How to recover deleted photos on Android

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-recover-deleted-photos-on-android/ · Checked October 2026 · build CP3A.261005.005 · Google Pixel 10a, Android 17

7 of 7 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Google Photos

Path

Google Photos › Collections › Bin

Real screenshots

7 of 7 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Google Photos and tap Collections

   Collections is at the bottom of the screen. On older versions it is called Library.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Bin

   Bin is at the top, next to Favourites, Screenshots and Archive.

   Done

3. 

   Find the photo

   The Bin lists everything you deleted recently. The text at the top says how long items stay: 60 days if backed up, 30 days if not.

   Done

4. 

   Touch and hold it and tap Restore

   A tick marks the photo. Tap others to add them, then tap Restore at the bottom left.

   Done

5. 

   Confirm with Restore

   Restore the item? appears at the bottom. Tap Restore.

   Done

6. 

   Check that it is back

   The photo returns to the album it came from, and the Bin no longer lists it. Ours was empty again: Nothing in the bin.

   Done

7. 

   Check Archive too

   A photo that seems to be gone may only be archived. Open Collections, Archive. Ours was empty: Clear the clutter.

   Done

What we saw on our device

• Check that it is back: Ours was empty again: Nothing in the bin.
• Check Archive too: Ours was empty: Clear the clutter.

If you do not see this option

• Google Photos asks you to set up backup first? You can switch automatic backup off and carry on without it. The Bin works without backup: ours said Backup is off at the top of Collections.

  

• No Bin under Collections? Update Google Photos in the Play Store. On ours Bin was at the top of Collections, next to Favourites.

If this does not work

• Photo not in the Bin? Items not backed up are deleted after 30 days, backed-up ones after 60, as the Bin's own text says. After that, or after Empty bin, they are gone. Source: Delete or restore your photos and videos
• Restored photo not where you expect? It goes back to the albums it was in. Ours, a screenshot, was back under Collections, Screenshots.

About this guide

Deleted photos are moved to a bin before they are removed for good. If you act within the time limit, getting them back takes a few taps.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in dark mode. Google Photos had backup off. We deleted a test screenshot, restored it, and deleted it again afterwards.

Good to know

On a Samsung Galaxy, the Gallery app has its own Trash: open Gallery, tap the three lines, then Trash.

Sign in at photos.google.com on a computer and check the bin there, in case the phone is not showing everything.

If you used a different Google Account on an old phone, switch accounts in Google Photos and look again.

After the bin has been emptied, photos cannot be recovered. Paid "recovery" apps rarely work on modern phones.

Turn on backup so it cannot happen again: how to back up an Android phone.

In short: Google Photos, Collections, Bin, touch and hold, Restore.