Losing precious photos from any device including your Windows PC can be a devastating experience, especially if you lost something memorable or irreplaceable. There are several reasons like accidental deletion, formatting, virus attacks, etc. why photos get deleted from your device. Luckily, there are many photo recovery methods available to recover deleted photos on Windows.

, How Do I Recover My Lost or Deleted Photos on Windows, Days of a Domestic Dad

In this guide, we will walk you through various photo recovery methods and tools that you can use to restore your cherished memories. Also, check the mentioned preventive measures to avoid instances like the deletion of photos on your device.

What Causes the Deletion of Photos on Windows?

Before you apply any method to recover deleted photos from Windows PC, it is important to understand the common reasons why photos might get deleted. Some main reasons are as follows:

  • Accidental Deletion: The most common cause of deletion of files from any device is accidental deletion. You might accidentally delete photos while organizing your files.
  • Formatting: Formatting a hard drive or external storage device without proper backups can lead to data loss.
  • Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious software anyhow enters your system and can cause corruption or deletion of files from it.
  • Software Issues: System crashes or software errors are also responsible for data loss on any device.
  • Hardware Failures: Physical damage to storage devices can lead to inaccessible files.
  • File System Corruption: Corrupted file systems can make files unreadable or delete them altogether.
  • Improper Ejection of External Storage: Not safely ejecting external storage devices can result in data loss.

Quick Methods to Recover Deleted Photos from PC

Here are some commonly used photo recovery methods that you can try to recover deleted photos from PC:

Method 01: Check the Recycle Bin

The first place where you can find the deleted photos is the Recycle Bin folder. Every deleted file on Windows PC goes to the Recycle Bin folder and remains there temporarily for 30 days before getting permanently deleted. You can easily recover deleted photos via the Recently Deleted folder by following the below-given steps:

  • Launch the Recycle Bin folder from the desktop.
  • Locate and select the deleted photos that you need to restore.
  • Right-click on that deleted picture and select Restore.

Once done, check if those selected pictures were restored to their original location.

Method 02: Use File History Backup

If your deleted photo is not present in the Recently Deleted folder, then it might have been permanently deleted from your Windows PC. In such cases, you can check any previously created backup to find and restore your deleted photos. Windows OS provides an in-built File History backup utility which you can use to recover previous versions of files, including deleted photos.

All you need is to enable File History backup on your device and then follow the below-given steps to recover deleted photos:

  • Type CP in the search box located at the bottom-left corner of your desktop and launch Control Panel.
  • Go to System and Security > File History.
  • Now, click Restore personal files from the left navigation pane.
  • Browse through the available backups and locate the deleted file you need to restore.
  • Select the photos and click the green Restore button to save selected photos back to your device.

Method 03: Recover Deleted Photos Using Backup and Restore

Another Windows backup utility that you can use to recover deleted photos from your PC is by using the Backup and Restore utility. If you use this Windows Backup, follow the below-given steps to recover deleted photos from the backup:

  • Launch Control Panel and go to System and Security.
  • Now, click Backup and Restore (Windows 7) and then tap Restore my files.
  • Go through on-screen instructions to recover deleted photos from the backup.

Method 04: Recover Lost Photos from OneDrive

Apart from using Windows built-in backup utilities, you can try restoring lost photos via cloud backup options like Google Cloud, OneDrive, Google Photos, etc. If you have set up OneDrive on your Windows PC to sync your photos, you can recover deleted photos from the OneDrive Recycle Bin. All you have to do is:

  • Open any web browser on your Windows PC and go to the OneDrive website.
  • Now, log in to your account and after successful login, click on Recycle Bin from the left sidebar.
  • Locate the deleted photos and select the ones you need to recover.
  • Click Restore to save selected photos back to your device.

Method 04: Use Photo Recovery Software

Instances may occur when the above-mentioned photo recovery methods fail to restore your lost pictures. In such cases, you can use photo recovery software to recover deleted photos from your PC. Tools like Stellar Photo Recovery, Recuva, Disk Drill, etc. allow you to recover lost or deleted pictures in a few simple clicks. You just need to download and install the software on your device, launch it and follow the on-screen steps to recover lost pictures.

Before you opt for any photo recovery software, it is important to check its features. Your data recovery software must be compatible with both Windows and Mac devices. Also check if the software supports recovery of files deleted due to multiple reasons, including accidental deletion, formatting, virus/malware attacks, system crashes, etc.

Preventive Tips to Avoid Deletion of Photos on Windows

Though the above photo recovery methods to recover deleted photos from PC are easy and quick to apply, but it is important to avoid such instances on your device. Here are some additional tips that you can consider to prevent future data loss issues:

  • Regular Backups: Regularly back up your photos to an external hard drive, cloud storage, or both.
  • Use Reliable Antivirus Software: Protect your system from viruses and malware that can corrupt or delete files.
  • Enable File History: Ensure File History is enabled on your Windows system to create regular backups.
  • Safely Eject External Devices: Always safely eject external storage devices to avoid data corruption.
  • Avoid Overwriting: Avoid saving new data to the drive where photos were deleted to prevent overwriting.

Conclusion

If you ever encounter photo loss issue on your Windows device, don’t lose hope. Whatever is the cause for losing photos, the right tools and methods can help you to effectively recover your precious memories. Always start by checking the Recycle Bin and using built-in recovery features like File History and Windows Backup. If these methods do not work, you can use third-party photo recovery software to recover lost or deleted pictures hassle-free. Remember to take preventive measures to protect your data asnd avoid future losses. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of successfully recovering lost or deleted photos on your Windows system.

, How Do I Recover My Lost or Deleted Photos on Windows, Days of a Domestic Dad