What do you want?
See the errors that prevent recovery → See ways to recover photos and messages → Step-by-step guide to recovering deleted messages →Understand what happens when you delete a photo or message and what to do before trying to recover it.
What happens when you delete a file?
When you delete a photo or a conversation, the system typically doesn't destroy the data immediately. It marks that space as free, and the old content remains there until a new file occupies the same location.
On modern cell phones, however, the situation is more difficult than it seems. Android and iPhone use encryption and quickly free up deleted space, so recovering directly from internal memory doesn't always work. The chances are much higher when there's a recycle bin, a backup, or a memory card.
App trash can
Google Photos and many manufacturers' photo galleries keep deleted photos for a while, usually 30 days. In Google Photos, backed-up items are kept for up to 60 days. It's the first place to look.
Cloud backup
If backups were enabled, the photo or conversation may be saved to Google Photos, Google Drive, or iCloud, even after it disappears from your phone.
Device memory or card
Without a recycle bin and without a backup, the only option left is to try a recovery application or program. The chances are usually better with memory cards than with internal memory.
Regular deletion and secure deletion
The common method of deleting data, which everyone uses daily, only frees up space. However, factory reset, full formatting, and secure erase options overwrite data or discard the keys that allow it to be read. After that, recovery is practically impossible.
If the phone hasn't been restored or formatted yet, it's worth following the steps carefully before concluding that you've lost everything.
What to do before attempting recovery
The first few minutes count. Some simple actions increase the chances and prevent ruining what can still be saved.
Stop using the device
Avoid taking photos, downloading apps, receiving files, or recording audio. Each new file can occupy the space where the deleted data was located.
Activate airplane mode
This interrupts downloads, automatic updates, and synchronizations that write new data to memory. Reconnect only when you need to access the cloud or restore a backup.
Don't create a new backup now
On WhatsApp, a backup made after deleting a message replaces the previous one, which still contained the conversation. Check the date of the last backup before doing anything.
Remove the memory card
If the photos were on a microSD card, remove the card from your phone and do not save anything to it until you attempt recovery.
Where was the file stored?
The recovery process varies depending on the type of storage.
- microSD card or USB drive: you can scan it on your computer with a card reader, and the chances are usually good if nothing has been written over it.
- Internal phone memory: without root access, apps can only access some of the data, such as thumbnails and cached files.
- Cloud (Google Photos, Google Drive, iCloud): it all depends on the trash bin and the timeframe of each service.
- Computers with hard drives: deleted files are usually recoverable for longer. On SSDs, the TRIM feature quickly clears space and reduces the chances of recovery.
How to avoid losing photos and messages again
After resolving the problem, a few minutes of setup will prevent it from happening again.
- Enable backup of your photos to Google Photos or iCloud.
- On WhatsApp, enable daily backups in Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- From time to time, keep a copy of important photos on a computer or external hard drive.
- Be wary of cleaning apps that delete files without asking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to recover photos that are in the trash?
Yes. Open the trash in Google Photos or your gallery, select the photo, and tap restore. After the trash is emptied or the time limit expires, the only remaining options are a backup or a recovery app, with no guarantee of success.
Is it possible to recover WhatsApp messages without a backup?
In practice, it's very difficult. Conversations are stored in an encrypted database, and without a backup prior to deletion, the chance of recovering the text is small. Photos and videos received sometimes remain in the WhatsApp media folder.
How long do I have to recover?
There is no fixed time limit. In trash bins, the limit is usually 30 to 60 days. Outside of them, the less the device is used after being turned off, the greater the chances of recovery.
Does the recovery app work without root access?
It works, but in a limited way. Without root access, apps like DiskDigger often find thumbnails and cached copies, frequently at a lower resolution than the original.
What if the cell phone doesn't turn on?
If it has a memory card, remove the card and try it in a computer. For the internal memory, the solution is to take it to a specialized technical service, and the cost can be high.
Download the apps
Tap the app you want to install. The button opens its official page on Google Play.
