Recover Deleted Photos — iPhone, Android & SD Card (Step-by-Step)

Losing photos is stressful. Whether it was a single cherished moment, a work file, or a whole album accidentally erased, the panic is the same: Can I get them back? The good news: in many cases you can. This guide walks you, step-by-step, through how to recover deleted photos on iPhone, Android, Windows and from SD cards — and shows when to use free methods, recovery software, or call a professional.

Quick emergency checklist — do this first

This is the single most important part. If you just deleted the photos, stop doing anything that writes new data to the device.

1. Stop using the device (phone, camera, SD card, or computer). Continued use increases the chance the deleted files get overwritten.

2. Check built-in Trash / Recently Deleted (iPhone Photos > Albums > Recently Deleted; Google Photos > Trash). Many “deleted” photos live here for 30 days.

3. Check cloud backups (iCloud, Google Photos, OneDrive) — they may already be backed up.

4. Remove SD card if the photos were on a memory card. Don’t take new photos on it. Use a card reader for recovery on a computer.

5. Make a forensic copy (if possible) — if the images are critical, clone the drive/card to work on a copy, not the original.

If you skip these steps, your chance of success drops. Now, let’s go device by device.

PART 1 — Recover deleted photos on iPhone (step-by-step)

1) Check the “Recently Deleted” album (iOS)

1. Open Photos.

2. Tap Albums → scroll down to Recently Deleted.

3. If the photo is there, tap Select, choose photos, then Recover.

• iOS keeps these for 30 days by default.

2) Check iCloud Photos

• If you use iCloud Photos, visit icloud.com → Photos and check the Recently Deleted section there too. If your device had iCloud turned on and synced before deletion, your photo might be in iCloud.

3) Restore from an iCloud backup (if not in Recently Deleted)

If the photo was lost before the last iCloud sync and you have a backup that contains the image:

1. Confirm the backup date: Settings → your name → iCloud → Manage Storage → Backups.

2. Warning: Restoring an iCloud backup will replace current device data with the backup’s state. Export anything new you need first.

3. To restore: Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings, then set up and choose Restore from iCloud Backup during setup.

4) Restore from an iTunes / Finder backup (Mac or PC)

If you back up with iTunes (Windows or older macOS) or Finder (macOS Catalina+):

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer you back up to.

2. In Finder or iTunes, choose Restore Backup and select the relevant backup date.

3. As with iCloud, this replaces current device data — export new items first.

5) Use reputable iPhone photo recovery software

If the photo is not in Recently Deleted and you don’t have a backup, third-party recovery tools can scan the phone (or its backup) for deleted items. Examples of widely used tools include Disk Drill, EaseUS MobiSaver, Dr.Fone, and iMobie PhoneRescue. Steps are similar:

1. Install the software on a computer.

2. Connect iPhone and allow the tool to scan.

3. Preview found photos and restore what you need.

Important: Avoid random “free” apps that promise miracles — use well-known software from reputable companies and read recent reviews.

6) When iPhone recovery fails — professional help

If the drive portion of the phone is physically damaged or the data is extremely important, contact a professional data recovery service. Don’t attempt physical repairs yourself.

PART 2 — Recover deleted photos on Android (step-by-step)

1) Check Google Photos Trash

If you use Google Photos:

1. Open Google Photos → Library → Trash.

2. Items there are kept for 60 days (varies by account policies). Select and Restore.

2) Check the phone’s Gallery / Samsung Cloud / Manufacturer trash

• Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, and other OEM gallery apps often have a Recycle Bin or Trash within the Gallery app (usually 15–30 days). Check the gallery app settings and trash folder.

3) Check cloud backups (OneDrive, Google Drive)

• OneDrive and Google Drive may have auto-uploads enabled; check web versions too.

4) Use Android recovery apps (without root & with root)

• Some recovery apps work without rooting but find only recently deleted thumbnails or low-quality files. Deep recovery (full scan) may require root access.

• Tools to consider (desktop-based often more effective): DiskDigger, PhotoRec, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. DiskDigger for Android has a free version for rooted devices.

5) Recover from backup or PC

• If you used a backup app (e.g., Samsung Smart Switch, Google One backup), restore from there.

• If the phone was connected to a PC and files were copied, check the PC.

6) SD card in Android

• If photos were stored on an SD card, remove it immediately and perform recovery on a computer (see SD card section below).

7) Rooting warning

• Rooting can increase recovery success but voids warranties and risks further data loss if done incorrectly. Don’t root unless you understand the consequences and have a backup.

