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You may have accidentally deleted them, your phone may have crashed, or an update may have deleted important files.
Main problem with your gallery?
Stay in the same place
The problem is that many people think that once deleted, there is no way to recover them.
And although in some cases it may be complicated, the reality is that there are methods and tools that allow you to return to your gallery those images you thought were lost forever.
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Recover deleted photos It is a need that we all face at some point.
In this guide, I'll explain clearly how photo recovery works, what steps to take to increase your chances of success, and how to prevent this from happening again.
All in simple language, designed so that anyone, regardless of age or experience with technology, can apply it.
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Why do photos disappear?
Losing images on your cell phone can have different causes.
Some are unavoidable, but many can be prevented.
Most common causes:
- Accidental deletion: The most common mistake: Sometimes, trying to free up space, we accidentally delete valuable photos.
- Memory errors: SD cards and internal memory can become damaged over time.
- System Updates: Some software changes may move or delete files.
- Virus or malware: Unsafe apps can affect your photos.
- Factory Restore: If you don't make a backup beforehand, everything will be erased.
💡 Advice: Avoid using memory cards and memory cards in insecure devices and always make backup copies.
How photo recovery works
When you delete a photo, it doesn't actually disappear immediately.
What happens is that the system marks that space as available to overwrite new data.
As long as it is not replaced, there is still a chance of recovering it.
Stages of the process:
- Memory Scan: The storage is scanned for deleted file fragments.
- Reconstruction: The tool reconstructs the image from the data found.
- Saved in a safe location: Preferably in a different space to avoid overwriting.
📌 Important: The faster you act, the greater the likelihood of success.
Basic steps to try to recover photos
- Stop using the phone immediately after deleting an important photo.
- Install recovery software or use tools already available on your device.
- Perform a full scan from internal memory and SD card.
- Select and save the files you want to restore.
- Support the content recovered in the cloud or on another device.
Best apps to recover lost photos
Next, I present to you the 5 most reliable applications of the moment, all with versions for Android and iOS, easy to use and with excellent reviews, don't lose your memories.
1. DiskDigger Photo Recovery
One of the most popular apps for recover deleted photos.
Its interface is simple, and allows you to recover images from both internal memory and the SD card.
Advantages:
- Quick and filtered recovery by date or format.
- Option to save to the cloud or to your device.
- Deep scan for older files.
✅ Available for: Android DiskDigger Photo Recovery
✅ Available for: Apple DiskDigger Photo Recovery
2. EaseUS MobiSaver
Recognized for its effectiveness in restore deleted photos even after formatting the device.
Compatible with multiple image and video formats.
Advantages:
- Selective recovery (you choose which photos to save).
- Compatible with WhatsApp, gallery and downloads.
- Preview before saving.
✅ Available for: Android EaseUS MobiSaver
✅ Available for: Apple EaseUS MobiSaver
3. PhotoRec
Although its name sounds technical, it is a very effective and free tool.
Ideal for users who want deep, unlimited scanning.
Advantages:
- Recover photos, videos and documents.
- Compatible with internal memory, SD and USB.
- Open source, no intrusive advertising.
✅ Available for: Android PhotoRec
4. FonePaw – Data Recovery
FonePaw is known for its effectiveness in restore deleted photos directly from the phone's internal memory.
Advantages:
- Allows preview before saving.
- Recover images from WhatsApp and other apps.
- Very simple interface for beginners.
Ideal for: Users who don't want to deal with advanced menus.
✅ Available for: Android FonePaw – Data Recovery
✅ Available for: Apple FonePaw – Data Recovery
5. Tenorshare UltData
This app stands out for its extremely high success rate, even in cases where other programs fail to recover anything.
Advantages:
- Supports more than 35 file formats.
- Works without root on Android.
- Compatible with the latest version of iOS.
Ideal for: Those who need to recover old photos or photos from multiple sources.
✅ Available for: Android Tenorshare UltData
Types of recovery
Quick recovery
It is useful when the deletion was recent and the phone has not been used much since the incident.
Deep recovery
Analyzes hidden and fragmented sectors of memory.
It may take longer, but it finds files that a quick scan misses.
Tips to increase success
- Act quickly: Time is key in photo recovery.
- Avoid installing new apps after deleting photos.
- Do not save recovered files in the same place where they were.
- Check the automatic copy options in Google Photos or iCloud.
Common mistakes when trying to recover photos
- Believing that everything will recover by 100%.
- Using unknown applications that can harm your phone.
- Overwrite memory with new data.
- Let weeks pass before acting.
Prevention: your best ally
While recovery tools are helpful, the best strategy is to prevent photo loss in the first place.
Prevention strategies:
- Automatic cloud backup (Google Photos, iCloud, OneDrive).
- Regular backups on a computer or external drive.
- Avoid downloading unofficial apps that could damage the system.
- Keep the operating system up to date to avoid failures.
True Stories of Recovery
📷 Marta, 65 years old, Guadalajara:
“I thought I had lost my daughter’s wedding photos.
Following a simple tutorial, I recovered them and now I always save them in the cloud.”
📷 Javier, 42 years old, Monterrey:
“I formatted my phone without a backup.
I used a deep recovery method and managed to save the 80% from the photos.”
📷 Ana, 27 years old, Puebla:
“I accidentally deleted pictures from a school project.
“I acted quickly and got them all back in less than 10 minutes.”
Myths about photo recovery
- “Only a technician can do it” – Often, with the right tools, anyone can recover their photos.
- “If I deleted it months ago, there’s no way.” – Although the probability is low, it is still sometimes possible.
- “Apps always recover everything” – It depends on the state of the memory and the time elapsed.
Comparison of recovery methods
Method | Speed | Difficulty | Probability of success |
---|---|---|---|
Quick scan | High | Low | Medium-high |
Deep Scan | Medium-low | Average | High |
Backup | Immediate | Very low | 100% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover photos after a factory reset?
In some cases, yes, but it's much more difficult. It's best to act immediately.
Is it safe to use recovery apps?
Yes, as long as they are official and from recognized developers.
Can I do it without a computer?
Yes, there are mobile tools that work very well.

Quick checklist to avoid losing photos
- Activate automatic copy.
- Make backups every month.
- Do not install unofficial apps.
- Act quickly in the event of any loss.
- Save the recovered photos elsewhere.
Conclusion
By knowing how recovery works, acting quickly and using the right tools, it is possible save much of your memories.
Beyond recovery, the real key is prevention.
An automatic backup can save you the hassle and trouble of trying to recover files later.