How to manually recover deleted files on Android. Android Data Recovery Tips, Tricks and Tutorials

Surely everyone has had cases when, with one wrong movement of your hand, you accidentally deleted important information from a mobile gadget. And if on a personal computer such problems are solved relatively easily, then with smartphones and tablets things are much more complicated.

If you delete a file on your phone, it is, in principle, possible to restore it, and the matter is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. But there are some nuances here that concern not only the software part, but also the hardware. Nevertheless, there is always hope for not resuscitating lost data.

From our article you will find out whether it is possible to recover deleted files from your phone and how to do it with the least loss for both your mobile device and your nerves. We will look at the main tools needed for this event and provide brief instructions on each.

Features of mobile platforms

It’s worth mentioning right away that devices on the iOS and Windows Phone platforms are no good in this regard and lost information is resuscitated extremely reluctantly and only with rare exceptions. So if you delete a file on your phone, it is not possible to recover it on these OSes. The only thing that is at least somehow amenable to specific software aimed at resuscitating data is memory cards. And, alas, everything is permanently deleted from internal drives.

The Android platform, unlike iOS and Windows Phone, is much more flexible in terms of data recovery. Despite the abundance of different proprietary firmware, they all provide more or less free access to the internal storage, not to mention memory cards. In the case of Android, it is much easier to recover deleted files on your phone. This is the platform we will be considering.

How to revive files?

In order to recover deleted files on your phone, you will have to turn to third-party software for help. There is a lot of the latter on the Internet, but not every utility adequately copes with the assigned tasks.

Some programs do not try to recover deleted files from the phone at all, but introduce a virus there. So you need to be extremely careful when choosing such software. We will look at the most popular and well-proven applications with a large number of positive reviews from users.

Dr.Fone for Android

Many advanced users recommend this product. The utility allows you to recover deleted files both from the phone’s memory card and from the internal storage. And it copes with the task extremely effectively. At least noticeably better (higher resuscitation rate) than other similar software.

This is a desktop application, so for it to work we need a personal computer running the Windows operating system. The program performed equally well both with the new tenth version of the OS and with the older ones - “eight” and “seven”.

In order to recover deleted files from your phone's memory, you need to install the program on your computer, run it and connect your mobile gadget via a USB interface. It is also worth noting that you need to enable the “USB Debugging” mode on your smartphone or tablet.

After the program determines the model of your device, it will begin installing drivers for it (an Internet connection is required). After which a working window will appear with a list of data for resuscitation. To recover deleted files from your phone, you need to place the appropriate beacons - audio, photo, video, or all together.

The program also allows you to revive call history, contacts, SMS, as well as messages from the popular WhatsApp messenger. The utility scans all drives, including external ones. So Dr.Fone for Android can also recover deleted files from your phone’s flash drive.

It is worth noting that the acquired administrator rights (root) significantly increase the chances of successful data recovery.

Terms of distribution

Such effective and multifunctional software, alas, simply cannot be free. The developer distributes it only under a paid license without any exceptions such as promotions, bonuses, etc. Therefore, if you want to recover deleted files from your phone and do it as efficiently as possible, you will have to fork out for a key.

As a starter, the developer offers a trial version, where the utility, after scanning, determines what and how it can resuscitate. If you are satisfied with the preliminary data, then you can already think about purchasing a license.

DiskDigger

Another program that allows you to recover files deleted from your phone. The utility's work is aimed mainly at resuscitating photo images - JPG, PNG, BMP and GIF. You can find it on Google Play.

To get started, you need to download and install the application. After launch, a wizard-assistant window will open, where you need to click on the “Start image search” button. Then the utility will analyze all available drives and provide a preliminary result. From the list presented, you need to select the files that you are going to restore, and then click on the “Recover” button.

If the settings did not specify the location where the files will end up after the procedure, a window with a file manager will appear. Here you need to select a folder where all images will be sent after recovery.

The utility can resuscitate files without obtaining administrator rights, but judging by user reviews, root access significantly increases the chances of success. Also in the settings you can set more detailed data for searching for deleted images: size, volume and creation date.

Terms of distribution

The program is distributed under a free license and, unlike other similar products, is completely devoid of annoying advertising. Nevertheless, the latter still occurs, but it cannot be called aggressive. Because the developer uses this utility to advertise its related and noticeably more functional product - DiskDigger Pro. It is paid and allows you to recover not only images, but also other types of files.

