This article on how to recover photos from your PC after accidental deletion explores different methods and tips to get your precious photos back. Keep reading this article to know more!



Understanding Photo Deletion on a Device

Before you proceed with deleted photo recovery methods, it’s important to understand how files, including photos, are actually deleted on a Windows PC or Mac:

● Temporary Deletion: When a photo is deleted on a Windows or macOS device, it is moved to the Recycle Bin or Trash folder. It is important to check this folder before diving into other methods to recover deleted photos.

● Permanent Deletion: If the Recycle Bin is emptied or the photos are deleted using the Shift + Delete key, they are permanently erased. In such cases, the photos are not erased from the storage disk, instead, the space it was occupying is marked available for new files.


How do I Recover Lost Photos from PC after Accidental Deletion?

When you find any photo missing from your PC, immediately avoid saving new files on it. This may overwrite the deleted data and make the recovery process complex. Now, it’s time to get our hands on the recovery workarounds. We will walk through some popular photo recovery methods to recover deleted photos on the Windows or macOS system:


Method 01: Check the Recycle Bin or Trash

As mentioned, every deleted file, including your photos, goes to the Recycle Bin or Trash folder before being permanently erased on Windows PC or Mac. Before starting with other photo recovery methods, it is important to check the Recycle Bin/Trash folder. Follow the below steps to recover your photos from Recycle Bin or Trash:

● Firstly, double-click on the Recycle Bin or Trash folder from the desktop to launch it.

● Locate and select the deleted photos you need to restore.

● Right-click on any photo and select the Restore (Windows) or Put Back (Mac) option from the menu.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

That’s it! Once you are done with the above steps, check if the deleted photos are recovered to their original location.

Method 02: Recover Photos Using File History Backup (Windows)

If the required photo is not present in the Recycle Bin folder of the Windows PC, it might have been permanently deleted. In such cases, you can check any previously created backup for smooth and quick recovery. Windows OS provides a built-in File History backup utility, which when enabled on your device, creates an automatic backup of the stored files and folders.

You can follow the below steps to recover your photos from your PC after accidental deletion using File History backup:

● Press the Windows + E keys to open File Explorer. Go to the folder where the deleted photos were earlier stored.

● Right-click on the folder and select the “Restore Previous Versions” option. This will display a list of available backup versions of the deleted files.

● Now, click the Open in File History option from the drop-down list and browse through different backup versions of your deleted photo.

● Once you find the required version, click the green Restore button to save the file back to its original location.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

Method 03: Use Time Machine Backups to Recover Photos (Mac)

On macOS, Time Machine is a built-in backup utility that allows users to set up automatic backup on a regular basis. You need to enable the Time Machine backup on your Mac to maintain backups and restore files when data loss occurs. Here are quick steps to restore files with Time Machine backup:

● Firstly, connect the external storage device where you have created the Time Machine backup to your Mac.

● Now, go to the Apple menu, click on System Preferences and select Time Machine.

● Browse through previously created backup versions and select the photos you need to restore.

● Click Restore to return the selected file to its original location.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

Method 04: Use Photo Recovery Software (Windows & Mac)

If you don’t have any backup, it’s time to move to software-based recovery solutions. There are several third-party photo recovery software tools available online which can help you restore lost photos in no time. Stellar Photo Recovery is a versatile software which is known for its user-friendly interface and deep scanning algorithm. You can use this tool to recover deleted photos, videos, and audio files of multiple types.

● The Stellar Photo Recovery software allows you to recover photos deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, virus attacks, or any other reason.

● The software is compatible with both Windows and Mac devices.

● You can recover files deleted from SD cards, Hard drives, Flash drives, or any other internal or external storage devices.

● The software is available in multiple versions, varying in price and features.

Here’s how to recover your photos from PC after accidental deletion using the Stellar Photo Recovery software:

Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Photo Recovery software on your Windows PC or Mac. Launch the application on your computer, select the storage drive where your deleted photo was stored and click Scan.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

Step 2: Once the scan is completed, preview the recoverable files. If you are not satisfied with the required images, select the Deep Scan option to perform thorough scanning.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

Step 3: Select the photo you need to restore and click Recover to save the recovered photos at the desired location on your device.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

What if the Above Photo Recovery Methods Fail?

If you don’t have any previous backup or software-based recovery fails, professional data recovery services might help. Some professional services, like DriveSavers, Ontrack Data Recovery, etc. allow you to recover files even if your storage drive is physically damaged. These services can be costly but may be necessary for critical data recovery.

Conclusion

Accidental deletion of photos on any device can be frustrating, but recovery is often possible using the aforementioned photo recovery methods. Start with basic recovery methods such as checking the Recycle Bin/Trash folder or previously created backups, then move to third-party photo recovery software if needed. For severe cases when all these fail, professional data recovery services may be the only option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I recover photos that are permanently deleted from my PC?

Yes, if your photos are permanently deleted (which generally occurs when the Recycle Bin is emptied or files are deleted using Shift + Delete), they may still be recoverable using recovery software like Stellar Photo Recovery, Recuva, EaseUS, etc.

How long do deleted files remain recoverable?

Deleted files remain recoverable until they are overwritten by new data. The sooner you proceed with the recovery methods, the higher the chances of file recovery will be.

Is it possible to recover photos after accidental deletion?

Yes, you can easily restore photos which are accidentally deleted on your device. When you find any photo missing on your PC, immediately stop saving new files on it and proceed with the aforementioned recovery methods.