How To Recover Deleted Google Photos After 60 Days

While cloud storage solutions have become an important part of managing our photos between devices, Google Photos remains a popular choice for backing up and organizing extensive collection of images and videos. However, you may find yourself wanting to recover deleted photos from Google Photos after 60 days of storage period. Whether due to accidental deletion or change of mind after moving to a junk folder.
While recovering permanently deleted photos from Google Photos is more complicated than restoring files from a physical drive, it is still possible. This comprehensive guide explains how to recover your photos under different circumstances.
Part 1. Restore permanently deleted photos from Google Photos after 60 days
Were your photos automatically removed from the junk/fly folder after exceeding the 60 day limit? This is how to access the recovery of these permanently deleted images.
Is recovery possible after 60 days?
Yes. Recovery is possible under certain conditions. Pictures that have been in garbage for more than 60 days will be permanently deleted from Google Photos. However, if you have previously exported a backup of Google Photos, or if the photos were uploaded from a computer, mobile device, or external hard drive, there may still be a chance to search.
For backup. Just download the latest outputs. If the original copies are deleted but not overwritten, a special tool may help you in recovering them.
#1 Recover Photos Using Backup
Google Photos has a Google Takeout export feature that allows users to create backups of their photos and videos. You can plan the export by choosing a target, frequency, file type, and size. When the export is complete, links are downloaded and backed up, including all photos, including the junked images.
To recover images from a Google Takeout backup:
- Log in to Google Photos
- Go to Settings > Export Your Data > Backup
- Select the most recent export and click “Download”
- Check your account. Select the location to save and remove files.
- Upload recovered photos back to Google Photos
#2 Recover Images Without Backup
If you do not have a backup, but upload images from a Mac PC or external hard drive, recovery is still possible before the file is rewritten. Use data recovery software such as WinfrGUI, which is effective in finding deleted files, including photos and videos from various storage devices.
To recover images using WinfrGUI:
- Download and install WinfrGUI on your Windows computer.
- Start the software and select the partition to scan.
- Select the hard drive on which the deleted image is stored and click “Find Lost Information”.
- Check the scan results and go to the “Images” section to find the images.
- Show the sample and select the image to recover, then click “Recover” to save it to your computer or Google Drive.
#3 Check storage folders
Google Photos also recommends checking archive file folders as images may be stored instead of deleted. Follow these steps:
- Log in to Google Photos
- Go to Library > Save
- Select the image you want to restore and click “Unarchive” or “Download” to move back to the main library.
#4 Search for social media platforms
If you have shared your photos on a social media platform such as Facebook or Instagram, you may find a copy there. Log in to your account. View your photo history and download the copy you found.
#5 Find backups in other clouds
If you use multiple cloud storage services such as iCloud, OneDrive or Dropbox, you may find your pair of photos. Check out these services and transfer recovered photos back to Google Photos.
#6 Contact Google Support
Google Support may store deleted photos for up to 21 days in addition to the waste/fly period. If you enable backup, you can contact Google Support for help:
- Go to the Google Drive Help Center at https://support.google.com/drive
- Select “Organize and Find Your Files” and then “Find or Recover Files”.
- Scroll down and click “Contact Us”
- Provide the necessary information and send your request.
- Wait for an answer from Google Support about your photo recovery.
Part 2. Recovered recently removed photos from Google Photos
Google Photos has a junk folder or trash that keeps deleted photos for 60 days before automatically removing them. If you mistakenly delete photos within this period, please check the junk/fly folder first.
Recover deleted Google Photos on iPhone/Android
For users of the Google Photos app on iOS or Android:
- Open Google Photos on your device
- Press the menu icon in the upper left corner.
- Select Trash/Fly
- Select the images you want to recover and click on “Recover” to get them back in your gallery.
Recover recently deleted Google Photos on your computer
To browse recently deleted photos via computer:
- Go to https://photos.google.com/ and log in.
- Click the menu icon in the upper left corner and select the junk.
- Select the image you want to return and click on the Restore icon above “Waste Empty”.
Conclusion
Restoring permanently deleted photos from Google Photos depends on whether you enable backup and where the photos were uploaded from. While such methods as using WinfrGUI can help restore images without any backup. There is a significantly short recovery process.