Is it possible to recover deleted photos from years ago

If you’re missing photos or videos, check your trash or archive.

Check your trash

If your missing item is in your trash, you may be able to restore it. Learn how to check your trash and restore recently deleted photos or videos.

If your missing item is not in your trash, it may be permanently deleted.

Learn when items are permanently deleted

If a deleted photo or video isn't in trash, you can’t restore it. You won't be able to restore a photo if:

• You moved it to trash more than 60 days ago.
• You moved it to trash, then emptied your trash.
• You permanently deleted it from your trash.
• You permanently deleted it from your device’s Gallery app without backing it up first.

Check your archive

If your missing item is archived, you can unarchive it so it shows in your Google Photos library.

Learn how to check your archive and unarchive items.

Still missing photos or videos?

• Check your backup settings
• Find items from other apps or devices
• How your Google storage works

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If you have turned on Back up and Sync, photos and videos you delete will stay in your trash for 60 days before they are deleted forever. Learn how to turn on Back up and Sync.

Tip: To move all your photos to a different account, share your photo library with that account.

Before you delete photos & videos

Delete photos & videos

Important: If you back up photos and videos to Google Photos on a mobile device, when you delete them from the Google Photos app, they’re also deleted from your device. Learn how to remove backed up photos and videos from Google Photos but not your device.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app
   
   .
2. Sign in to your Google Account.
3. Tap and hold a photo or video you want to move to the trash. You can select multiple items.
4. At the top, tap Delete 
   
   .

Learn what happens to photos you've deleted

• If you delete a photo or video that’s backed up in Google Photos, it will stay in your trash for 60 days.
• If you delete an item from your Android 11 and up device without it being backed up, it will stay in your trash for 30 days.
• If you see a photo or video in Google Photos that you think you deleted, it might be on a removable memory card. To delete it, use your device’s gallery app.

Empty your trash

If you see a request to "Delete permanently" when you try to move an item to trash, your trash is full. Your trash can hold 1.5GB.

Important: If you empty your trash, you permanently delete any items in your trash.

To empty it:

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app
   
   .
2. Sign in to your Google Account.
3. At the bottom, tap Library 
   
   Trash
   
   More
   
   
    Empty Trash
   
   Delete permanently.

Remove an item from your device

Permanently delete photos & videos

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app
   
   .
2. Sign in to your Google Account.
3. Select the items you want to delete from your Android phone or tablet.
4. In the top right, tap More 
   
    
   
   Delete from device.

Learn how to free up space on your device.

Give permissions to delete photos from your SD card

Remove backed up photos & videos from Google Photos but not your device

1. On your mobile device, turn off backup and sync in the Google Photos app.
2. On your computer or in the Chrome browser on your mobile device, go to photos.google.com and remove your selected backed up photos and videos from Google Photos.
   • If you turn backup and sync on again, all photos and videos on your device are backed up and synced to Google Photos again.

Restore photos & videos

If you deleted an item and want it back, check your trash to see if it’s there.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app
   
   .
2. At the bottom, tap Library 
   
   Trash .
3. Touch and hold the photo or video you want to restore.
4. At the bottom, tap Restore. The photo or video will be back:
   • In your phone’s gallery app
   • In your Google Photos library
   • In any albums it was in

If the item is not in your trash, it may be permanently deleted.

Don't see the photo or video?

If a deleted photo or video isn't in trash, you can’t restore it. You won't be able to restore a photo if:

• You moved it to trash more than 60 days ago.
• You moved it to trash, then emptied your trash.
• You moved it to trash more than 30 days ago on an Android 11 and up device, and it wasn’t backed up.
• You permanently deleted it from your trash.
• You permanently deleted it from your device’s Gallery app, without backing it up first.

To find and recover photos easily, turn on back up & sync.

Important: If your Google Photos account is inactive for 2 years or you're over your storage limit, your content may be impacted. Learn more about this.

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