This article explains how to recover deleted photos on Android. The instructions apply to all Android phones and tablets.

What to Know

  • Download and open DiskDigger.Select Start basic photo scan. Choose the photo you want to recover and then select Recover.Next, choose Save the files to an app on your device.

Retrieve Deleted Photos on an Android Smartphone

The easiest way to retrieve deleted photos on your Android smartphone is with an app called DiskDigger.

Using your phone, go to the Google Play Store and download the DiskDigger app.

Don’t use your phone for anything else until you’ve recovered your image. Creating new files or data may erase the deleted image that’s likely still on your phone.

  • Once the DiskDigger app is downloaded to your Android device, open it. If it asks you to allow access to photos, media, and files, choose Allow.
  • Within the app, select Start basic photo scan.
  • When you see the deleted photo appear, tap the box in the upper-left corner to select it, then choose Recover at the top of the screen.
  • The app asks how you would like to recover the files. Choose Save the files to an app on your device.
  • The app presents options for where to save the photo. Choose the one that works best for you and follow instructions from there.

Retrieve Deleted Photos on Android Tablet

The process of retrieving deleted photos from an Android tablet is virtually the same as on an Android phone. Just be sure to read all the on-screen instructions within DiskDigger to catch minor differences.

Once the DiskDigger app is downloaded to your Android device, open it. If it asks you to allow access to photos, media, and files, choose Allow.

Within the app, select Start basic photo scan.

When you see the deleted photo appear, tap the box in the upper-left corner to select it, then choose Recover at the top of the screen.

The app asks how you would like to recover the files. Choose Save the files to an app on your device.

The app presents options for where to save the photo. Choose the one that works best for you and follow instructions from there.

If you’re an iOS user, you can recover deleted photos on an iPhone.

Other Options to Restore Deleted Photos

There are also software programs to help you restore deleted photos, including Recuva, which hasn’t been tested for this article but comes recommended by reliable sources. Download the program, then follow the instructions, which involve plugging your phone into your computer and using a tool to locate the deleted pictures.

Out of options for getting that image back from your phone or tablet? Think about places where copies of it could be:

You can search for similar programs online. Just be aware that some are paid and others are not.

  • Did you email or text it to a friend? Ask them to send it back.Did you post it on social media? You can download it from there. For example, on Facebook, open the photo, right-click on it, and select Save image as. Then go through the normal process to save the file to your computer.Did you back it up using Google Photos, Dropbox, Carbonite, or another backup storage service? These services have ways of restoring your documents. For example, the process in Google Photos is the same as the one for Facebook described above.

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