Can Permanently Deleted Photos Be Recovered: 8 Methods

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can permanently deleted photos be recovered

Can permanently deleted photos be recovered on Windows 10? It may be a terrible task, but don’t be scared! We are here to take you through the process. Many users find themselves in a difficult situation after accidentally deleting images. By pressing Shift + Delete or emptying the recycling tank without thinking again. The good news is that there are several ways you can try to recover those valuable memories.

First, let’s deal with a frequently asked question: “How do I recover permanently deleted photos in Windows 10?” We will provide an overview of all available methods for your convenience.

Solution 1: Check the recycling tanks.

Before floating into complex recovery methods, it is best to start with a simple inspection of recyclable tanks. Often, deleted photos can still be found if they are not permanently removed, using the short Shift + Delete option to browse them. Follow these steps:

  • Open the recycling tank.
  • If you find your lost images, select them and click on the “Recover Selected Items” option under Management. Alternatively, you can restore all the lists in the recycling tank.
  • In case the images are not visible in the recycling tank, but unfortunately Windows does not provide an in-built option to recover them, but don’t worry. There are other options such as data recovery software or using backups.

Solution 2: Upgrade folder to previous version

Restoring the folder to a previous version allows you to return to its previous state, which may cause the recovery of lost photos. This method depends on backup, file history, or recovery point. Here’s how you can proceed:

  • Find your missing photographs folder in the file survey.
  • Right-click the folder and choose “Properties” or “Restore previous version”.
  • Select the version you want in the “Previous Version” tab and click “Restore” and “Apply” and “OK”.

If you don’t have a backup, file history, or recovery point, this procedure may not work. In such instances, recovery software can help. 

Solution 3: Permanently update deleted photos using file history

If you have a backup of the file history on site you can recover deleted photos by following these steps:

  • Connect your backup drive to your PC and go to “Settings” > “Updates & Security”> “Backup”
  • Click “Additional Options” in the “Backup with File History” section.
  • Select “Recover File from Current Backup”
  • Find backups with your missing photos, select them or their folders and click on the green button “Recover”. Another way you can change the recovery position in the settings.

Solution 4: Discover hidden folders using commands

Sometimes deleted photos may appear hidden due to properties altered by computer viruses or other factors to check for hidden folders and restore your photos. You can use the instructions. Here’s how:

  • Search Instructions. Right-click and select “Run as Administrator”.
  • Perform the following command: attrib -h -r -s /s /d C:. (replace C with the corresponding drive letter).

This command removes hidden and read-only properties and system properties while applying changes to all folders and directories on the specified drive. The wildcard card allows changes to apply to all files regardless of extension.

Solution 5: Use Data Recovery Software

When everything fails, data recovery software becomes your best friend. Software like WinfrGUI can handle various data loss situations including error deletion, malware attacks, disk damage, and so on. Follow these steps to permanently recover deleted photos using WinfrGUI:

  • Start the software and log in to your account or create a new account.
  • Select the correct disk device or folder for scanning.
  • Use filters to improve the scanning process depending on file type, status and editing time.
  • Show the sample and select the recovered photo you want to recover.
  • Select the destination route for the recovered photo and start the recovery process.

Solution 6: Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery is a command application designed to recover lost files caused by deletion, formatting or damage. To permanently recover deleted photos using this tool, follow these steps:

  • Check your build version of Windows 10 by going to Settings > System > About
  • If your PC meets the requirements, download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store and run it as an administrator.
  • Get acquainted with the usage of the utility and existing recovery modes.
  • Open File Survey. Right-click on the drive with your removed photos and scan the file system under “General”.
  • Use the correct commands to recover your files. Make sure you specify the correct source and destination drives. You can also use wildcards to restore files with specific extensions.
  • Search for recovered files in the specified folder

Solution 7: Backup Recovery

If you have backed up your system using the Windows 7 Switch and Restore tool, you can use it to permanently recover deleted photos on your Windows 10 PC. Here’s how:

  • Select Settings > Update & Security > Backup and click “Go to Spy & Restore (Windows 7)” in “Seeking an older switch?”
  • Hit “Restore My Files”
  • Change the backup version or date if needed.
  • Select a file or folder to configure recovery.
  • Start recovery by choosing the file target. 

Solution 8: Recover from Cloud Backup

If you use a cloud storage service such as Google Drive, you can permanently recover deleted photos by following these steps:

  • Open the cloud platform and find your missing images through the folder.
  • Select the image you want. Right-click and select the “Download” option.
  • Check the Fly folder to see if the deleted photos are available.
  • Right-click on the image and select “Recover” to get them back to their original folder. For the next download to your computer.

It is important to note that most cloud-based platforms store deleted items for a period of time before permanently deleting them. Usually about 30 days.

Conclusion

To conclude, “can permanently deleted photos be recovered” requires system methods and uses different methods depending on your specific situation. Do not forget to check the recycling tank, recover folders to previous versions. Use the file history, discover hidden files using instructions. Use data recovery software such as WinfrGUI or Windows File Recovery. Recover from system backup or use cloud system scripts. Each method has its advantages and limitations, so choose the method that fits your needs. Congratulations on photo recovering!