Losing photos from your phone can be a frustrating experience, especially when they're special memories or important moments.

However, all is not lost.

There are several ways to recover deleted photos from your cell phone without having to be a tech expert.

Below, we explain how to do it with free tools.

Learn how to recover images with free tools

Technology has advanced significantly in recent years, and today it's possible to recover deleted images from your cell phone in just a few steps.

The best part is that you don't need to spend money on expensive programs or resort to professional services.

There are completely free apps and tools that can help you restore your photos. We'll tell you how to take advantage of them.

1. Check your "Recently Deleted" folder

One of the first things you should do when you realize you've accidentally deleted photos is to check your Outlook folder. "Recently Deleted" on your cell phone.

This is a feature available on many mobile operating systems and is often the fastest solution.

• AndroidOn Android devices, open your photo gallery and look for the "Recently Deleted" folder. This folder contains images you've deleted in the last few days. This space typically stores photos for 30 days before permanently deleting them.
• iPhoneIf you have an iPhone, recently deleted photos are stored in the Recently Deleted folder in the Photos app. This storage also has a 30-day limit before the photos are permanently deleted.

If you find your photos there, just restore them, and that's it! The problem is quickly resolved.

2. Use a free tool to recover photos

If the photos aren't in the recently deleted folder, don't worry. There are several free tools that will allow you to scan your device and recover deleted photos. Below are some of the best options:

• DiskDiggerThis free app, available for Android, allows you to scan your phone's internal storage and SD card for deleted photos. Although the free version has some limitations, it's quite effective at restoring images.
• EaseUS MobiSaver: Another free option for Android and iOS devices. It allows you to recover deleted photos, videos, and other files. Its free version has basic functionality, but is sufficient for most cases.
• Recuva (for PC)If you have a PC and prefer to work from there, Recuva is an excellent option. You can connect your phone to the computer and use this free tool to scan and recover deleted photos from your mobile device. It's very easy to use and has a completely free version.

These tools allow you to perform a deep scan of your device, increasing your chances of recovering photos you thought were lost forever.

3. Recover photos from the cloud

If you use cloud storage services like Google Photos, iCloud either OneDrive, there's a good chance your photos are backed up there.

Many phones perform automatic backups, making recovery easy.

• Google PhotosIf you have syncing enabled, all your photos should be backed up to the Google Cloud. Just open the Google Photos app and look in the trash. Photos deleted in the last 30 days will be there for you to easily restore.
• iCloudFor iPhone users, iCloud is another reliable option. If you had photo backup enabled, just log in to your iCloud account and check if the deleted photo is listed in the "Recently Deleted Photos" section.

4. Recovery through backups

If you have previous backups from your cell phone, the solution may be to restore a full backup.

Here's how to do it:

• Android: If you back up your device to Google DriveYou can restore a full backup from your device's settings. Make sure to choose the most recent backup that contains the deleted photos.
• iPhone: If you have backups in iTunes either iCloudYou can restore your photos directly from these platforms. Keep in mind that restoring a backup may result in the loss of some recent data, but it's a valid option if the deleted photos are very important.

5. Using a PC to scan and recover photos

If the above options didn't work, you can try recovering your deleted photos from a computer.

Connecting your mobile device to a PC will allow you to use specialized recovery software such as Recuva either Disk Drill to scan your cell phone's internal memory and SD card.

These programs are usually free in their basic version and very effective for photo recovery.

Steps to use Recuva:

1. Download and install Recuva on your PC.
2. Connect your cell phone to the computer using a USB cable.
3. Open Recuva and select your mobile device as the scanning source.
4. Performs a deep scan of deleted files.
5. Select the photos you want to recover and save the files to a secure location on your computer.

6. Recovering photos from an external SD card

If your photos were stored in a external SD card, you can also try to recover them.

Many users prefer to store photos on SD cards to free up space on their phones. Here's how to do it:

• Connect the SD card to your PC using an SD card reader.
• Use a data recovery program, as PhotoRec either Recuva, to scan your SD card for deleted photos. Both programs offer free versions that will allow you to restore deleted images.

7. How to prevent photo loss in the future

To prevent this situation from happening again, here are some key tips to keep your photos safe:

• Make regular backups in cloud storage services such as Google Photos, iCloud either OneDrive.
• Set up automatic synchronization so that all your photos are uploaded to the cloud in real time.
• Use high-quality SD cards and be sure to make frequent backups of the files stored on them.

