Many users accidentally delete important contacts, photos, apps, or other data from their phones. In most cases, deleted information can be recovered using built-in tools or third-party apps.
Using standard recovery tools
You can recover lost information using built-in backup features and cloud storage.
Backup on Android
Almost all recent Android smartphone models have a backup feature. This method is only relevant if you have already created backups. The feature works similarly to restore points in Windows — it rolls back the data to the point when the backup was made.
You can create a new backup via the “Backup and reset” item in the main settings of your smartphone. Select “Local backup” and start the backup process. Some phones, such as Xiaomi, also allow you to set up automatic backups on a schedule.
This method can only be used to restore certain data, namely:
- System settings: Wi-Fi hotspots, calendar data, desktop, contacts, camera settings, gallery, and so on.
- All applications and their data.
To restore, simply select the desired copy and click the “Start Restore” button. You can specify what to restore and what to leave unchanged.
The main disadvantage of this method is that it does not allow you to restore user photos, videos, and other documents. However, this method is ideal in cases where a virus or critical failure has forced you to reset to factory settings.
Using a Google account
Most smartphones come with a full suite of Google apps pre-installed, which means you can take advantage of backup services.
To save your data to the cloud, you need to enable the feature in the same section — “Backup and reset.” Users just need to log into their account and set it to “On.” You should also activate the “Auto-restore” toggle.
The data will be automatically restored to your phone as soon as you log into your account. This method is suitable for restoring the following information:
- contacts and text messages;
- Wi-Fi networks and their passwords;
- wallpapers;
- Gmail settings;
- applications and their data;
- language settings;
- date and time.
To back up photos and videos, use the Google Photos app. It can be downloaded for free from the Play Market. To enable synchronization, simply press a button in the Google Photos account settings.
All photos deleted from your device will be automatically saved in the Google Photos trash, from where you can restore them. Google also saves photos taken with other apps, but directly on the website.
This method is only relevant if Google synchronization was enabled before you deleted an important photo, video, or contact.
Using third-party apps
For Android, you can download special apps that will search for deleted photos, videos, and other files. If you don’t have superuser rights, the apps perform a limited search, scanning the available memory (usually on the SD card) for cached versions and thumbnails.
In order for the application to scan absolutely all free space, including system memory, and search for more than just photos, you need to obtain root privileges and grant them to the selected program.
A simple and convenient application for searching for deleted files. In limited mode without superuser privileges, it searches only for photos. It works extremely fast and can find up to several thousand photos. Sorting and selective recovery are available, and the source where the file was found is indicated. With root privileges, you can run a full scan that will detect videos and documents.
The most effective way to search for deleted files is to use special computer applications that scan the memory when the smartphone is connected via USB. A prerequisite for this is obtaining root privileges on your mobile device.
First, you need to enable “Developer Mode.” This can be done in the “About Phone” section. Tap several times on the “MIUI version” or “Build number” line, depending on your phone. After that, the corresponding item will appear in the advanced settings. There, you need to activate the “USB debugging” and “Install from USB” blocks.
Even if you have deleted important photos, videos, or documents, there is always a chance to recover them using specialized applications. To increase your chances of success, be sure to make regular backups, and if you discover something is missing, start recovery immediately. The fewer memory overwrites that occur after deletion, the higher the probability of recovering the file.