Accidental deletion of important photos from any of your devices, including a Windows PC, can put you in trouble. Normally, deleted photos are moved to the Recycle Bin folder. However, it can be quite alarming if your photos are not found there. Does this mean they are permanently gone?
Fortunately, the answer is NO. Several photo recovery methods can help you restore deleted photos, even from an emptied Recycle Bin. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore how the Recycle Bin works, how to recover deleted photos from the Recycle Bin and what to do if it is empty. Let’s dive in.
How Does Recycle Bin Recovery Work?
When a photo is deleted from a Windows PC, it isn’t permanently erased from your device. Instead, it goes to the Recycle Bin folder, where it stays for up to 30 days (or until you empty the Bin). You can easily recover deleted photos from there with just a right-click.
When you empty the Recycle Bin, Windows marks the space occupied by those files as available for new data. This means the deleted photo is easily recoverable from your device’s hard drive until overwritten by new files. That’s why acting quickly is important.
Quick Steps to Recover Deleted Photos from the Recycle Bin
If your deleted photos are present in the Recycle Bin folder, it is easy to restore them. To recover your photos from the Recycle Bin, you have to:
- Launch the Recycle Bin folder by double-clicking its icon on your desktop.
- Scroll through the files or use the Search bar to find your deleted photos.
- Locate and right-click on the photo you want to restore and select Restore.
- This will return the selected file to the original location on your computer.
How to Recover Deleted Photos from an Empty Recycle Bin?
If you’ve already emptied the Recycle Bin folder, then recovery may be quite complex but not impossible at all. In such a case, you can follow the below methods for photo recovery:
Method 01: Recover Deleted Photos Using Backups
If you are good at maintaining regular backups of your important photos, check these backups to recover your lost photos. You can check the following backup options:
Windows Backups and Restore:
Windows provides a built-in Backup and Restore feature that helps you recover lost or deleted photos if you’ve created previous backups. To recover your photos:
- Type CP in the search box located at the bottom-left corner of your desktop and launch the Control Panel.
- Now, go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
- Click on Restore my files.
- Select the backup version you want to restore and click Restore.
File History (Windows 10/11)
Another useful backup feature that you can try to restore deleted or lost photos on Windows PC is File History. For deleted photo recovery:
- Go to the folder where your deleted photos were stored.
- Right-click on that folder and select Restore previous versions.
- Browse through the available versions, select the photos you want, and click Restore.
Recover Photos Using Cloud Backups
Along with built-in backup utilities, there are several cloud backup options like Google Drive, Google Photos, OneDrive, iCloud, or Dropbox, which you can try to restore your photos. All you have to do is:
- Firstly, log in to your respective cloud service account.
- Navigate to the Photos or Files section, and then search for your deleted images.
- Once found, click the Download or Restore button to bring selected photos back to your device.
Note: Many cloud platforms also offer a Trash/Bin folder that temporarily stores deleted files for 30–60 days. You can check these folders as well to find your deleted photos.
Method 02: Use Third-Party Photo Recovery Software
Instances may occur when you don’t have any backup of your deleted photos. In such cases, you can try third-party photo recovery software such as Stellar Photo Recovery to restore your lost photos. This all-in-one photo recovery software allows you to restore photos deleted due to multiple reasons, including accidental deletion, formatting, system failures, etc. Not only photos, the software can help you restore your lost videos and audio files as well.
Why Choose Stellar Photo Recovery?
There are several amazing features which make Stellar the best choice for your deleted photo recovery. These features include:
- The software supports recovery of photos even after the Recycle Bin is emptied.
- It can recover your photos deleted from HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and cameras.
- Recovers RAW image formats from professional cameras.
- Works on formatted, corrupted, or inaccessible drives.
- The software is compatible with both Windows and macOS.
Here’s how to recover deleted photos using the Stellar Photo Recovery tool:
Follow the below steps to get your photos deleted from the Recycle Bin back using this photo recovery tool:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Photo Recovery software on your system. Launch the software and from the homepage, choose Photos (or the type of file you want to restore) and click Next.
Step 2: From the Recover From window, select the drive from where your photos were deleted (usually the C: drive if they were in the Recycle Bin) and click Scan to initiate the scanning process.
Step 3: Once the scan is completed, go through the preview list of recoverable files. Select the required photos and click Recover to save them to a different drive or external storage device.
FAQs: Recovering Deleted Photos from the Recycle Bin
Is it possible to recover photos after emptying the Recycle Bin?
Yes, if you’ve created backups earlier or enabled cloud sync on your device, recovery is possible.
How effective is photo recovery software?
Software like Stellar Photo Recovery has a high recovery success rate, especially if you act quickly and the files are not overwritten.
Can I recover photos from an external drive after deletion?
Yes, you can use professional tools like Stellar Photo Recovery to restore photos from external drives, USBs, and SD cards.
Wrapping Up
Accidentally deleting photos and emptying the Recycle Bin folder can put you in trouble, especially if something important is lost. If you ever experience such an issue, go with the aforementioned photo recovery methods to restore your lost photos. Start with checking previously created backups, cloud sync, Windows restore options, etc. If these methods fail, try professional photo recovery software like Stellar Photo Recovery to recover your precious memories.
The key is to act quickly, avoid using the affected drive, and rely on trusted recovery tools. With the right approach, your deleted photos can be restored successfully—even after emptying the Recycle Bin.