GT Recovery for Android

Just as in the previous case, this is a mobile application and a personal computer is not needed to resuscitate files. The utility has proven itself very well in working with, so to speak, problematic gadgets and allows you to recover deleted files on Samsung, Motorola, LG phones and other devices with proprietary firmware that reluctantly or do not at all provide access to system data of the Android platform "

The application has wide capabilities and allows you to revive not only photo, audio and video content, but also SMS, contacts, text documents, calls, as well as messages from the social messengers WhatsApp and Viber.

The utility can be found on Google Play. After downloading and subsequent installation, the main window with the assistant wizard will open. Here everything is divided into sections, upon opening which the program prompts you to start scanning the device.

Upon completion of the scan, a list of found files is displayed that can be resuscitated. Having placed the beacons on the ones you need or selected all, you need to click on the “Restore” button. After which the program will prompt you to select a location on the drive to save the data.

If you have administrator rights, the chances of success increase noticeably and there are more sections for recovery in the master-assistant. But even without root access, the program performed very well.

Terms of distribution

The utility is distributed completely free of charge, but the developer, alas, decided to monetize it properly using advertising. Annoying banners, offers from Aliexpress and installation packages with games rain down quite often. Nevertheless, the product is very smart and effective, so if you don’t want to spend money on serious decisions and don’t often play with the “Delete” button, then you can be patient.

EaseUS Mobisaver for Android

It is also a mobile file recovery utility, so there is no need to involve a personal computer. Reviews about the program are mostly positive and you can find it on Google Play. It’s worth warning right away that for the application to work correctly, you must obtain administrator rights. Otherwise, the utility simply will not work.

The program, alas, does not have Russian localization, but there should be no problems with either installation or subsequent use. The application interface is simple, intuitive and even a novice user can understand it.

In order to restore files, you need to run the utility and in the window that appears, select the required section for resuscitation: video, photo, audio, documents, contacts or SMS. After which the program will begin scanning drives for deleted data.

Judging by user reviews, the utility copes with resuscitation on such fastidious gadgets as Samsung, LG, Motorola, NTS and Nexus from Google. The application also supports older versions of the Android platform - 2.3 and 4.0.

Terms of distribution

The utility is distributed free of charge and is surprisingly practically devoid of advertising. It exists in very small quantities and cannot be called aggressive. Those who need advanced features without any restrictions on the number of files for resuscitation will have to fork out for the Pro version. It functions exactly the same as the free one, but is devoid of advertising and works with a wider list of mobile gadgets.

Finally

All the utilities described above do not provide a 100% guarantee of recovering lost files. It is also worth considering that the chance of resuscitating deleted data increases significantly if you carry out this procedure immediately after accidental erasure. New files overwrite sectors and tracks on the drive, and old information disappears forever.

In order not to suffer with the recovery procedure, it is better to make it a rule to backup your data. Moreover, today it is not at all necessary to do all this manually. There is special software that will periodically make copies of all your files without your participation. All you have to do is identify which ones.

In addition, the abundance of cloud services allows you to completely forget about the problem of data recovery. Google Drive, Dropbox, Yandex.Disk and many other similar solutions are at your service. If you are an ordinary user and all your data takes up no more than 5 GB, then the services of these services will be free for you.

It will be useful to those users who accidentally deleted a document, formatted a flash drive, or did a Hard Reset.

Why do Android require specialized tools?

Previously, devices with Android OS on board, after connecting to a PC, were identified as a USB flash drive. This made it possible to use the same applications for data recovery as on a PC, for example R-Studio or Recuva. Today, file transfer to smartphones is carried out using the MTP protocol. In rare cases, you can find the usual type of access.

Because of this, using old methods on Android is ineffective or even impossible. After a Hard Reset operation, it is almost impossible to get data back. When clearing memory after a reset, complex algorithms are used. Sometimes encryption, which is enabled on some models by default, makes matters worse.

EaseUS Mobisaver

The Mobisaver application is distributed free of charge. The download link is on the developer's official website. The program supports all popular editions of Windows, starting with XP. Today Mobisaver is the best utility in its class. Before you can restore files deleted from the Recycle Bin, you must install the utility. Although all installer messages are displayed in English, anyone can understand the process. Just click on Next. There is no additional or adware built into the installer.

Main features of Mobisaver

The following options are listed on the program's official website:

• Support for popular phone brands.
• Recover documents from internal memory and SD card.
• Providing a detailed report on deleted files and restoring only those selected by the user.
• Supports Android OS versions from 2.3 to 5.0.
• Recovering call logs, contact books, messages and saving information in HTML, CSV, VCF containers.

There is also a paid version of the application on the site, but information about additional options is not provided.

Preparatory operations

For all functions to work properly, the application requires installation on a root mobile device. Before restoring files to Android, you need to activate the “Debugging mode” switch in the phone configuration. It is located in the developer settings of the main menu. If you cannot enable debugging mode, read the official instructions or reviews from other users about your phone model.

