Today, almost everyone has some photos on their digital devices recording everything, from important moments to their kids, from holidays to selfies. At the same time, accidentally deleting photos has become a common problem. The good news is that you can recover deleted photos on either a computer or a mobile device using the right method. This guide demonstrates multiple methods to get back your photos on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices without losing quality.

Part 1: Ultimate Way to Recover Deleted Photos

Apeaksoft Data Recovery is a one-stop solution to recover permanently deleted photos on any device. More importantly, the intuitive design makes it easy to learn and use, especially for average people and beginners.

How to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos

Step 1. Scan your drive

Open the best photo recovery software after you install it on your PC. There is another version for Mac. Go to the Hard Drive Recovery tab and choose which drive your photos are saved on. To recover deleted photos from an external drive or digital device, connect it to your PC, go to USB/SD Card Recovery, and select the device. Click the Start Scan button to begin scanning your drive or device.

Step 2. Preview recoverable photos

The software will automatically perform a deep scan after the quick scan. When scanning completes, switch to the Type List tab and select Image. You can also quickly locate the deleted photos with the Filter and Search Bar features. You can also recover deleted videos if you want.

Step 3. Recover deleted photos

Check the boxes next to all photos you want to get back and click the Recover button. Choose another location and hit OK to save the photos. Then, the software will show you where deleted photos go.

Part 2: How to Recover Deleted Photos on PCs

How to Recover Recently Deleted Photos from the Recycle Bin

If you deleted photos on a PC, they will go to the Recycle Bin and be stored there before you empty the folder. That gives you a chance to recover recently deleted photos on Windows 11 and earlier.

Step 1. pen the Recycle Bin folder from your desktop. Or open a File Explorer and access the Recycle Bin folder.

Step 2. rowse the thumbnails and right-click on one deleted photo.

Step 3. hoose Restore from the context menu, and it will go back to the original folder.

How to Recover Deleted Pictures by File History

The File History is a backup feature built into the latest versions of Windows. It allows you to recover deleted pictures from previous versions. That is designed to retrieve the pictures you have used. However, if you have ever factory reset your computer, this method cannot help.

Step 1. Go to the Start menu.

Step 2. Search for restore files with file history, select it from the result list, and click Open.

Step 3. Select the version of the deleted pictures you want to get back and click the Recover button to save pictures to their original folder.

How to Recover Deleted Images via Backups

If you cannot recover deleted images from File History, try the built-in Backup and Restore feature, which creates a system image. Of course, the prerequisite is that you have a backup, including the lost images.

Step 1. Open the Control Panel from the Start menu.

Step 2. Click Backup and Restore(Windows 7) under the System Security section.

Step 3. Click the Restore my files button to open the backup.

Step 4. Then, select the lost images and click the Next button.

Step 5. Set a recovery location and hit Restore.

Part 3: How to Recover Erased Photos on Mac

How to Recover Recently Deleted Photos from Trash

Much like the Recycle Bin on Windows, the Trash folder is the first place to recover recently deleted photos on a Mac. It stores all deleted photos before you permanently remove them on your Mac.

Step 1. Open the Trash folder on the Dock bar.

Step 2. Locate and select the photos you want to recover.

Step 3. Right-click on one selected photo and click Put Back.

Step 4. Then, the photos will go back to the original location.

How to Recover Deleted Photos from the Recently Deleted Folder

When you delete a photo in the Photos app, it will go to the Recently Deleted folder. Then, it is stored in the folder for up to 30 days before it is permanently removed from your Mac. So, you can recover recently deleted photos in Photos.

Step 1. Open the Photos app from the Applications folder.

Step 2. Choose the Recently Deleted folder on the sidebar.

Step 3. Check the deleted photos and select the desired items.

Step 4. Click the Recover button in the top right corner.

Step 5. The photos will go back to the original album.

Note: You can also select and drag the photos to the Library tab to move them back to your library.

How to Recover Deleted Pictures via Time Machine

Time Machine is the built-in backup feature on Mac. It automatically creates a backup for all files on your disk if you have activated Time Machine and configured it. That is another option to recover deleted pictures.