PART 3 — Recover deleted photos on Windows & Mac

1) Windows — quick wins

1. Check Recycle Bin. If found, right-click → Restore.

2. File History / Previous Versions: If you enabled File History or System Restore, right-click the folder that held the photos → Restore previous versions.

3. OneDrive: Check the OneDrive Recycle Bin online.

4. Windows File Recovery (Microsoft tool) — a command-line utility for Windows 10/11 that can recover deleted files (NTFS, FAT, exFAT). Use winfr with the right switches. This is advanced but effective.

2) Mac — quick wins

1. Check Trash. Open Trash → right-click → Put Back.

2. Photos app Recently Deleted (30 days) → recover.

3. Time Machine: If you use Time Machine backups, navigate to the folder in Finder and enter Time Machine to restore a previous version.

4. iCloud.com — if you use iCloud Photos, check the web interface.

3) Third-party desktop recovery software

If the files are not in Recycle Bin/Trash or backups, run recovery software on the computer (or on the storage device after attaching it). Popular tools: Recuva (Windows), PhotoRec (cross-platform, open source), Disk Drill, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Stellar Photo Recovery.

How to use desktop recovery software (general):

1. Stop using the drive.

2. Attach device to a computer as a secondary drive or use a card reader.

3. Run the recovery tool, choose the drive, do a deep scan.

4. Preview results and recover to a different drive (never recover to the same drive you scanned).

PART 4 — Recover deleted photos from SD card & camera memory

1) Immediate steps

1. Stop using the card. Don’t take more photos or format the card.

2. Use a card reader, not the camera, for the recovery process. Attach the card to the computer.

3. Run recovery software (PhotoRec, Recuva, Disk Drill, EaseUS, Stellar). PhotoRec and TestDisk are powerful free/open tools but have a steeper learning curve.

2) Recovery process (step-by-step)

1. Insert the SD card into a card reader and connect to your computer.

2. Open your chosen recovery software and select the SD card as the target.

3. Choose a full/deep scan (slower but finds more).

4. Preview found images (many tools let you preview thumbnails).

5. Recover images to a different drive (never save back to the SD card).

6. After recovery, verify files — some may be corrupted or incomplete.

If the card was formatted:

• Formatting often removes the file table but not the data; deep scans can still recover photos. Do not reformat again. Use a deep scan tool (PhotoRec/TestDisk are good here).

Physical damage / unreadable cards:

• If the card is physically damaged (contacts corroded, broken plastic, or not recognized by multiple card readers), don’t try DIY fixes like opening the card. Seek a professional data recovery service with a reputation for flash memory recovery.

PART 5 — Choosing the right photo recovery software

1) What to look for

• Platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux).

• File format support (JPG, PNG, RAW formats like CR2/NEF).

• Preview feature (lets you preview photos before recovery).

• Deep scan vs quick scan options.

• Safety & reputation (avoid unknown freeware that bundles malware).

• Customer support & documentation.

2) Free vs paid

• Free versions often allow preview but limit recovery. Paid versions remove limits, offer better file-type support, and provide customer support. For critical data, paid software or professional help is worth the cost.

PART 6 — When photos are “permanently deleted” — realistic expectations

“Permanently deleted” is nuanced:

• If a photo is in the device trash but emptied, it’s often still recoverable until new data overwrites the storage location.

• If you used secure erase tools or the device performed a secure wipe (randomizes storage), recovery is unlikely.

• If data blocks have been overwritten by new files, those originals are gone. Overwriting is the main enemy of recovery.

If it’s critical: stop using the device and consult a professional recovery service immediately — they have specialized tools that might succeed where consumer tools fail.

PART 7 — Preventive measures (how to avoid deleting photos in future)

1) Use cloud backups

• iCloud Photos for iPhone users (keep it enabled).

• Google Photos for Android and cross-platform backup.

• OneDrive, Dropbox, or Amazon Photos are also solid options.

2) Local backups

• Regularly export/copy your images to an external hard drive or NAS. Consider Time Machine (Mac) or File History (Windows).

• Use a 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies, on 2 different media, 1 offsite (cloud).

3) Set Gallery / App trash behavior

• Many gallery apps have a 30-60 day trash. Make sure it’s enabled.

4) Periodic checks & export

• Monthly checks to ensure backups are working. Export important albums to a separate drive occasionally.

5) Naming & organization

• Avoid large, single folders — use well-structured folders or albums. This reduces accidental mass-deletes.

PART 8 — Troubleshooting & tips (common scenarios)

1) I recovered the photos but they are corrupted

• Try different recovery software — some handle corrupted headers better.

• For partially corrupted JPEGs, specialized JPEG repair tools can sometimes fix headers.

2) Photos missing after an OS update

• Check cloud sync settings — sometimes updates toggle settings. Check iCloud/Google Photos and the device’s storage settings.

3) The software found thousands of files — how to pick the right ones?

• Use the preview feature, filter by file type and date, and recover to a staging folder. Sort by size and date to find likely matches.

4) My phone shows “No media” after recovery

• Reboot the phone. If still missing, connect to a PC and verify the files exist; the media scanner may need to refresh.

PART 9 — Example scenarios & step-by-step walkthroughs

Scenario A: Accidentally deleted 20 photos on an iPhone two hours ago

1. Open Photos → Albums → Recently Deleted. If found, Recover.

2. If not in Recently Deleted but you have iCloud enabled, check icloud.com Photos → Recently Deleted.

3. If still not found, connect phone to a trusted desktop recovery tool and run a scan.

Scenario B: Formatted SD card from a camera

1. Remove SD card; use a card reader.

2. Run PhotoRec or your chosen recovery tool with a deep scan.

3. Recover files to computer drive. Verify recovered files.

Scenario C: Deleted images from Android and emptied Google Photos Trash

1. Immediately stop using phone.

2. Try a desktop recovery program (attach phone as MTP or pull the SD card if used).

3. If not found and files are valuable, consider professional recovery.

PART 10 — Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: Can I recover permanently deleted photos?

A: Sometimes. If they were deleted recently and storage blocks haven’t been overwritten, recovery tools might restore them. If data blocks were overwritten or a secure erase occurred, recovery may be impossible. For critical data, contact professional recovery services.

Q: How long does Google photos keep deleted items?

A: Google Photos usually keeps deleted items in Trash for 60 days (but policies can change). Check the Trash folder in the Google Photos app or web interface.

Q: How do I recover deleted photos from an SD card after formatting?

A: Stop using the card, connect it via card reader to a computer, and run deep-scan recovery software (PhotoRec, Recuva, Disk Drill). Format does not always erase the underlying data — a deep scan often works.

Q: Which photo recovery software is best?

A: That depends on platform and needs. Look for tools with strong reputations, preview features, support for RAW formats, and a deep-scan option. Examples used by many people include Disk Drill, PhotoRec, Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and Stellar Photo Recovery.

Q: Will rooting my Android phone help recover deleted photos?

A: Rooting can permit deeper access so some recovery tools can do a more thorough scan. But rooting voids warranties, can be risky, and may overwrite data. Only root if you understand the risks.

Q: What should I do if the storage device is physically damaged?

A: Don’t open or tinker with it. Stop using it and contact a reputable professional data recovery service that specializes in flash memory or hard drive recovery.

Q: Are free recovery tools safe?

A: Many free tools are safe but check reviews and the vendor’s reputation. Avoid downloading unknown installers or cracked software, which can bundle malware.

PART 11 — Technical notes for power users 

• Disk images: If you know what you’re doing, make a disk image (bit-for-bit copy) of the drive or card and run recovery on the image. This preserves the original. Tools: dd on Linux/macOS, specialized imaging tools for Windows.

• File systems: Different file systems (FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, APFS) behave differently after deletion. Tools that understand the filesystem perform better.

• Metadata & RAW: For photographers, RAW files from cameras (CR2, NEF, ARW) are recoverable if the tool supports them. Check for camera model support.

Closing — realistic expectations & final checklist

Recovering deleted photos is often successful if you act fast, avoid writing new data, and use the right tools. However, there’s no 100% guarantee — overwritten data, secure wipes, or physical damage can make recovery impossible. The best defense is a good backup habit.

One-page Recovery Checklist:

1. Stop using the device immediately.

2. Check Recently Deleted / Trash in Photos or Google Photos.

3. Check cloud backups (iCloud, Google Photos, OneDrive).

4. If on SD card — remove card and use a card reader.

5. Use reputable recovery software on a computer; recover to a different drive.

6. If physical damage or critical data — contact a professional.

If this guide helped you, please do me a small favor: follow the blog for more practical tech guides, leave a comment with your recovery story or question so others can learn from it, and share this article with friends and groups who might need it. Your shares and comments help others recover their memories — thank you!