Launch Mobisaver and then connect your smartphone to your PC. When the Start button in the main area of ​​the utility lights up, click it. A request for access will appear on your phone screen. Answer yes. After which the smartphone will offer to grant root rights to the utility. Answer that you agree. After this, scanning will begin immediately. During this, a search for deleted documents, contacts, and messages will be performed.

How to recover a deleted file on Android?

Scanning time depends on the memory capacity of the device. If the phone includes more than 15 GB of storage, this process will take 20 minutes or more. The scan result will be displayed on the PC display. All documents will be shown in a conveniently sorted list. To view only deleted files, click on the button with the text Only deleted items.

How to recover a deleted file on Android? Select the required documents and click on the Recover button. As a result, the application will copy the files to the computer’s drive.

GT Recovery

GT Recovery is a completely free product. Its functionality is absolutely identical to EaseUS Mobisaver. The main difference between GT Recovery is that the application is installed on the smartphone itself. FAT and EXT file systems are supported. Root rights are required to operate. You can download the program from the Google app store.

7-Data Android Recovery

7-Data is another program that allows you to recover deleted files for free. The utility can work with SD cards and internal memory of mobile devices. Installation will only require the user to click Next a few times and, if necessary, change the installation folder.

• Enable "Debug mode" on your phone, run the utility and connect the device to the PC.
• Answer yes to the question in the pop-up window on your smartphone screen.
• Click on "Next" in the main window of the utility.
• Select which drive will be scanned (internal or SD).
• Wait until the scan finishes.
• Select the files you want to restore and click "Save".

How to recover a deleted file on Android and why is this possible?

All modern file systems do not erase information when you delete a file, but simply mark the drive's sectors as unoccupied. This approach allows you to extend the life of flash memory, and at the same time restore documents.

Therefore, if you accidentally deleted an important document, it is advisable to turn off your smartphone. If this is not possible, try not to delete, copy, move, or write new files in the smartphone’s memory. Such actions will increase the likelihood of overwriting sectors in which deleted information was stored.

How many times have they told the world,

That there should be a backup; but everything is not for the future...

Data loss on Android can happen in both good and bad scenarios. A good scenario is when the files were stored on the mobile device's memory card. In this case, you can return them easily and even free of charge. Unfortunately, memory cards are becoming less and less common in smartphones, and restoring data from internal memory is a completely different story. Let's consider both situations.

How to recover data on an SD card

Everything is simple here. First, download and install a normal free data recovery utility on your computer. This could be the mega-popular Recuva, open source TestDisk or its offshoot PhotoRec, as well as any other similar program.

Then connect the SD card to your computer like a regular flash drive and run a scan on it using the installed utility. Save the saved data and finally back it up and other valuable files to the cloud.

How to recover data from the internal memory of a mobile device

Unfortunately, the vast majority of modern smartphones connect to the computer using a special protocol, that is, not like a regular flash drive. Accordingly, all the utilities listed above are useless.

There are special programs for data recovery on Android, and most of them are shareware. This means that you can, without paying a penny, install the utility, scan your mobile device and see what was lost and recovered. But in order to extract and save the restored one, you will have to buy a license.

On the one hand, this approach can be called honest. The user does not buy a pig in a poke, but gives money only after he is convinced that the utility is working. On the other hand, it is still difficult to part with several thousand rubles. In any case, the loss of information is usually the user’s fault, and a powerful blow to the wallet is an excellent motivator to start backing up important data.

Utilities for recovering data from Android internal memory:

• iCare Recovery (free!!!).
• Undeleter (if you have superuser rights).

These programs work approximately the same. First, the client is installed on the computer, then the smartphone or tablet is connected to the computer via USB. All you have to do is follow the instructions exactly, and you will probably succeed.

The only difficulty may be the utility’s lack of support for a specific mobile device model. That is why you first need to test the program in free mode, and only then buy a license.

What to do to prevent data loss

Backup, backup and again. Almost all the data that is on your mobile device can and should be copied to cloud storage. It's almost always free, safe and automatic. For example:

• Google Mail backs up your emails.
• Google Contacts backs up contacts.
• Google Photos backs up photos, videos and screenshots.
• Google Music backs up music.
• Google Office Suite backs up documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
• Universal storages like Google Drive, Dropbox and others backup everything.

Take any type of data - there is probably a simple and convenient way to store it securely. Take advantage of this and take care of valuable information.

How many times have they told the world,

That there should be a backup; but everything is not for the future...

