How to Recover Lost Files or Photos

Losing out on your important files or treasured photos is frustrating and at times even heartbreaking. You may have that folder of vacation pics or a very important document you have been working on for weeks, but which gets lost — it happens to almost all of us. But the good news is that, in most cases, our lost files or photos may be recovered. The key is to stay calm and to act fast.

Here we will look at what causes file loss, how to get your data back, also we will present some tips for prevention in the future.

Common File Loss Reasons

It is better first to determine what causes the loss of files or images which in turn will enable you to choose the right recovery method.

• Deletion by Mistake: At times we delete files by accident which may be due to thinking they are unnecessary or else we just hit the wrong key by chance.
• Formatting Errors in Files: You can format external media like an SD card or a USB flash and erase all the data that is present in it. This may be accidental or to put the device to use again.
• Storage Fault: Hard drives, SD cards, or USB flash drives may go out on you because of bad sectors, power loss, or viruses which in turn causes data to become permanent.
• Software/Operating System Failure: At times software and operating system failure causes data loss because at the time of the failure files were in use.
• Malware or Virus Attacks: Malicious software will remove and/or put files out of sight, in the case of ransomware attacks.
• Hardware Failure: Storage media degrades over time. Hard drive physical failure or broken USB connections which render data unrecoverable.

Now that we note what causes file loss for you, we will go on to what you can do to get back those lost files and photos.

Step 1: In the Recycle Bin or Trash folder.

Check your computer’s trash (Windows) or recycle bin (Mac). When you delete files, what actually happens is that the program moves them to a holding tank, not that they are immediately erased.

In Windows open the Recycle Bin which is present on your desktop, search for your lost file, right click on it and choose “Restore.”

On Mac right click in the Trash, find the file, right click, then hit “Put Back.”

If you have found your file that is great. It is an easy and simple process. Should you not find it, no need to worry — there are other technical solutions.

Step 2: Restore from Save Game.

If you have been backing up regularly today is the action that should be taken. Backups are the easiest way to get your data back.

On Windows you may have used the integrated File History or Backup and Restore.

On Mac you have Time Machine, which lets you restore a prior version of a file.

On your phone or tablet, backups stored in iCloud, Google Drive, or similar services can also be accessed.

If it’s your first time with this, no need to worry — in the later parts we will walk you through setting it up.

Step 3: Use file recovery tools which are built-in.

Both on Windows and macOS you will see built-in features that at times will recover deleted files.

Previous Versions (Windows): Right click on the folder that had the missing file in it, go to “Properties” and then the “Previous Versions” tab. You may see that earlier versions of the file are present.

Versions (Mac): macOS which has a feature to save old versions of your documents in apps like Pages or Numbers which you may revert to via the File menu.

These actions may not work every time but they are worth a try before you go in for more drastic measures.

Step 4: Software for Recovering Files.

If in the Recycle Bin you do not find the file, and you do not have a backup of it, do not give up. Software which performs file recovery may be your only solution.

When a deleted file on a storage device is marked by the operating system as available for new data. As long as that space is not overwritten by new data the old data is usually still present and recoverable with the right utilities.

Recovery tools go through your storage medium to find what remains of deleted data which you may restore. As for what we use for recovery software it supports hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, and also phone storage.

Recovery tools do great but in some areas they fall short of what is needed:

How quickly you try recovering: The sooner the better. The more time which you spend using the device after you have performed an erase of files, the more chance that new data will have overwritten the old.

The state of the storage device: If physical damage or corruption is present in storage, professional help is required.

Step 5: Recovering photos from memory cards or cell phones.

Photos are easy to lose from cameras, phones, or SD cards. If you have deleted photos off of your camera memory card or mobile phone memory by accident we have solutions.

For Android: Many of the time Android phones have a pre-installed “Recently Deleted” album in the Gallery or Photos app which contains the deleted pictures for a while before they are fully deleted.

For the iPhone: Images are put in the Recently Deleted album which is for a term of 30 days after which they are deleted forever.

For camera and phone SD cards which have had a photo accidentally deleted, stop using them right away. As the amount of the card’s use goes up so does the chance that the data will be overwritten. We can use recovery software that specializes in memory card repair to get back at that lost data.

Step 6: Professional Data Rescue Services.

If you find that file recovery software is not working or that the storage device is damaged in any way, we recommend reaching out for professional data recovery services which are equipped with best-of-breed resources as well as clean room laboratory facilities for recovery of deleted data in the case of a crashed hard drive, faulty USB device or broken SD card.

This may be a large expense which is why we should consider it as a last option especially for very important or confidential data.

Preventions for Future File and Photo Loss.

Although we can restore deleted files at times, it is better to prevent than to try to fix the issue. As measures you can use to avoid data loss altogether:

• Regular Backups: It is a good practice to back up your files at regular intervals. You may use external hard disks, cloud storage or both which will serve as a second layer of security.
• Use Cloud Services: Storing important documents and photos in cloud services adds an extra layer of security. Should your device break that is not a problem as you will still have access to your data from other devices.
• Be Cautious When Deleting: Do a second look before you delete files which also includes when you are cleaning storage.
• Don’t Use Flaky Storage Devices: Poor quality and inexpensive USB drives and SD cards are more prone to corruption. Go for well known brands which have great reviews.
• Install Antivirus Software: Protect your computer from viruses or malware that causes file corruption and loss.
• Keep Devices in Good Condition: Equipment failure is very much preventable. Do not drop hard drives or USBs, expose them to water or extreme heat.

These methods are easy to use and help you recover from unintended deletions.

Conclusion

It may feel like the end when you lose irreplaceable photos or important documents but it doesn’t have to be. Through the right steps — which include checking your recycle bin and using specialized recovery software — you stand a good chance at getting your data back. Also by taking some preventative measures you can reduce the chance of data loss in the future.

Don’t forget: Move fast, don’t panic, and start doing regular backups today if you aren’t already. Your future self will thank you.