Ever wondered what if your important photos get deleted from a Windows PC without any warning? Losing photos from any device, including a Windows PC, can be incredibly upsetting – especially when those lost photos are related to work, cherished family memories, or unforgettable trips. Whether your photos are deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, system error, or any other reason, there are several photo recovery workarounds available to recover deleted pictures on Windows.
This guide will walk you through different recovery workarounds that can help you understand how to recover deleted photos from Windows PC. Whether your photo is still in the Recycle Bin or has been permanently deleted, these photo recovery methods can help you restore it. Let’s get started!
What Causes Photo Loss on Windows?
Before you apply any data recovery method to recover deleted photos on Windows PC, try understanding the exact cause of that data loss. Some main reasons why photos usually get deleted include:
- Accidental Deletion: One of the main reasons for photo loss on Windows PC is accidental deletion, i.e., you may have mistakenly deleted photos from your device while cleaning up folders or emptying the Recycle Bin.
- Formatting or Partition Errors: Formatting a drive – either intentionally or by mistake – that’s without any proper backup, can erase all stored photos.
- System Crashes or Errors: Unexpected system crashes, blue screens, or software malfunctions can cause file corruption or sudden data loss instances.
- Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious programs such as viruses or malware can infect your device, causing deletion or encryption of stored files, including photos.
Some other reasons for photo loss on Windows PC include software or application errors, storage device failure, file system corruption, etc. Finding the exact cause of photo loss can help you apply adequate fixes to restore deleted photos on Windows.
Quick Methods to Restore Deleted Photos on Windows
Now that you are familiar with the reasons for photo loss on your Windows PC, just go through the methods given below one by one for photo recovery:
Method 01: Check the Recycle Bin Folder
Windows OS provides a built-in Recycle Bin folder that temporarily stores deleted files before they are permanently erased. It is important to check the Recycle Bin before applying any advanced photo recovery workarounds. All you have to do is:
- Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon to launch the folder.
- Look for your deleted photos by name or file type (.jpg, .png, etc.).
- Once found, right-click on them and select “Restore”.
This will save the selected photos back to their original location.
Method 02: Recover Photos from File History
If your deleted photo is not in the Recycle Bin, it might’ve been permanently erased. In such cases, you can restore permanently deleted photos on Windows using previously created backups. Windows provide the File History backup utility that automatically creates backups of files in selected folders (like Documents, Pictures, etc.).
To recover lost photos using File History backup:
- Firstly, locate and right-click the folder where your deleted photo was earlier stored.
- Select Properties, then go to the “Previous Versions” tab.
- Now, choose the version of the deleted photo that you want and click “Restore“.
Note: This photo recovery method works only if the File History option is set up on your device before the deletion.
Method 03: Restore Photos Using Cloud Backups
In addition to OS’s built-in backup utilities, you can use cloud backups such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc., to restore your lost or deleted photos. These cloud backups save your photos online, allowing you to restore them from any device logged in with that account. All you have to do is:
- Visit onedrive.live.com and log in to your account.
- Go to the Recycle Bin folder in OneDrive (or the cloud service you’ve logged in to).
- Locate and select the deleted photos you want to restore.
- Click Restore to save selected photos back to your device.
Method 04: Use Third-Party Photo Recovery Software
If the aforementioned photo recovery workarounds fail to recover deleted photos on Windows PC, try using third-party photo recovery software. Tools like Stellar Photo Recovery allow you to restore photos lost or deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, system errors, or any other reason. This software supports recovery of photos deleted from Windows PCs, external drives, memory cards, and other storage devices.
Key Features of Stellar Photo Recovery Tool:
- In addition to photos, you can use this all-in-one recovery software to recover audio and video files of various file formats.
- It supports recovery of a wide range of image file types such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, RAW, BMP, and many others.
- Allows you to preview the recoverable files before saving them on your device.
- It offers both quick and deep scanning options to locate files faster or perform an in-depth search for harder-to-find photos.
- The software provides a simple and intuitive interface, making the recovery process easy for both beginners and advanced users.
- The software is available in multiple versions, each offering different features and pricing. Review and compare these options to choose the one that best fits your needs.
Here’s how to retrieve deleted photos from Windows PC using this photo recovery software:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Photo Recovery software on your Windows PC. Launch the software and from the homepage, select Photos (or the type of data you need to restore) and click Next.
Step 2: Now, choose the storage location or drive where the deleted photos were previously stored and click Scan to initiate the scanning process.
Step 3: Once the scan completes, preview the recoverable files and choose the photos you want to restore. Click Recover to save recovered photos to a safe location (preferably on a different drive).
Preventive Tips to Avoid Photo Loss in Future
Now that you are familiar with the methods to restore deleted photos on Windows, it’s time to check some preventive measures to avoid such data loss instances. To prevent future photo loss and minimise the risk of data deletion, consider the following best practices:
- Maintain Regular Backups: Use backup solutions like built-in File History, cloud services like OneDrive or Google Drive, or external drives to automatically back up your photos.
- Use Reliable Antivirus Tool: Since photo loss can occur due to virus or malware attacks, it’s important to use a reliable third-party antivirus software to help prevent such incidents.
- Avoid Shift + Delete: Deleting photos using the Shift + Delete bypasses the Recycle Bin. Always double-check before permanent deletion.
- Keep Your Drives Healthy: Use tools like CrystalDiskInfo to monitor HDD/SSD health.
Wrapping Up
Losing important photos from Windows PC may put you in trouble, but recovery is often possible. Whether your deleted photo is present in the Recycle Bin or not, it’s always possible to restore deleted photos on Windows. Start by checking the Recycle Bin folder, then move to previously created backups. If the required photo is not in the bin and you don’t have any backup, use third-party photo recovery software like Stellar Photo Recovery. Moreover, consider preventive measures like enabling backups, using cloud storage, and installing a good recovery tool for smooth and hassle-free recovery.
