How do I recover photos after a phone was wiped?
Answer
Try signing into the old Google Account (or other cloud backup used on that phone) with any remembered password and old recovery email or phone. Photos taken while backup was on may still be in Google Photos or the account’s backup, especially if the phone was a Galaxy device signed into Google.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Stop if a site or popup asks you to pay to unlock an account or install unknown recovery software.
- Photos that were never backed up to the cloud usually cannot be recovered after a full wipe.
Follow these steps
Sign in to the old Google Account
On a computer or another phone, go to accounts.google.com and try the old email address. Enter any password you remember, then use recovery email or recovery phone options if offered.
You should see: You reach the Google Account, or Google shows which recovery methods are still available.
Check Google Photos and Drive
Once signed in, open Google Photos and Google Drive and search by date for the missing pictures.
You should see: Backed-up photos appear in the library, trash, or Drive folders.
Check Trash and library filters
In Google Photos, open Trash and any Locked Folder or archive views, and filter by the years the photos were taken.
You should see: Recently deleted cloud copies are restored, or it is clear they were never uploaded.
Try other backup accounts if needed
If Google has nothing, check any other cloud the phone used (Samsung account gallery, carrier backup, or computer sync) with the same careful official sign-in approach.
You should see: Another backup location is found, or you confirm the photos existed only on the wiped phone.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Whether Google Photos or another cloud backup was used before the wipe, and whether old recovery email or phone options still work on Google’s sign-in page.
Before you change anything: List any old email addresses or phone numbers that might have been linked to the account. Use accounts.google.com or the Google Photos app, not links from unexpected messages. Do not factory-reset another device while searching for the account. Never pay a stranger or popup that claims it can unlock deleted photos.