Losing important photos from your phone can be a frustrating experience. Whether it’s due to accidental deletion, formatting errors, or even a system crash, those valuable images can feel gone forever. Thankfully, technology has made it possible to restore many of them with the help of specialized recovery tools.
Android users now have access to powerful apps designed specifically to scan, identify, and recover deleted photos from both internal memory and SD cards. These apps vary in terms of features, depth of scanning, and ease of use, but each one offers a potential lifeline for recovering what was lost.
In this article, we’ve compiled five of the most effective and well-reviewed photo recovery apps available today. These tools are user-friendly, require little to no technical knowledge, and are available directly from the Google Play Store. If you’ve lost images recently, one of these apps might be exactly what you need.
1. DiskDigger Photo Recovery
DiskDigger photo/file recovery
100+
Varies with device
Android & iOS
Free
Overview: DiskDigger is one of the most trusted photo recovery apps for Android. It can scan your phone’s internal storage or SD card to retrieve deleted photos, even after formatting. Whether you’re trying to recover a single photo or an entire album, the app offers both quick and deep scan modes depending on your device’s root status.
Why It’s Useful:
- Works with or without root access.
- Basic scan available for unrooted devices.
- Allows recovery to device, email, or cloud services.
2. Photo Recovery – Restore Pictures
Photo Recovery-Restore photos
100+
Varies with device
Android & iOS
Free
Overview: This app offers a fast and easy way to undelete lost photos. No root is required, and it supports various image formats. It’s designed to scan deeply and restore pictures that were lost during normal use, system updates, or even app crashes. It also includes a smart preview feature that lets you verify recovered images before saving them.
Why It’s Useful:
- No root required.
- Recovers JPG, PNG, and more.
- Clean interface with photo previews before restoring.
3. Dumpster – Recycle Bin
Dumpster: Photo/Video Recovery
100+
Varies with device
Android & iOS
Free
Overview: Dumpster acts as a smart recycle bin for Android. Instead of losing your files forever, they go to Dumpster first—allowing you to restore them instantly whenever needed. It’s ideal for users who want to have a safety net, working similarly to the Recycle Bin on desktop systems.
Why It’s Useful:
- Automatic backup of deleted files.
- Works offline and without root.
- Supports photos, videos, and even documents.
4. File Recovery – Photo Recovery
File Recovery - Photo Recovery
100+
Varies with device
Android & iOS
Free
Overview: Designed to recover a wide range of file types, this app is ideal if you’ve lost more than just images. It performs deep scans and lets you recover photos, videos, and other files in a few taps. The intuitive interface makes it easy to select and restore specific items, even in bulk.
Why It’s Useful:
- Scans internal memory and SD cards.
- Lets you recover or permanently delete files.
- Batch restore functionality for large recoveries.
5. Photo Recovery by Tasty Blueberry PI
Photo Recovery
100+
Varies with device
Android & iOS
Free
Overview: This app offers two scanning algorithms to increase your chances of finding lost photos. It’s designed to recover deleted, hidden, or formatted images without needing root access. With a lightweight build, it’s especially suited for older devices and users who need quick results without complex settings.
Why It’s Useful:
- Simple interface with automatic scan.
- Useful for both old and new photo losses.
- Lightweight and works well on older devices too.