If your phone uses Google Photos, the accidentally deleted photo is probably in the app's trash folder.
Why start with the trash can?
Google Photos comes pre-installed on most Android phones and also works on iPhones. When you delete an image using it, the file doesn't disappear instantly: it goes to the trash and remains available for a period of time.
Restoring from there is the fastest and safest way. The photo comes back with the same quality, with the date and location preserved, and you don't need to install anything.
Photos with backups remain in the trash for up to 60 days. Photos that were only on the device, without backup, usually remain for up to 30 days on Android 11 or later. After that, deletion is permanent.
How to restore a photo using your cell phone
On a computer, the process is similar: access Google Photos in your browser, log into the same account, open the Trash in the sidebar menu, and use the restore button.
- Open Google Photos.
- Tap the Collection tab (in older versions, Library).
- Enter the Trash.
- Tap and hold the photo you want to recover. If there are multiple photos, tap the others in sequence.
- Tap Restore. The photo will be returned to the gallery and to its original album.
The photo isn't in the trash. Now what?
Before concluding that it's lost, check out some places where the image might be hidden.
Archived photos disappear from the main screen but remain in the account. View them in Collection, then Archive. The locked folder also removes the photo from the regular view and only opens with the password or fingerprint of the device.
If you have more than one account on your phone, the photo may have been saved on another account. Tap your profile picture in the upper corner and switch between accounts.
Samsung, Motorola, and Xiaomi phones have their own photo galleries, each with its own trash bin. If a photo was deleted from there, it's in that trash bin, not in Google Photos.
1. Google Photos
Google Play
This is the app where the trash can you just saw is located. If it's already on your phone, you don't need to download it again: just open it and follow the steps above.
It's also worth enabling backup in Settings. With it turned on, photos are stored in the cloud and have a longer retention period in the trash.
Download on Google Play
2. Dumpster
Google Play
It functions as an extra trash can for the entire Android system, including photos deleted by other apps. It keeps copies of anything deleted after installation.
It doesn't replace backups, but it's a good additional layer of protection for those who frequently delete files without realizing it.
Download on Google PlayFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need internet to restore from the trash?
For photos that were only on the device, no. For photos with a backup, the restoration is synchronized when there is a connection.
I emptied the trash can. Is there still a way to fix it?
Not through Google Photos. The only option left is to try a recovery app on the device's memory or the card, but there's no guarantee of success.
Does the restored photo lose quality?
No. It returns exactly as it was before it was deleted.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes, Google Photos has a trash bin on the iPhone too. It's also worth checking out the Recently Deleted album in the iPhone Photos app.