[Fixed] Is There Any Way to Recover Deleted Photos on Windows?

Is there any way to recover deleted photos? This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to recover deleted photos on Windows. Follow the steps outlined below if you have the same question.

Posted by @Gia December 17, 2024 Updated By @Gia October 12, 2024

Is there any way to recover deleted photos on Windows?

 

I accidentally deleted several important photos from my Windows computer while organizing my files. I realized this mistake moments later, but I’m not sure how to recover them. I’ve checked the Recycle Bin and they aren’t there. Is there any way to recover deleted photos?

- Question from User

Have you ever lost important photos due to accidental deletion? Actually, photo loss is a common issue that many users may encounter, especially when handling or organizing large files. A simple mistake or unexpected formatting of your device can easily result in the loss of essential photos. Is there any way to recover deleted photos?

Fortunately, when photos are deleted, they are typically moved to the Recycle Bin on your Windows PC. You can easily restore them if you change mind or realize a mistake. If you fail to find a desired photo in the Recycle Bin, it might have been permanently deleted. Don’t panic! You still can recover it as long as you avoid overwriting its space with new data.

How to recover deleted photos on Windows?

The methods to recover deleted photos on Windows depend on how your photos are deleted. If your photo is permanently deleted, the recovery can be more challenging. This section lists several effective ways to recover deleted photos on Windows and provides details of each of them. You can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Method 1. Recover Deleted Photos from the Recycle Bin

When you realize that your photos have been deleted, go to check the Recycle Bin first. It is a folder provided by Windows to temporarily store deleted items and offers a recovery option when needed. In most situations, your deleted photos can be found in this folder, and you can easily restore them in just a few steps.

Here’s how to recover deleted photos on Windows:

Step 1: Open the Recycle Bin.

Step 2: Find the photos you want to recover in this folder. 

Step 3: Right-click on the desired photos and select the Restore option. Just wait until they are restored to their original locations.

However, if you select the permanent deletion or press Shift + Delete when handling your photos, they are regarded as permanent deletion. Also, emptying the Recycle Bin can also remove your photos from this folder entirely, making recovery through this method impossible.

Method 2. Recover Permanently Deleted Photos Using Software

What if my photos are deleted permanently? Is there any way to recover deleted photos that are not in the Recycle Bin?

Absolutely! The recovery of permanently deleted photos can be more challenging because you cannot directly access them. Luckily, their data still remains on your system until being overwritten by new data. In other words, if you act as soon as possible, there is a high chance to recover those permanently deleted photos.

One of the most straightforward and effective solutions is to use professional recovery software. We’d like to introduce you to a user-friendly yet robust data recovery toolAOMEI FastRecovery. Its advanced scanning feature allows you to quickly locate all deleted photos and other file formats on Windows PCs and Servers. With just a few clicks, your deleted photos can be restored to specified locations. You can freely download this perfect software and give it a try:

How to recover permanently deleted photos using AOMEI FastRecovery:

Step 1: Launch AOMEI FastRecovery on your computer first, and then choose the exact partition or disk where your photos are stored.

Step 2: Scan the specific disk to find the deleted photos. 

It offers two modes, Quick Scan and Deep Scan:

  • Quick Scan: Quickly searches for recently deleted files.
  • Deep Scan: Thoroughly scans your storage device for finding lost data from more complex loss situations.

Step 3: Upon scanning completion, missing files will be displayed. Select Images under the Other Missing Files, choose the photos you want to restore, and click Recover

Step 4: Specify a saving path for your photos and wait for the process to complete.

Using Tips: β—† You can recover photos as soon as they appear on the interface, even while the scan is in progress. β—† It is suggested to preview your photos before recovery, ensuring you recover the right one. β—† Please choose a new location to save recoverable photos to prevent other data from being overwritten.

Method 3. Recover Deleted Photos via File History

Is there a way to recover deleted photos without using a third-party tool? Yes, Windows offers built-in features to help you recover deleted files. One such feature is File History, which can be used to recover deleted photos by regularly creating backup copies of them. It can automatically save multiple versions of your files, allowing you to restore to a certain version. Keep in mind that this method will only work if it was enabled before the photos were deleted.

Follow the steps to recover deleted photos on Windows:

Step 1: Go to the Control Panel by pressing Win +R and typing control.

Step 2: Select File History in the System and Security section.

Step 3: Click Restore personal files to view all backups.

Step 4: Choose the photos you want to recover, and then click the Recover button.

Method 4. Recover Hidden Photos Using CMD

Sometimes, you can’t find your photos because they are hidden rather than deleted. In addition to manual hiding, viruses or system failures can also make some photos invisible. In this situation, you can recover them using Command Prompt (CMD). Here are the detailed steps of this way:

Step 1: Press Win + S and type cmd in the search box, and then select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Input the command: chkdsk X: /f and replace X with the drive letter where your photos were stored, and then press the Enter key to execute.

Step 3: Type the command attrib -H -R -S /S /D X:*.* and press the Enter key to start the photo recovery task. Similarly, replace X with the drive letter where your photos were stored.

Note: In the command, the -H-R, and -S flags will remove the hidden, read-only, and system attributes, respectively. And the /S and /D switches will execute the changes in all the sub-folders and directories on the specified drive. Finally, the *.* wildcard will apply the change to all files, regardless of extensions.

Effective Tips to Prevent Photo Loss

The question "Is there any way to recover deleted photos?" has troubled many users for a long time. While recovery might be possible, it’s always better to take proactive steps to avoid photo loss in the first place. Below are several effective measures you can refer to.

Back up Photos Regularly: Implementing backups can greatly reduce the risk of data loss. It is recommended to regularly back up important photos using professional tools or cloud storage for added security.

Organize Photos Orderly: Create a specialized folder to store your photos and organize them logically, preventing unnecessary loss caused by accidental actions.

Avoid Accidental Deletion: Be careful when handling and managing photos during regular tasks and double-check your actions to prevent unintended deletions. Before formatting your device, please ensure that all important photos have been backed up.

Summary

When managing and organizing photos, you may inevitably encounter a situation where your essential photos get lost due to accidental deletion. Is there any way to recover deleted photos? This page has explored several effective strategies to recover deleted photos on Windows. If your photos are permanently deleted, try to recover them with a professional recovery tool, such as AOMEI FastRecovery. Additionally, it’s equally important to take measures to prevent future data loss.