The National Times - Android photo recovery depends on recently deleted folders

Weather - Sydney 19°C

Android photo recovery depends on recently deleted folders

TECHNOLOGY 30.08.2026

Android photo recovery depends on recently deleted folders

Most Android gallery apps retain deleted photos for about 30 days, allowing restoration before the files are permanently removed.

Change text size:

Android phones generally move deleted images to a Recently Deleted or recycle-bin folder instead of erasing them immediately. The files are commonly retained for 30 days, creating a recovery window for accidental deletions.

In a phone's Gallery or Photos app, users can open Albums, locate Recently Deleted, select individual pictures or all available images, and choose Restore. Recovered files return to the folders from which they were removed. Menu names and the direction of scrolling may vary by manufacturer.

Google Photos has a separate route. Users open Photos, tap Collections, select Bin, choose the relevant pictures and press Restore. A Restore All option can return every retained image. The recovery process works only while the files remain in the bin. Once Android or Google Photos has permanently deleted an image, the built-in tools described in the guide cannot restore it. Users seeking to avoid loss should therefore check both the device gallery and Google Photos promptly after noticing an accidental deletion.

R.Hawkins--TNT

Featured

US Government Questions Effectiveness of Waymo’s School Bus Software Fix

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is examining whether a software update issued by Waymo effectively resolved safety issues involving its autonomous vehicles improperly passing stopped school buses. Federal regulators found that the majority of such incidents occurred after the company claimed to have fixed the problem, prompting a formal inquiry into the recall's efficacy.

Sweet As app launches restaurant discovery platform

Tired of Google and Instagram serving the same predictable restaurant recommendations? Or waiting on friends to finally text back with a suggestion?

The Sourdough Sidekick Review: Can an Automated Feeder Save Your Starter?

Maintaining a sourdough starter as a working parent can feel like caring for another pet. To address this challenge, King Arthur Baking Company and GE Appliances developed the Sourdough Sidekick, an automated feeder that dispenses flour and water on a schedule. After three weeks of testing, the device successfully ended a yearlong baking dry spell, though it requires careful initial setup to function correctly.

Nvidia chief faces inquiry after disclosing affair with suspected Chinese agent

Jensen Huang, CEO of tech giant Nvidia, has publicly admitted to an affair with a suspected Chinese spy. The company is one of the most valuable in the world and is at the centre of China's AI race, producing the most advanced AI chips ever seen.

Change text size: