages, contacts, WhatsApp, and iWork files, and it can restore data directly from iOS devices or extract it from iTunes/iCloud backups. No matter whether your device is lost, stolen, water-damaged, disabled, or having the problem of system crashes, Dr.Fone provides selective recovery without overwriting existing data.

• Step 1: Launch Dr.Fone and select Android

Start Wondershare Dr.Fone on your PC and go to Toolbox > Data Recovery > Android.



• Step 2: Decide on recovery option

Choose Recover Android Data from the list.



• Step 3: Hook up your Android device

You connect your Android phone to the computer via a USB cable. Let Dr.Fone recognize the device by itself. Afterward, choose the types of files that you want to recover and press Start Scan.



• Step 4: Preview and restore data

Once the scan is over, you can preview all the retrievable files visually. Tick the ones you want and tap Recover button. Then you will be asked to indicate a folder on your PC where you want to save the files.

Part 4: Advanced Ways to Recover Deleted Photos

A. Recovering Photos via Hidden or Cached Files

On Android devices, certain gallery and messaging applications— for instance, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram—needed images in caches or hidden folders for a short period. This is the most effective way of doing it right after the deletion and there is no need for any third-party apps.

Step 1: Open a File Manager app on Android. Go to Android > data > com.whatsapp > files > WhatsApp > Media.

Step 2: Open folders such as Images, Sent, or Private.

Step 3: Copy any found images to a safe folder outside the app directory to prevent automatic deletion.

B. Checking Cloud Synced Apps Other Than Photos

There are a few instances where apps may automatically back up photos or sync them to cloud storage without the users being fully aware of it.

Step 1: Access your cloud service or app such as Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive that you often use by logging in to your account which is the same as the one connected to your phone.

Step 2: Find folders named Uploads, Camera Uploads, Media, or you may find these as app-specific folders.

Step 3: Inspect the app's Trash, Recycle Bin, or Recently Deleted area as deleted files are generally kept there for a while.

Step 4: Select any missing photos you find and choose Restore or Download to recover them.

C. Recovering photos from SD cards and external storage

First, switch off your phone immediately if you want to stop overwriting and thus, your best chance of file recovery is probably removing the SD card. Use a card reader or a PC with an SD card slot to work with the contents of the SD card. Start a photo recovery software PhotoRec or Disk Drill free trial on your computer. Scan the SD card, preview the photos that are recoverable, save the files you restored to your computer, not back to the SD card.

Part 5: Prevention: How to Never Lose a Photo Again

A few simple habits can protect your memories and ensure that accidental deletions never turn into permanent loss.

• Image auto-backup on the cloud: One step is the most crucial because your photos get saved to the cloud continuously and thus can be recovered even if the mobile phone is lost, broken, or factory reset.
• Use the "archive" feature: When you archive photos, they are hidden from your main gallery but still stored securely and can be brought back easily.
• Complete your local backup regularly: At times, transfer your photos to a computer or an external hard drive. Local backups serve as a double safety layer in the situation of a failure of cloud backup or if your accounts become inaccessible.
• Look once more before you discard the trash: Make it a habit to check the Recently Deleted, Trash, or Bin folder before you empty it for good. The last look can prevent your precious photos from being completely deleted.

Conclusion

When you take the proper steps, you can discover how to recover deleted photos using your device's built-in features—like the Recently Deleted folder, cloud backups, and computer backups. If no backup exists, a dependable tool like Dr.Fone – Data Recovery can safely restore your photos and other valuable data.

Most importantly, it is advantageous to act quickly and develop good habits such as automatic cloud backups and regular local backups that can be a great help not only to keep your memories safe in 2026 but also in the years to come.