8. What to do if free tools don't work?

Sometimes, even after following all the steps with free tools, you may not be able to recover your photos.

If this happens, don't worry. There are other options you could consider:

1. Opt for professional data recovery services

If your photos are really important and you can't recover them with free tools, professional data recovery services could be the solution.

These services are typically more expensive, but they feature advanced technology that can recover data from damaged devices, corrupted SD cards, or storage systems that are unreachable with conventional software.

2. Verify backup settings

Sometimes the solution is to check if your photos were actually backed up to the cloud or another device.

It's easy to forget to turn on automatic photo backup, so be sure to check all the platforms where you may have saved your files, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or even backup apps on your computer.

3. Accept that recovery was not possible

If after all these attempts you are unable to recover your photos, you may need to accept that the files are lost.

While this is an unpleasant situation, it can also be an important lesson about the importance of having frequent backups.

Consider reviewing your backup habits and starting automatic backups to prevent future data loss.

9. Tips to avoid losing photos in the future

While recovery tools are very helpful, it's best to prevent photos from being lost in the first place.

Here are some key tips to protect your photos and prevent them from being accidentally deleted:

1. Set up an automatic backup

One of the best ways to avoid losing important photos is to enable automatic cloud backup.

Google Photos, iCloud, and other platforms offer this service for free or for a reasonable fee.

By turning on auto-sync, all your photos will be instantly saved to the cloud, and if you ever delete them, you can easily recover them from there.

2. Use additional physical storage

While the cloud is very useful, it's also a good idea to have a physical copy of your photos on external hard drives or USB flash drives.

These options provide additional backup in case you experience issues with your mobile device or cloud access.

3. Check before deleting

Before deleting any photos, make sure you're not deleting something important.

If in doubt, it's best to archive the photos in a different folder or make a copy before deleting them.

This will give you time to reflect before taking irreversible action.

4. Organize and clean your photos regularly

Keep your photo gallery organized.

If you have a lot of duplicate or similar photos, consider deleting or archiving them so they don't take up unnecessary space.

A well-organized gallery is not only easier to manage, but also reduces the chances of accidentally deleting something.

5. Keep the device in good condition

Physical damage can be one of the main causes of photo loss. Protect your phone with a durable case and avoid exposing it to extreme situations, such as high temperatures or drops.

Also, be sure to update your operating system regularly to avoid software glitches that could compromise your files.

10. How to improve the efficiency of photo recovery applications

If you decide to use one of the photo recovery apps, there are some strategies that can improve the efficiency of the process:

1. Stop using the device immediately after losing photos

It is important to avoid taking new photos or adding new files to the device immediately after accidentally deleting photos.

The more you use your device, the more likely it is that deleted files will be overwritten by new data, making them harder to recover.

2. Perform a deep scan

Many recovery applications allow you to perform a “deep scan,” which searches for deleted files more thoroughly.

This type of scan is more likely to find photos that other, faster options miss, although it may take longer to complete.

3. Use a different storage device to save the recovered files

When you recover photos, save them to a different drive than the one they were originally stored on.

This ensures that you don't accidentally overwrite files you haven't yet recovered.

4. Do not install new applications on the device during the recovery process.

Avoid installing or updating apps while performing the photo recovery process.

This may result in more data on the device and increase the risk of overwriting deleted files.

11. Alternatives to Photo Recovery: Online Services

If you're not successful with apps, you can also explore some online services that allow you to recover photos from your phone.

Some services offer remote file scanning and recovery, which can be helpful if you don't have access to a computer or prefer to avoid installing additional software.

• Stellar Data Recovery OnlineThis online service allows you to recover deleted files from mobile devices. It has a free version with limitations, but it can be useful if other options haven't worked.
• FoneLab: Offers an online platform for recovering deleted photos from Android and iOS phones. The tool is easy to use, but some features are limited in the free version.

Get your photos back now! There's nothing more precious than your memories, and with the right tools, you can make sure your deleted photos aren't lost forever.

Whether using free apps or professional services, the important thing is to act quickly to increase your chances of success.

Would you like to learn more about protecting your data or how to make effective backups?

Discover more tips and tools to keep your memories safe!