Accidentally deleted important photos from my Samsung phone. Need help on how to recover them. Any reliable software or methods?
Oh man, that’s tough! Accidentally deleting photos can be a real heartbreaker. Let’s see what we can do about that.
First off, did you check your Samsung’s “Trash” or “Recently Deleted” album? Most Samsung phones with more recent versions of Android have a fail-safe system where deleted photos are held in a temporary folder for about 30 days before they get permanently deleted. Open your Gallery app, go to Albums and scroll down to find this folder. If your pics are in there, you can just restore them directly.
If you didn’t find your photos there, don’t panic. There are recovery software options available. One of the best-known recovery programs is Disk Drill
. Here’s why you might want to consider it:
Pros:
- User-Friendly Interface: Disk Drill is pretty intuitive, so even if you’re not super tech-savvy, you can still navigate it easily.
- Versatility: It works on both Windows and macOS, and it supports a wide array of file types, not just photos.
- Free Version: The free version lets you recover up to 500MB of data, which can come in handy.
- Deep Scan: Disk Drill’s deep scan feature can find files that other programs might miss.
Cons:
- Not Completely Free: After the initial 500MB, you’ll need to buy the full version, which is a bit pricey.
- Scan Time: The deep scan can take a while, especially if you have a lot of data on your phone.
Before you jump into using Disk Drill, though, you’ve got a few other options that might be worth a shot:
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Google Photos: If you have the Google Photos app and backup & sync was enabled, your photos might already be in your Google Photos library. Open the app and check your cloud photos.
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Samsung Cloud: Similarly, if you’ve been using Samsung Cloud, your photos might be backed up there. Open Settings, go to Cloud and accounts, and then Samsung Cloud to see if your media is backed up.
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Third-Party Recovery Apps: There are other apps like Dr.Fone by Wondershare, EaseUS MobiSaver, and Recuva that you can try. They also have free versions and can recover a variety of file types, but they might have limitations similar to Disk Drill’s trial version.
When using any recovery software, a couple of things to keep in mind:
- Stop Using Your Phone: The more you use your phone after deleting the photos, the chance increases that the deleted data will be overwritten. So try to limit its use until you complete the recovery process.
- Backup Regularly: Just a friendly future-proofing tip – regularly back up your photos either to the cloud or an external drive to avoid these panic moments.
Now, if you want to go ahead with Disk Drill, here’s a quick guide:
- Download & Install: First, download Disk Drill on your computer.
- Connect Your Samsung Phone: Use a USB cable to connect your phone to your computer. Make sure it’s in file transfer (MTP) mode.
- Run Disk Drill: Open the software and select your phone from the list of drives.
- Scan: Choose a scanning method – Quick Scan might work if the photos were recently deleted, but Deep Scan is more thorough.
- Recover: Once the scan is complete, you can preview the found files. Select the photos you want to recover and save them to your computer.
That should cover most of your bases. It might seem like a lot, but better safe than sorry. Good luck with recovering your photos!
Hey there! Losing photos can for sure be a bummer. And while @techchizkid covered a lot of great points, I’ll throw in some additional thoughts and suggestions with a few mixed feelings about some of the mentioned methods, specifically Disk Drill and backing up strategies.
Double Check Before the Panic Mode Sets In
Besides the “Trash” or “Recently Deleted” folders, another often overlooked area: your messaging apps. If you’ve shared those photos via WhatsApp, Telegram, or another messaging platform, you’ll likely find a copy there. Just open the chat where you shared the photo, tap on the image, and save it back to your phone.
Cloud Storage: The Unsung Hero?
Google Photos and Samsung Cloud are fantastic, but personally, I think their backup can be unpredictable depending on settings—one mistaken tap when disabling sync could mean no backup at all. If you’re already a bit frazzled, another overlooked area is OneDrive or Dropbox. Check to see if you had uploaded or shared anything there.
Hardware Solutions: SD Cards
If your Samsung phone uses an SD card, it may be that the photos were saved there. You can remove the SD card and use an SD card reader to connect it to your computer. Sometimes, simple file explorer software can undelete files directly from the SD card without the need for recovery software.
Software Alternatives
While Disk Drill is great—and you can find more about their software here: Disk Drill Data Recovery Software—some recovery tools can be more fitting.