Step 1. Run Finder and locate the folder where your photos are stored.

Step 2. Click the Time Machine button on the menu bar and choose Enter Time Machine.

Step 3. Next, adjust the timeframe with the up and down arrow buttons until you see the missing photos.

Step 4. Select the photos and click the Restore button to put them back to the original location.

How to Recover Deleted Images Using iCloud

Another way to recover deleted images is to use your iCloud storage if you have backed up your photos. The prerequisite is that you have turned on iCloud Photos on your Mac or synced Mac photos to iCloud.

Step 1. Go to www.icloud.com in a web browser and sign in with your Apple ID and password.

Step 2. Choose the Photos app.

Step 3. Head to the folder or album where the deleted images were stored.

Step 4. Highlight the desired images and download them to your Mac.

Note: The Recently Deleted album will sync to iCloud, so you can access the album on iCloud and retrieve recently deleted images online.

Part 4: How to Recover Deleted Pictures on iPhone

How to Recover Recently Deleted Photos in Photos

Since iOS 8, Apple has introduced the Recently Deleted album into the Photos app on iPhones and iPad devices. It also keeps your deleted photos for up to 30 days. It means that you can recover recently deleted photos quickly.

Step 1. Open the Photos app from your home screen.

Step 2. Go to the Albums tab, scroll down, and choose the Recently Deleted album.

Step 3. Tap the Select button, and touch each photo you want to get back.

Step 4. Finally, hit the Recover button.

How to Recover Deleted Pictures via iCloud Photos

If you just deleted several pictures but didn’t sync the changes to iCloud Photos, you can recover deleted pictures using the feature. This way will merge the recovered photos with the existing images.

Step 1. Open the Settings app and tap on your profile.

Step 2. Go to the iCloud tab and choose iCloud Photos.

Step 3. Toggle off iCloud Photos.

Step 4. When prompted, choose Merge on the alert box. Then, the deleted pictures will go back to the album.

How to Recover Deleted Images from iTunes Backup

If your photos are permanently erased, you have to recover deleted images from a backup, such as an iTunes backup. This option requires a computer and a USB cable. Moreover, the process will overwrite the current data on your device.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable.

Step 2. Open iTunes on Windows and macOS Mojave or earlier. For macOS Catalina or later, open Finder.

Step 3. Click the Phone button or your phone name after it is recognized.

Step 4. Go to the Summary or General tab.

Step 5. Click the Restore Backup button under the Backups section.

Step 6. Select the right backup and restore it.

How to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos from iCloud Backup

If you prefer to back up your iPhone to iCloud, it gives you a chance to recover permanently deleted photos. However, you need to factory reset your iPhone or iPad and begin the restore process.

Step 1. Open the Settings app.

Step 2. Go to General and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 3. Choose Erase All Content and Settings.

Step 4. Tap Continue and enter your Apple ID password.

Step 5. When your iPhone restarts, set it up as a new device.

Step 6. Choose From iCloud Backup until you reach the Apps & Data screen.

Step 7. Enter your Apple ID and password.

Step 8. Choose the proper backup and restore it.

Part 5: How to Recover Deleted Images on Android

How to Recover Deleted Photos in Google Photos

Some Android users have Google Photos on their devices and use it to back up and store their photos. It allows you to recover photos that were deleted within 60 days on your Android device.

Step 1. Open your Google Photos app from your app tray.

Step 2. Tap the Hamburger button and choose the Trash folder.

Step 3. Select all photos you want to retrieve and tap the Restore button.

How to Recover Deleted Photos from Trash

The design of Android devices is complicated due to the oceans of brands and customizations. Some Android manufacturers add the Trash or relevant feature to the Gallery on their products. We use a Samsung Galaxy phone as an example to show you how to recover deleted photos.

Step 1. Open the Gallery app on your device.

Step 2. Tap the Menu button and choose Trash on the toolbox.

Step 3. Touch each picture you want to undelete, and you will see a tick mark on it.

Step 4. Tap the Restore button, and the pictures will go back to the original album.

Note: The Trash album usually has an expiration. For instance, it stores deleted photos up to 30 days on Galaxy devices.

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