Samsung is one of the best-selling Android smartphones. Its popularity is largely due to its large internal memory, which can store many photos and other files.
However, like any other electronic device, Samsung phones are not immune to unforeseen situations that can lead to data loss. This can be caused by both human error and device malfunction. One of the most common problems is an error when working with an SD memory card, which leads to the loss of photos and other important data. In this article, we will take a detailed look at ways to recover deleted images from a Samsung smartphone.
Let’s look at five methods you can use to recover deleted photos from any Samsung smartphone, regardless of whether they were accidentally deleted a few minutes ago or irretrievably lost due to user error or mechanical damage.
Method 1. Recover deleted photos from the Samsung gallery trash can
- Open the Gallery app on your Samsung smartphone.
- Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Select Trash from the list of options.
- View the list of deleted photos.
- Select the photos you want to restore: to restore a single photo, tap on it.
To restore multiple photos: tap and hold one of the photos for a few seconds, then select the other photos you want to restore by tapping on them. Tap the “Restore” button.
Important points. Deleted photos are stored in the trash for 30 days. After 30 days, the photos are permanently deleted. Only photos that have been deleted within the last 30 days can be restored to your smartphone.
Tip. Back up your photos regularly to protect them from loss. Use cloud storage such as Google Photos to store your photos and videos.
Method 2. Recover deleted photos using software
If the photos are not in the gallery trash, don’t despair! You can recover them using special software.
There are two types of data recovery software:
- for Windows and macOS PCs (Disk Drill, EaseUS MobiSaver for Android);
- mobile applications (installed on an Android smartphone, for example, DiskDigger).
The first is usually more effective, but requires root privileges.
For instructions on how to use photo recovery software on Samsung devices, please refer to the manuals on the official software websites.
Method 3. Recover photos from Samsung Cloud
If you accidentally deleted your photos, don’t despair! Samsung Cloud can be your savior.
How Samsung Cloud works
- Free storage: 5 GB for all users.
- Automatic backup: photos from your gallery are automatically uploaded to the cloud.
- Recovery: the ability to restore deleted photos, even if your phone is damaged.
Recovering photos from Samsung Cloud works as follows.
- Open the Settings app on your Samsung smartphone.
- Go to the Accounts and Backup section.
- Select Samsung Cloud.
- Tap Backup and Restore.
- Select Restore Data.
- Find and select Gallery – Sync.
Method 4. Restoring photos from Google Photos
Google Photos is one of the most popular services for storing and sharing photos.
How Google Photos works
- Free storage: 15 GB for all users.
- Automatic backup: photos from your gallery are automatically uploaded to the cloud.
- Recovery: you can restore deleted photos, even if your phone is damaged.
Here’s how it works.
- Open the Google Photos app on your phone.
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Find the photo you want to restore.
- Tap and hold the photo.
- Select “Restore” from the menu.
To restore photos from the Google Photos trash:
- Open “Library” in the Google Photos app.
- Select “Trash.”
- Find and select the photos you want to restore.
- Tap “Restore.”
Please note that photos lost more than 60 days ago may not be recoverable.
Method 5. Professional data recovery
Not all lost photos can be recovered on your own, for example, if your Samsung smartphone gets wet. In such situations, you should contact a service center, whose technicians use specialized tools to extract data from flash memory chips. However, you will have to pay for the services of professionals. Choose a reliable service with a good reputation.
To increase the chances of successfully recovering deleted photos, you need to:
- Start the recovery process immediately; do not put it off until later.
- Minimize use of your phone until the recovery is complete.
- Turn on airplane mode.
- Do not restart your Samsung smartphone (to avoid triggering a system update or other processes that may hinder recovery).
As a preventive measure, you should periodically back up your photos and other data to Samsung Cloud, Google Photos, or transfer files to an external hard drive. This will make recovery easier if you lose photos in the future.
By following these recommendations, you will have a much better chance of recovering deleted photos on your Samsung smartphone.