Before installing any program, check if your photos are in the trash, archive, or Google Photos cloud.
Why start with Google Photos?
On most Android phones, Google Photos is the app that stores and backs up images. When a photo goes missing, there's a good chance it's in an area of the app itself that isn't visible on the main screen.
This method doesn't require installing anything, doesn't modify the device's memory, and usually resolves the issue in a few minutes.
How to restore via the trash can
Open Google Photos and tap Collections at the bottom of the screen. Then tap Trash. In older versions, the path is Library and then Trash.
The trash can shows deleted items and how many days are left before they are permanently deleted. Backed-up photos are kept for up to 60 days. Unbacked photos, on Android 11 or later, are usually kept for 30 days.
Tap and hold the first photo to select it, select the others, and tap Restore. The images will return to the gallery and to the album where they were originally located.
Wasn't it in the trash? Look at these places
Archived photos disappear from the main screen but remain in your account. In Collections, tap Archive, and if you find what you're looking for, open the photo and choose Unarchive.
Images moved to the locked folder are hidden and protected by a password or fingerprint. It is located in Collections, within the utilities group.
Tap your profile picture in the upper corner to see which account is active. If you have more than one, switch between them and check if the photos are saved on the other account.
Access photos.google.com on your computer using the same account. If you used the option to free up space, the photos will only be removed from your phone and will remain there.
Whether the cell phone is a Samsung or another brand
Many devices have their own gallery with a separate trash bin. In the Samsung Gallery, for example, tap the menu and then Trash. Items usually remain there for 30 days. If you don't find anything in the trash bins, the next step is to search the internal memory.
How to recover photos from your phone's memory →
1. Google Photos
Google Play
This is where the trash can is located, which stores deleted photos for up to 60 days. It also contains the Archive, the Locked Folder, and automatic backups to your Google account.
If you're not already using it, install and activate backup so that future photos are protected even if your phone is lost or formatted.
Download on Google Play
2. Files by Google
Google Play
Google's file manager also has its own trash bin for items deleted by it. It's worth checking if you deleted photos using this app.
It also helps to find images that are in different folders, such as Downloads and WhatsApp media folders, which don't always appear in the gallery.
Download on Google PlayFrequently Asked Questions
I emptied the Google Photos trash. Is there still a way to fix it?
Not through the cloud. If the photos were also saved in the phone's memory, an app like DiskDigger can try to find them.
Why did the photo disappear from my phone but still appear on my computer?
The option to free up space was probably used, which deletes the copy from the device but keeps the photo in the cloud. Simply download it again using the app.
Does the Google Photos trash bin work offline?
Photos without backups may appear offline. To view and restore photos from the cloud, your phone needs to be connected to the internet.
How do I know if backup was enabled?
Tap your profile picture in Google Photos. The app will show you if backups are enabled and which account the photos are being saved to.