If deleted pictures are not in the Recycle Bin, they may still be recoverable. This guide explains four ways to restore missing photos on Windows.
Have you deleted important photos only to discover that they are not in the Recycle Bin? This can happen in the following situations:
Before attempting recovery, stop saving new files to the drive where the photos were stored. New data can overwrite deleted file contents, reducing the chance of successful recovery.
Then choose a method to restore deleted photos from computer based on whether you have a backup and how comfortable you are with recovery tools. If you have no backup, start with Way 1 or Way 2. If you previously enabled Windows backup features, try Way 3 or Way 4.
When deleted pictures are not in the Recycle Bin and no backup is available, recovery software may be able to locate the remaining data. AOMEI FastRecovery is a Windows data recovery tool that scans supported storage devices for deleted or missing files.
Learn how to restore deleted photos from computer with AOMEI FastRecovery below.
Important precautions:
Step 1. Launch AOMEI FastRecovery on your Windows computer. Select Deleted Files Recovery or another suitable recovery option based on your situation.
Step 2. Locate the drive where the pictures were originally stored, hover over it, and click Scan.
Step 3. Browse the scan results by Type or Path. Use the available search, filter, or sort features to locate your pictures. You can search by filename or image extensions such as .jpg and .png.
💡 Notes:
Step 4. Select the pictures you want to restore and click Recover.
Step 5. Choose a different drive as the destination, then open the recovered files to verify that they are accessible.
Windows File Recovery is Microsoft's command-line utility for recovering certain lost files on Windows 10 version 2004 and later supported versions. It can be useful if you prefer a built-in Microsoft tool, but you must choose the appropriate recovery mode and command switches.
|
File system |
Circumstances |
Recommended mode |
|
NTFS |
Deleted recently |
Regular |
|
NTFS |
Deleted a while ago |
Extensive |
|
NTFS |
After formatting a disk |
Extensive |
|
NTFS |
A corrupted disk |
Extensive |
|
FAT and exFAT |
Any |
Extensive |
Follow the instructions below to recover deleted pictures not in Recycle Bin with Windows File Recovery:
Step 1. Open File Explorer > This PC, right-click the drive where the pictures were stored, and select Properties to check its file system.
Step 2. Open the Microsoft Store, search for Windows File Recovery, and install the application.
Step 3. Run Windows File Recovery and enter a command using this format:
winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
For example, to recover JPG files from F: drive to D: drive, you can try:
winfr F: D: /extensive /n *.jpg
💡 Notes:
Step 4. When prompted to confirm, type Y and press Enter to begin the recovery process.
Step 5. Wait for the scan and recovery process to complete. Then, type Y when prompted to view the recovered files in the recovery folder created by the utility. Check whether the pictures you need are present and can be opened.
If File History was enabled and included the folders where your pictures were stored, you may be able to restore an earlier copy. This method will not work if no suitable backup version exists.
Step 1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and press Enter.
Step 2. Select System and Security > File History.
Step 3. Click Restore personal files and browse the available folders and dates to locate the pictures you want to recover.
Step 4. Select the required pictures and click the Restore button. After restoration, check that the pictures open correctly.
💡 Note: If you want to avoid overwriting existing files, click the Gear icon in the upper right corner, select Restore to, then choose another destination to save the restored pictures.
Windows Backup and Restore is another option if you previously configured it to back up the folders containing your pictures.
Step 1. Open Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Step 2. If a suitable backup is available, click Restore my files.
Step 3. Select Browse for files and locate the backup containing your deleted pictures. Click Next after selecting the required files.
Step 4. Select a destination for the restored pictures and click Restore. Once the process finishes, open the destination folder to verify that the files are accessible.
1. How do I recover permanently deleted pictures in Windows 10 or 11?
First, stop saving new files to the drive where the pictures were stored. Then check your available backups, such as File History or Backup and Restore. If no suitable backup exists, you can scan the affected drive with a data recovery tool or try Windows File Recovery. Save recovered pictures to a different drive to reduce the risk of overwriting lost data.
2. Can I recover deleted pictures without backup software?
Yes. If the pictures were permanently deleted and no backup is available, you can try Windows File Recovery, Microsoft's command-line recovery utility, or a third-party recovery tool. However, recovery is not guaranteed, especially if the files have been overwritten or the storage device is failing.
3. Can deleted pictures be recovered from an SD card or USB drive?
Potentially, yes. Deleted pictures on an SD card or USB drive may be recoverable if their data has not been overwritten. Stop using the device, connect it to your computer, and scan it with a suitable recovery tool. If the device is physically damaged or repeatedly disconnects, avoid further attempts that could worsen the problem.
4. How can I prevent pictures from disappearing permanently?
Back up important pictures regularly to an external drive, NAS, or cloud storage. You can use Windows built-in tools or specialized backup software and verify that backups can be restored. Before deleting large batches of photos, confirm that you have selected the correct files and that any important copies are safely stored elsewhere.
Deleted pictures not in Recycle Bin? You may still be able to recover them. Without a backup, try AOMEI FastRecovery or Windows File Recovery as soon as possible, and avoid writing new data to the affected drive. If you previously enabled File History or Backup and Restore, check whether a suitable backup contains your photos. Recovery is not guaranteed, so once your pictures are restored, make regular backups to help protect them against future loss.