Data loss on Android can happen in both good and bad scenarios. A good scenario is when the files were stored on the mobile device's memory card. In this case, you can return them easily and even free of charge. Unfortunately, memory cards are becoming less and less common in smartphones, and restoring data from internal memory is a completely different story. Let's consider both situations.

How to recover data on an SD card

Everything is simple here. First, download and install a normal free data recovery utility on your computer. This could be the mega-popular Recuva, open source TestDisk or its offshoot PhotoRec, as well as any other similar program.

Then connect the SD card to your computer like a regular flash drive and run a scan on it using the installed utility. Save the saved data and finally back it up and other valuable files to the cloud.

How to recover data from the internal memory of a mobile device

Unfortunately, the vast majority of modern smartphones connect to the computer using a special protocol, that is, not like a regular flash drive. Accordingly, all the utilities listed above are useless.

There are special programs for data recovery on Android, and most of them are shareware. This means that you can, without paying a penny, install the utility, scan your mobile device and see what was lost and recovered. But in order to extract and save the restored one, you will have to buy a license.

On the one hand, this approach can be called honest. The user does not buy a pig in a poke, but gives money only after he is convinced that the utility is working. On the other hand, it is still difficult to part with several thousand rubles. In any case, the loss of information is usually the user’s fault, and a powerful blow to the wallet is an excellent motivator to start backing up important data.

Utilities for recovering data from Android internal memory:

• iCare Recovery (free!!!).
• Undeleter (if you have superuser rights).

These programs work approximately the same. First, the client is installed on the computer, then the smartphone or tablet is connected to the computer via USB. All you have to do is follow the instructions exactly, and you will probably succeed.

The only difficulty may be the utility’s lack of support for a specific mobile device model. That is why you first need to test the program in free mode, and only then buy a license.

What to do to prevent data loss

Backup, backup and again. Almost all the data that is on your mobile device can and should be copied to cloud storage. It's almost always free, safe and automatic. For example:

• Google Mail backs up your emails.
• Google Contacts backs up contacts.
• Google Photos backs up photos, videos and screenshots.
• Google Music backs up music.
• Google Office Suite backs up documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
• Universal storages like Google Drive, Dropbox and others backup everything.

Take any type of data - there is probably a simple and convenient way to store it securely. Take advantage of this and take care of valuable information.

Sometimes it happens that a user accidentally deletes important data from a phone/tablet running Android OS. Data may also be deleted/damaged due to a virus or system failure in the system. Fortunately, many of them can be restored.

If you reset Android to factory settings and are now trying to restore the data that was previously on it, then you will not succeed, since in this case the information is deleted permanently.

In most options, you will have to use special programs for data recovery, since the operating system does not include the necessary functions. It is advisable that you have a computer and a USB adapter at hand, since the most effective way to recover data on Android is only through a desktop PC or laptop.

Method 1: File Recovery Apps on Android

Special programs have been developed for Android devices that allow you to recover deleted data. Some of them require the user to be rooted, others do not. All these programs can be downloaded from.

Let's consider several options.

GT Recovery

This program has two versions. One of them requires the user to have root rights, and the other does not. Both versions are completely free and can be installed from the Play Market. However, the version where root rights are not required does a slightly worse job of recovering files, especially if a lot of time has passed since they were deleted.

In general, the instructions in both cases will be the same:

Undeleter

This is already a shareware application that has a limited free version and an extended paid version. In the first case, only photos can be recovered, in the second case, any types of data. Root rights are not required to use the application.

Instructions for using the application:

Titanium Backup

This app requires root access but is completely free. In fact, it's simple "Basket" with advanced features. Here, in addition to restoring files, you can make backup copies. With this application it is also possible to recover SMS.

Application data is stored in Titanium Backup memory and can be transferred to and restored to another device. The only exceptions are some operating system settings.

Let's look at how to recover data on Android using this application:

Method 2: Programs for recovering files on PC

This method is the most reliable and is performed in the following steps:

• Connecting an Android device to a computer;
• Data recovery using special software on a PC.

It should be noted that the connection for this method is best done only using a USB cable. If you use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you will not be able to start data recovery.

Now select the program that will be used to restore data. Instructions for this method will be discussed using an example. This program is one of the most reliable in terms of performing such tasks.

Method 3: Restore from Recycle Bin

Initially, smartphones and tablets running Android OS do not "Baskets", as on a PC, but it can be done by installing a special application from the Play Market. Data included in this "Basket" are removed automatically over time, but if they were there recently, you can relatively quickly return them to their place.

For this “Trash” to function, you do not need to add root rights for your device. Instructions for recovering files are as follows (examined using the Dumpster application as an example):

As you can see, there is nothing complicated about recovering files on your phone. In any case, there are several methods that will suit every smartphone user.