Did you accidentally delete your photos from your PC?

Don't worry, there are effective methods to recover them, even if you think they're lost forever.

Whether you accidentally deleted them, formatted your hard drive, or suffered a system crash, there are still ways to recover them.

Below we show you how to do it step by step, with practical tips and useful tools.

How to Recover Deleted Photos from PC Without Software

Before resorting to external programs, it's worth trying some methods built into Windows that often go unnoticed.

1. Check the Recycle Bin

When you delete a file, it doesn't disappear immediately.

It is usually moved to the Recycle Bin, from where you can easily restore it.

Simply open the Trash from your desktop, find your photos, right-click on them, and choose “Restore.”

This will return them to their original location. If it's been several days or if you emptied the Trash, read on.

2. Use the “Restore previous versions” option

Windows allows you to restore previous versions of files or folders, as long as system protection is enabled.

To use this feature, right-click the folder where your photos were stored, select “Restore previous versions,” choose an available version, and click “Restore.”

If you're lucky, your lost images will be there.

3. Restore from a backup

If you make automatic backups or use tools like File History, you can recover deleted photos.

Go to Control Panel > System and Security > File History, find the folder where your pictures were, and restore previous versions.

If you use third-party backup software, access it and find your files.

Recover photos from your PC with specialized programs

If the above methods don't work, don't worry.

There are very effective tools for recovering deleted photos, even on formatted or damaged disks.

Here are the best options available, many with free versions.

Recuva

One of the most popular programs for recovering photos from your PC.

It's free, lightweight, and easy to use. Just select the file type (images), where they're located, and let the program scan.

If you find the photos, you can restore them with one click.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Very complete, it offers recovery of up to 2 GB for free.

It's ideal if you've lost a lot of photos or need a more intuitive interface.

Supports different formats, external drives and deep scanning.

Disk Drill

Offers up to 500 MB free and an excellent recovery rate.

It is compatible with Windows and Mac, and detects both recent and old files.

Its file preview lets you see which photos can still be recovered.

PhotoRec

It is a more technical option, but very powerful.

It doesn't have a graphical interface, but it recovers photos even on damaged disks or with corrupted partitions.

Works well with cameras, USBs and internal drives.

Tips to increase your chances of success

When you lose photos, time is of the essence. The longer you wait or use your PC, the greater the chance of overwriting deleted files. Here's why:

• Stop using the drive where the photos were stored as soon as you notice the loss.
• Install the recovery software on another disk or USB to avoid overwriting.
• Save the recovered photos to a different location than the original.
• Perform a full scan, not just a quick one.

Avoid losing photos in the future

Although recovering photos from your PC is possible, prevention is best. Here are some simple tips to avoid the same thing happening again:

• Activate system protection and create regular restore points.
• Use cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox for automatic backups.
• Invest in an external hard drive and make regular backups.
• Double-check before deleting large files or folders with important photos.

What to do if photos are on a damaged disk

Sometimes the problem isn't just that you deleted the photos, but that the hard drive or device they were on has stopped working properly.

There are solutions here too, although they require more care.

Use specialized software for damaged disks

Programs like PhotoRec or R-Studio are designed to work with bad sectors, lost partitions, and disks that won't open normally.

They can recover photos even if the operating system no longer detects the device. Make sure to connect the drive as a secondary drive or use a USB adapter if it's external.

Contact a professional recovery service

If the disk makes strange noises, don't force it. Taking it to a recovery lab may be your best option.

These services can recover photos from your PC even in extreme situations, although they are usually expensive.

Recover photos from a camera or SD card

Did you lose photos directly from a camera or memory card? T

It's also possible to recover them using the same tools mentioned above. All you need is:

1. Connect the card or camera to the PC as an external device.
2. Run a program like Recuva or EaseUS.
3. Select the corresponding drive and scan it.
4. Recover found images to another folder.

Many professional photographers have saved entire sessions using this method. And yes, it also works if you accidentally formatted your card.

What types of files can you recover?

When it comes to recovering photos from your PC, modern programs aren't limited to common formats like JPG or PNG. It's also possible to restore:

• RAW (CR2, NEF, ARW)
• TIFF
• BMP
• PSD (Photoshop files)
• WEBP and HEIC (newer formats)

This is especially useful if you work with professional editing or photography.

Most software automatically detects all available types, without you having to specify them.

What if the photos were in the cloud?

If you sync your PC with services like Google Photos, OneDrive, or Dropbox, your photos are likely still available in the cloud, even if you deleted them locally.

Access your account from the browser and check the trash or deleted files folder.

Many services allow you to restore content up to 30 days after deletion.

Common mistakes when trying to recover photos from your PC

In the rush to recover lost photos, many people make mistakes that reduce the chances of success.

Avoiding them can make the difference between saving your memories or losing them forever.

1. Continue using the affected disk

Each new file you save can overwrite the sectors where your photos were.

Therefore, if you notice that the images have disappeared, it is best to immediately stop using that disk or partition and work from another device.

2. Install recovery programs on the same drive

A very common mistake is to install recovery software right where the photos were.

This can ruin your chances of recovering them. Always install the program on a different disk or external USB drive.

3. Not making a copy of the disk before scanning

When dealing with a damaged or faulty disk, the safest course of action is to create an image (exact copy) of the disk before scanning.

This way, you can work on the copy and protect the original from further damage.

4. Using unreliable programs

There are many programs that promise to recover photos from your PC, but they don't offer any real results, or worse, they come with malware.

Always use reputable software, like the ones we mentioned above, and download only from their official sites.

Cases where it is very difficult to recover photos

Although recovery technology has advanced significantly, there are situations where the process becomes complicated or almost impossible:

• Physically broken or burned discs.
• Sectors completely overwritten many times.
• Long-term disk usage after erasure without backup.
• Encryption or ransomware that damages files.

In these cases, a professional service may have more tools, but there's no complete guarantee. Therefore, prevention is your best ally.

Best practices to never lose your photos again

After learning everything, here's a checklist to help you protect your photos in the future:

• Enable automatic cloud backups.
• Use external hard drives for monthly backups.
• Don't keep all your photos in one folder.
• Avoid storing important data on the system C drive.
• Use organization software that includes version history.

If you apply these practices, you'll not only avoid losing photos again, but you'll also be able to access them from anywhere, without fear of formatting or errors.

Recovering deleted photos from your PC is not magic, it's technical.

Losing memories hurts, but now you know that not all is lost.

Recovering photos from your PC is entirely possible if you act quickly and choose the right tool.

From checking the Recycle Bin to using advanced software, there's a solution for every scenario.

Your next step is to decide: do you want to try it on your own with a free program or do you prefer the security of a professional service?

Whatever you choose, act quickly. Every minute counts to save those unique images.

Ready to recover your photos from your PC and relive your memories? Find out now!