How to Permanently Restore Deleted Photos from Google Photos- A Step-by-Step Guide

How to recover permanently deleted photos on Google Photos

Losing cherished memories can be devastating, especially when those memories are stored in Google Photos. Whether you accidentally deleted a few photos or lost an entire album, the good news is that there are ways to recover permanently deleted photos on Google Photos. In this article, we will guide you through the process of retrieving your lost photos and ensure that your cherished memories are not gone forever.

Understanding Google Photos’ deletion policy

Before diving into the recovery process, it’s essential to understand Google Photos’ deletion policy. When you delete a photo from Google Photos, it is initially moved to the trash folder, where it remains for 60 days. During this period, you can easily restore the deleted photos by accessing the trash folder. However, if you delete a photo from the trash folder or if the 60-day period has passed, the photo is considered permanently deleted.

Recovering permanently deleted photos within the 60-day window

If you have deleted photos within the last 60 days, follow these steps to recover them:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your smartphone or visit the Google Photos website on your computer.
2. Navigate to the “Trash” folder, which is located at the bottom of the app or on the left-hand side of the website.
3. Browse through the deleted photos and select the ones you want to recover.
4. Tap the “Restore” button (a clock icon) on the app or right-click and select “Restore” on the website.
5. The selected photos will be restored to their original location in your Google Photos library.

Recovering permanently deleted photos after the 60-day window

If the 60-day window has passed, you can still attempt to recover your permanently deleted photos by following these steps:

1. Sign in to your Google Account on the Google Photos website.
2. In the search bar, type “gdrive” and press Enter.
3. You will be redirected to Google Drive. Look for a folder named “Google Photos.”
4. Inside the “Google Photos” folder, there should be a subfolder named “Trash.” Open it.
5. If you find your deleted photos, you can download them by clicking on the photo and selecting “Download.”

Using third-party recovery tools

If the above methods do not work, you can try using third-party recovery tools. These tools can scan your device for deleted photos and attempt to recover them. However, be cautious when using third-party apps, as they may not always be reliable and could potentially harm your device.

Preventing future data loss

To avoid losing your cherished photos in the future, consider implementing these preventive measures:

1. Regularly back up your photos to Google Photos or another cloud storage service.
2. Enable the “Keep Originals” option in Google Photos to store both the original and edited versions of your photos.
3. Be mindful of your actions when deleting photos, and double-check before confirming the deletion.

In conclusion, recovering permanently deleted photos on Google Photos is possible, but it’s crucial to act quickly. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can restore your lost memories and ensure that they are safe and sound in your Google Photos library.