How do I recover deleted photos on Android?

Check the trash first. In Google Photos, tap Collections, then Trash, touch and hold the photo, and tap Restore. On a Samsung phone, also open Gallery, tap Menu, then Recycle bin, tap Edit, pick the photos, and tap Restore. Deleted photos usually stay there for 30 days, so act soon.

Steps to check

1. Check the Google Photos trash

   Open the Google Photos app. At the bottom, tap Collections, then Trash. Touch and hold a photo or video you want back (you can then tap more to pick several), and tap Restore at the bottom. Google says the photo goes back to your phone's gallery app, your Google Photos library, and any albums it was in. Google Photos is the main photo app on Pixel and Motorola phones, so this is the place to look on those.

2. On Samsung, check the Gallery recycle bin

   Samsung's own Gallery app has its own bin, separate from Google Photos. If you deleted the photos in Gallery, look there.

   • Samsung Open Gallery, tap Menu (three lines), then Recycle bin (sometimes called Trash). Tap Edit, select the photos, then tap Restore (or Restore all). Samsung says items stay there for 30 days. On newer Galaxy phones you can also open My Files and scroll down to Recycle bin.

3. Look in the archive and Locked Folder

   A photo may not be deleted at all, just hidden from the main view. In Google Photos, tap Collections and look for Archive. Archived photos are still on your account and can be moved back to the main view from there. Google also suggests checking your Locked Folder, which keeps private photos out of the main view.

4. Make sure you're in the right account

   If the photos were backed up, they are tied to one Google Account. Tap your profile picture at the top right of Google Photos and check which account is showing. If you have more than one, switch to the other and look again. Samsung gives the same advice for photos that seem to have vanished.

5. Check on a computer

   If your phone is lost or broken, go to photos.google.com on a computer and sign in with the same Google Account. Click Trash on the left to restore recently deleted items, or look through the main library for photos that were backed up. See also getting photos off a phone with a broken screen.

6. If they're not in any trash

   Google says photos that were permanently deleted, or left in the trash for more than 30 days, can't be restored. If they were never backed up, they are most likely gone. Be careful with people or apps that promise to bring them back for a fee, and never hand over your account details. To protect future photos, turn on backup to Google Photos.

Normal vs. not

Common questions

How long do deleted photos stay in the trash?

Google says 30 days in the Google Photos trash. Samsung's Gallery recycle bin also keeps items for 30 days. After that they are deleted for good.

I deleted photos from Google Photos. Are they gone from my phone too?

Usually yes. Google says deleting in Google Photos also removes the copy on your phone and on other devices with backup turned on. Restoring from the trash brings it back to both.

Can I get back photos from before a factory reset?

Only if they were backed up, for example to Google Photos or another cloud service. Sign in to that account on the phone to see them again. A factory reset erases what was stored only on the phone.

I emptied the trash. Can Google recover the photos?

No. Google says permanently deleted photos and videos can't be restored, including through Google Takeout.

Related questions

• How do I back up my photos to Google Photos?
• How do I free up storage without losing photos?
• How do I transfer photos from my Android phone to a computer?
• What should I back up before I factory reset my Android phone?