Sudden deletion of photos, whether due to accidental deletion, device formatting, system errors, or any other reason, can be a distressing experience. If you ever find any photo missing from your Windows PC or laptop, don’t worry. Fortunately, several photo recovery methods are available that you can try to restore your lost photos.
This comprehensive guide explains how to recover deleted photos from your PC or laptop running Windows 10 or Windows 11 using both manual and professional data recovery methods.
Common Reasons for Photo Deletion on PC/Laptop
Before using professional photo recovery software or manual methods to restore your deleted photos, try to understand why photo loss occurs on your device. Some main reasons for photo deletion include:
- Accidental Deletion: This is a common reason, as you might have accidentally deleted photos from your device while browsing other files and folders.
- Drive Formatting: Formatting the drive, mainly without proper backup, removes all stored files, including photos.
- System Crash or Power Failure: Unexpected or sudden system shutdowns can cause system files to become corrupted, rendering photos inaccessible.
- Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious programs like viruses or malware can delete or hide image files.
- File System Errors: Bad sectors or file system corruption may lead to missing photo folders.
No matter what the reason is for your photo loss, you should immediately stop saving new files on the affected drive, as this may overwrite lost data and make recovery complex.
Quick Methods to Recover Lost Photos on Windows
Try the following methods for photo recovery to restore your deleted or lost photos:
Method 01: Check the Recycle Bin Folder
When a photo is normally deleted on your Windows PC (without pressing Shift + Delete), it goes to the Recycle Bin folder and remains there until permanently erased. You can follow the below steps to restore your photos from the Recycle Bin to their original location:
- Firstly, open the Recycle Bin folder from your desktop.
- Locate the deleted photo(s) you want to restore.
- Right-click on that photo and select Restore.
Method 02: Recover Using File History Backups
Windows provides an in-built File History backup utility, which, when enabled on your Windows 10 and 11 devices, automatically creates backup of your files at regular intervals. If you’ve synced File History on your device, follow the below steps to get your photos back:
- Type CP in the search box of your desktop and launch the Control Panel.
- Go to System and Security > File History.
- Browse through deleted photos and select the one you want to restore.
- Click the green button to Restore to recover them.
Method 03: Use Cloud Backups to Restore Photos
Along with built-in backup options, you can try cloud backups such as OneDrive, Google Drive, etc., to sync and restore your photos. To recover photos using these cloud backups:
- Log in to the cloud backup account (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc.) using your registered email ID.
- Go to the Trash or Recycle Bin folder (all your deleted photos are stored in these folders for 30 days).
- Browse through all the deleted photos and locate the one you want to restore.
- Select the required photo(s) and click the “Restore” or “Recover” option.
- This will restore the selected photos to their original folder or album on your cloud account.
What if You Don’t Have Any Backup? [Use Photo Recovery Software]
If the aforementioned methods fail or you don’t have any backup of your lost photos, try third-party photo recovery software like Stellar Photo Recovery. This all-in-one recovery tool supports recovery of photos deleted due to various reasons, including accidental deletion, formatting, virus/malware attack, and many more. Along with photos, you can use this software to recover audio and video files or various file formats.
Key Features of Stellar Photo Recovery Software:
- Supports recovery of deleted photos from various storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, SD cards, and USB drives.
- The software supports recovery of deleted photos of various file formats like JPEG, PNG, RAW, BMP, and TIFF.
- The software is compatible with the latest Windows 11 and older versions.
- It can recover data from formatted, corrupted, or inaccessible partitions
- It also allows you to preview recoverable files before saving them on your PC or laptop.
Here’s how to recover deleted photos from PC or laptop using this photo recovery software:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Photo Recovery software from its official website on your Windows 10/11 PC.
Step 2: Launch the software and from the homepage, select the type of file you want to restore (to recover deleted photos, select Photos) and click Next.
Step 3: Select the drive or folder from where your photos were deleted and click Scan to initiate the scanning process.
Step 4: After scanning, preview the recoverable files and select the images you wish to restore. Click Recover to save selected photos to a different drive or external storage device.
That’s it! Your deleted photos should now be safely restored.
Additional Tips: Prevent Future Photo Loss Issues
Now that you are familiar with different reasons and methods to recover deleted photos on PC or laptop, it’s time to check adequate preventive measures to avoid losing them again. These tips include:
- Enable File History or Cloud Backups: Always keep automatic backups active on your PC, either using the built-in File History backup option or cloud backups such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc.
- Avoid “Shift + Delete”: This leads to permanent deletion, bypassing the Recycle Bin, and deletes your photos permanently.
- Install Reliable Antivirus Software: Protect your system from malicious programs like viruses or malware using a reliable antivirus tool.
- Safely Remove Drives: Always eject USB drives and SD cards properly before disconnecting.
Conclusion
When you find any photo missing from your Windows PC or laptop, either intentionally or by mistake, don’t worry. The aforementioned photo recovery methods can help you in the easy and quick recovery of your lost photos. Start by checking your Recycle Bin, File History, and cloud backups. If these methods don’t work, use a trusted photo recovery tool like Stellar Photo Recovery to bring your photos back effortlessly.
Also, consider the aforementioned preventive measures to avoid photo loss issues on your device.
