Google can’t recover photos that have been permanently deleted from Google Photos. Once an item leaves the trash, which happens 30 days after you delete it or right away if you empty the trash, it’s gone from Google’s servers, and Google Photos support can’t bring it back. Before you give up, though, check the Trash, Archive, and Locked Folder, other Google Accounts, and your phone’s own gallery app. Photos that seem “permanently deleted” often turn up in one of those places.
Step 1: Check the Google Photos trash
Deleted photos and videos stay in the trash for 30 days, including items deleted from Android 11 and later phones that weren’t backed up.
- Open the Google Photos app and tap Collections.
- Tap Trash (it may be called Bin in some regions).
- Touch and hold each photo or video you want back.
- Tap Restore. The items go back to your library, and to any albums they were in.
On a computer, go to photos.google.com, click Trash in the left menu, point to a photo, click the checkmark, and click Restore.
Step 2: Look in places photos hide
- Archive: Archived photos disappear from your main view but aren’t deleted. Go to Collections > Archive.
- Locked Folder: Photos moved here don’t show up anywhere else. Go to Collections > Locked Folder. If Locked Folder backup was off, its items are lost if the app is uninstalled or the phone is reset. See how to recover photos from the Google Photos Locked Folder.
- Search: Type a place, person, or thing (like “beach” or “dog”) in the search bar. The photo may just be further back than you thought.
- Other Google Accounts: Tap your profile picture and switch accounts. Many people back up to an old account by mistake.
- Shared albums and partner sharing: A photo someone shared with you may be in their library, not yours. Ask them to share it again.
Step 3: Check your phone and other backups
If the photo was never backed up, or you deleted it from your phone separately, it may still be in the device’s own trash.
- iPhone and iPad: Open the Photos app and go to Albums > Recently Deleted. Items stay there for up to 30 days.
- Samsung Galaxy: Open Gallery, tap the menu, and choose Recycle bin.
- Other Android phones: Check the trash in your manufacturer’s gallery app, if it has one.
- Google Drive: If you ever saved photos to Drive, check Drive > Trash. Drive keeps deleted files for 30 days.
- Other backups: iCloud Photos, OneDrive, Dropbox, an old computer, or an external drive may have a copy. Also search your email and messaging apps for photos you sent or received.
- SD cards and cameras: If the original was on a memory card, stop using the card and try data recovery software on a computer. The sooner you do this, the better the chances.
Why permanently deleted photos can’t be recovered
Google says photos and videos that were permanently deleted can’t be restored, and Google Takeout can’t export them either. There’s no hidden 60-day backup, special request form, or paid service that can get them back from Google. Be wary of apps or websites that claim otherwise. They can’t access Google’s servers and may just want your money or your account details.
If you believe photos disappeared because of a problem on Google’s end, not because someone deleted them, you can contact Google One support if you’re a Google One member, or use Help & feedback in the Google Photos app to report it.
How to avoid losing photos in the future
- Make sure Backup is on: tap your profile picture in Google Photos and check the backup status.
- Don’t use “Free up space” until you’ve confirmed your photos are backed up.
- Download important albums now and then with Google Takeout or by selecting photos and choosing Download.
- Keep a second copy of irreplaceable photos in another service or on an external drive.
Related: Transfer Google Photos to Amazon Photos.
Frequently asked questions
How long do deleted photos stay in Google Photos trash?
30 days. After that, they’re permanently deleted.
Can Google support restore permanently deleted photos?
No. Once photos are permanently deleted, Google can’t recover them.
If I delete a photo from my phone, is it deleted from Google Photos too?
If you delete it in the Google Photos app, yes, it’s removed from your phone, your account, and every synced device. If you delete it in another gallery app, the backed-up copy in Google Photos usually stays.
Can I recover photos from a deleted Google Account?
Sometimes, if you act quickly. Try to recover the account at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. If the account can’t be recovered, its photos are gone.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.