I might push back on Disk Drill just a bit and give Recuva a shout out. It’s free, generally reliable, and compatible with numerous devices, including SD cards. And it doesn’t limit you to 500MB in the free version, which can be essential if you’ve got a lot of stuff to recover. But, fair warning—its interface isn’t as slick as Disk Drill’s.
Another great tool is Photorec. It’s open-source and gets the job done, albeit with a bit of a steeper learning curve. It’s highly effective, but not particularly user-friendly—it’s for those who are a bit tech-savvy or willing to follow detailed guides.
DIY and Precautionary Measures
Some DIY attempts might involve:
- Connecting to a PC with developer options: Turn on developer options on your phone, enable USB Debugging, and use ADB to pull data from specific directories. This can be risky if you’re not familiar with command-line operations.
- Attempting NAND flash recovery: Advanced and risky—it’s dealing directly with the phone’s memory, not for the faint-hearted and best left to professionals.
Back Up Strategy
Now, let’s talk about the future. Yeah, I know, it’s not today’s primary problem, but regular backups are critical. Use a multi-pronged approach:
- Automated cloud backups: Google Photos + Samsung Cloud
- Manual backups: Monthly backups to an external drive or computer.
- Secondary apps: Apps like MEGA or IDrive offer substantial free cloud storage options.
Don’t Forget Professional Help
On a final note, if these tools and methods don’t work, consider visiting a professional data recovery service. Sometimes, DIY tools can’t get to extremely corrupted data but data recovery experts can use specialized tools and techniques to go deeper.
In sum, you’ve got options and while Disk Drill is a solid recommendation, don’t shy away from trying alternatives especially if you’ve got a larger recovery job. Good luck, and hope you get your precious memories back!
Have you checked other potential repositories for your photos? Aside from the great mentions by @byteguru and @techchizkid, take a look at these overlooked places:
Messaging Apps: If you’ve shared those photos via WhatsApp, Telegram, or another chat app, there’s a good chance a copy lies dormant in those chats. Dig into your message threads - it’s worth a shot.
Social Media Accounts: Ever thought about the times you possibly shared that perfect sunset or embarrassing candid photo on social media? Check your Facebook, Instagram, or even emails where you might’ve sent or posted those pictures.
Moreover, while I agree that Disk Drill is an exceptional tool, let’s face the reality that continuous Cloud backups like Google Photos or Samsung Cloud sometimes fail due to unexpected sync issues. That’s why diversifying your back-up methods is crucial. Use multiple cloud services, and for extra security, try an old-school approach: regular manual copies to an external HD.
SD Card Recovery: If your photos were, in fact, stored on your SD card and they’ve seemingly vanished into thin air, 
get an SD card reader. It’s straightforward enough; connect it to your PC and use a file explorer to see what you can dig up. Sometimes the path less traveled reveals lost treasures.
Now, a different angle: Recuva. Free, pretty darn reliable, and most of all - no 500MB limitation upfront. Sure, @byteguru’s point about the interface being less charming holds water, but if I’m honest, it shouldn’t deter you if it gets the job done without breaking the bank.
Photorec is a shout-worthy mention too. True, it’s not for the faint-hearted with its command-line interface. But, it’s a power-packed open-source tool. You can find guides galore on using it - a few searches might land you on your treasure.
Hardware and Developer Options:
Consider leveraging developer mode. If this sounds like techy gibberish but you’re game, enabling USB Debugging and using ADB might extract your data. Command-line not your forte? Tread carefully then, as one wrong line could worsen the damage.
NAND Flash Recovery: Save this as a last resort. More suited to a professional resolver rather than a DIY enthusiast unless you’re well-versed in deep data digs.
Lastly, but most critically, heed this: limit usage of the device. Digital overwrites happen quicker than you think, and each click, swipe, or snap reduces the chances of recovery. Stow away the phone, power it down if you can, and focus all efforts on recovery until you have those photos back in safe hands.
By the way, visit Disk Drill to check out the tool - it frequently updates and still holds a notable position in the recovery game.
One final bit on future-proofing: Beyond cloud and physical backups, set automated reminders for monthly backups. It’s a small step that massively bridges your security gap. Consider apps like MEGA or IDrive – they offer substantial free storage - for multi-site backups.
Could a professional service handle this better? Perhaps for truly critical files or when all else fails, consider sending your device in. They have access to tools and techniques far beyond typical consumer software.
Good luck, and hope those photos make a triumphant return!