Recover Deleted Google Photos After 60 Days

If you accidentally deleted photos from Google Photos and more than 60 days have passed, you might think they’re gone forever. However, there are still a few ways to recover them, depending on where they were backed up and whether you have other copies. This guide walks you through every practical method, from checking your trash (if it hasn’t been emptied) to retrieving files from Google Takeout or your device’s local storage.

What You’ll Need

• Access to the Google account that holds the photos
• The device where the photos were originally taken or downloaded (if you want to check local storage)
• A computer or phone with internet access
• Your Google account password (and possibly two-factor authentication)

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Check Google Photos Trash (Even After 60 Days)

1. Open Google Photos on your phone or go to photos.google.com on a computer.
2. In the left menu (or the hamburger icon on mobile), click Trash (or Bin).
3. Look for the photos you deleted. If they are there, select them and click Restore. They will go back to your main photo library.
4. Note: Google Photos normally keeps deleted items in Trash for 60 days. After that, they are automatically permanently deleted. However, if you have never emptied the trash manually, sometimes items remain longer, though this is not guaranteed. If you see them, restore immediately.

Method 2: Check Google Takeout (If You Had Backup)

1. Go to takeout.google.com and sign in with the Google account that had the photos.
2. Click Deselect all, then scroll down and enable Google Photos.
3. Click Next step, choose your export settings (file type, frequency, destination). For a one-time download, select Export once.
4. Click Create export. Google will prepare your files and email you when they are ready (this can take from minutes to days).
5. Download the export and look for the photos in the Google Photos folder. This method only works if the photos were backed up to Google Photos before deletion.

Method 3: Check Your Device’s Local Storage

1. If you took the photos on a phone or camera, check the device’s gallery or file manager. The original files might still be there if you didn’t delete them from the device itself.
2. On Android, open the Files app and navigate to DCIM/Camera or Pictures. On iPhone, check the Recently Deleted album in the Photos app (which keeps items for 30 days).
3. If you find them, copy them to your computer or re-upload them to Google Photos.

Method 4: Check Other Cloud Services or Backups

1. If you used any other backup service (like Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, or an external hard drive), check those locations for copies of the photos.
2. If you have a Google Drive backup, search for the photos there. Note that Google Photos and Google Drive were once linked, but they are now separate.

Method 5: Contact Google Support (Last Resort)

1. If the photos are extremely important and none of the above worked, you can try contacting Google support.
2. Go to the Google One help page or Google Photos help page, and look for a Contact us option.
3. Explain your situation clearly. Google may be able to recover photos from backups for a limited time, but this is not guaranteed and often requires a paid Google One membership.

Common Mistakes

• Waiting too long: The 60-day trash window is strict. Once items are permanently deleted from trash, they are gone from Google’s servers (unless you have a backup).
• Not checking all devices: You might have deleted the photo from Google Photos but not from your phone’s camera roll. Always check local storage first.
• Using the wrong Google account: Make sure you are signed into the same account that had the photos. Check other Google accounts you may have used.
• Emptying the trash: If you manually emptied the trash, recovery is much less likely. Avoid doing this if you think you might need something.

Tips

• Enable backup and sync: To avoid future loss, make sure Google Photos backup is turned on in settings. This way, even if you delete from one device, the cloud copy remains.
• Use the archive feature: Instead of deleting, use the Archive option to hide photos from your main feed without deleting them.
• Download important photos: For irreplaceable memories, download them to an external hard drive or another cloud service.
• Check Google Drive: If you had previously saved photos to Google Drive, they might still be there even if Google Photos deleted them.

Troubleshooting

• Photos not in Trash after 60 days: If the trash is empty, your only hope is a backup or Google support. Try the Takeout method to see if any backup exists.
• Google Takeout doesn’t include the deleted photos: Takeout only exports what is currently in your Google Photos library. If the photos were permanently deleted, they won’t be in the export.
• You can’t find the photos on your device: If you used a phone, check the Recently Deleted folder in the Photos app (iOS) or the trash in the Files app (Android). If they are not there, they may have been overwritten.
• Google support says they can’t help: If you don’t have a backup, there is no technical way to recover the photos. Accept the loss and move on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover photos from Google Photos after 60 days?

Only if you have a backup elsewhere (like on your device, Google Drive, or another cloud service). Otherwise, Google permanently deletes them after 60 days, and there is no way to retrieve them from Google’s servers.

How long does Google Photos keep deleted photos?

Google Photos keeps deleted items in the Trash for 60 days. After that, they are automatically and permanently deleted.

Does Google Photos backup to Google Drive?

No, Google Photos and Google Drive are separate services as of 2019. Photos backed up to Google Photos do not appear in Google Drive unless you manually save them there.

Can I recover photos from Google Photos if I didn’t have backup?

If you didn’t have backup and the 60 days have passed, it is very unlikely. You might try contacting Google support, but they usually cannot recover permanently deleted data.

What is the best way to prevent losing photos in the future?

Turn on backup and sync in Google Photos, and also download important photos to an external drive or another cloud service. Regularly export your entire library using Google Takeout.

Are photos in the Trash counted against my storage?

Yes, photos in the Trash still count against your Google account storage until they are permanently deleted. Emptying the trash can free up space.

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