Can I recover a photo after more than 15 days?

Once a file passes the 15-day retention period, Samsung removes it from the Trash permanently and it cannot be restored through the Gallery app anymore.

Does restoring a photo bring it back to the same album?

Yes, restored photos and videos return to the album or folder they were originally deleted from, keeping their original file name and date.

What if I emptied the Trash by mistake?

Once the Trash is emptied manually, the files are gone from the device. Check a linked backup service like Samsung Cloud or Google Photos for a copy.

Samsung

Samsung: Restore Deleted Photos and Videos from Gallery Trash

A photo or video you thought was gone might still be recoverable on your Samsung phone. The Gallery app keeps deleted files in a hidden Trash folder, but only for a limited time before they are wiped for good. If the recycle bin was switched off or the file is older than the retention window, recovery is no longer possible.

Updated: 04.08.20265 min6 steps

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Restore Deleted Photos from Gallery Trash auf Samsung

When you delete a photo or video on a Samsung phone, it does not disappear immediately. The Gallery app moves it into a hidden Trash folder, similar to a recycle bin on a computer. Files stay there for up to 15 days before Samsung deletes them permanently to free up storage.

This only works if the Trash feature is turned on in the Gallery settings. If it was disabled before the deletion happened, the photo skips the Trash and is removed straight away, which makes recovery impossible through this method.

To bring a file back, open the Gallery app and go to Tap on Gallery ➔ Open the Menu ➔ Tap on Trash. From there, tap Tap on Edit, choose the photos or videos you want back, and confirm with Tap on Restore. The items return to their original album immediately.

If a file is missing from the Trash entirely, either more than 15 days have passed or the recycle bin was inactive at the time of deletion. In that case, third-party recovery software or a cloud backup, such as Samsung Cloud or Google Photos, is the next option to check.

Frequently asked questions

The Trash feature must be enabled first. Check Gallery ➔ Menu ➔ Settings and look for the recycle bin option, since some devices ship with it turned off by default.

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Android 11 · One UI 3

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Samsung: Restore Deleted Photos and Videos from Gallery Trash

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Restore Deleted Photos from Gallery Trash auf Samsung

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