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When I delete a photo from Google Photos permanently Is it really deleted or do they keep it on their servers?

When you delete a photo from Google Photos permanently, it is removed from your account and it is not visible to you anymore. However, there have been concerns about whether Google still keeps a copy of the deleted photo on its servers.

Google’s policy on deleted photos is that once a photo is deleted from your account, it is also deleted from Google’s servers. However, it is important to note that it may take some time for the photo to disappear completely. Google has a backup system that ensures that data is not lost in case of system failures or accidental deletions.

This means that the backup copy is retained for a specified period, and once the retention period expires, the backup data is deleted.

Also, Google Photos is part of Google’s suite of applications, and as per their privacy policy, Google may use the data that you upload (including photos and videos) for various other purposes such as improving their services, creating better products, showing personalized ads, etc. However, if you have permanently deleted a photo from your account, it should not be accessible to Google, regardless of their data processing policies.

While there have been concerns about whether Google still keeps a copy of deleted photos, their official policy is that the photos are permanently deleted from both your account and their servers. However, it is possible that backup copies may exist for a limited period before they are deleted. it is important to exercise caution when sharing sensitive information online and to regularly review and manage your online accounts and data.

What happens when you permanently delete a photo from Google Photos?

When you permanently delete a photo from Google Photos, the photo is removed completely from your account and cannot be recovered. This means that the photo is no longer accessible by you or anyone else, and is not even visible in the trash or archive folders.

Google Photos has a policy that states when you delete a photo, it may take up to 60 days for it to be completely erased from their servers. During this time, the photo may still be visible to users who have shared the image with others or if the image is publicly available on the web.

It’s important to note that if you’ve synced your Google Photos account with other devices or shared your photos with other users, deleting a photo from your account will not delete it from those devices or from the other user’s account. This means that you should also take steps to remove the photo from any other devices or accounts it may be associated with.

To avoid losing important photos permanently, it is always recommended to create a backup of your photos on an external drive or cloud service. This will ensure that even if a photo is accidentally deleted, you will still have a copy of it. Additionally, you can use the archive function in Google Photos to keep photos that you may not need frequently, but do not want to delete permanently.

Permanently deleting a photo from Google Photos means that the photo is removed completely from your account and cannot be recovered. It is important to take steps to ensure that you have a backup of all your important photos and to be aware of the time it may take for photos to be completely erased from Google’s servers.

Are permanently deleted photos actually permanent?

When you delete a photo from your device or from a cloud storage service like Google Photos or iCloud, it may seem like it is gone forever. However, in reality, deleted photos are not completely erased from the storage device or service.

When you delete a photo, the operating system or software simply marks the space taken up by that photo as empty, making it available for new data to be written over it. However, until new data is overwritten, the original file is still present on the storage device or service, just not visible to the user.

It is possible to recover permanently deleted photos using specialized recovery software or services that scan the storage device or service for deleted files. However, the success of recovery depends on various factors such as the amount of time that has passed since the deletion, the condition of the storage device, and whether the space previously occupied by the deleted photo has been overwritten by new data.

Some cloud storage services have a retention period during which deleted photos are kept in a backup state, which makes it possible to recover them within a specified time frame. However, once this retention period ends, the deleted photos are gone forever.

Whether permanently deleted photos are actually permanent depends on various factors such as the storage device or service, the time elapsed since deletion, and the presence of specialized recovery tools. While it is possible to recover deleted photos in some cases, it is always recommended to maintain regular backups of your important files to avoid any data loss.

How to delete photos off Google Photos without deleting off phone?

There are a few different ways to delete photos off of Google Photos without deleting them from your device.

The first way is to use the “Remove from Device” feature in the Google Photos app. This feature allows you to select individual photos or entire albums that you want to remove from your device, without deleting them from Google Photos.

To do so, open the Google Photos app, select the photos or albums that you would like to remove from your device, and tap on the “Remove from Device” button. This will delete the photos from your device, but they will still remain in your Google Photos account.

The second way to delete photos off of Google Photos without deleting them off of your device is to use the “Free Up Space” feature. This feature will automatically remove the photos from your device if they have already been backed up to Google Photos.

To use this feature, open the Google Photos app, go to the Settings menu, and then tap on the “Free Up Space” button. This will automatically delete the photos from your device, while still keeping them in your Google Photos account.

The third way to remove photos off of Google Photos without deleting them off of your device is to use the “Download” feature. This feature allows you to download the photos from the Google Photos app to your device, so that you can keep them without having to remain in your Google Photos account.

To do this, select the photos or albums that you wish to download, tap on the “Download” icon, and then select where to download the photos to. Once they have been downloaded, they will no longer be in your Google Photos account, but you will still have them on your device.

Does deleting Google Photos delete everything?

Deleting Google Photos only deletes the photos from your Google Photos app but it does not necessarily delete everything in its entirety. Let me explain further.

When you upload your photos to Google Photos, it automatically creates a backup of all your photos and videos. This means that even if you delete the photos from your phone or tablet, they will still be stored on Google’s servers, and you can access them using the Google Photos app or through their website.

In this instance, deleting photos from the app simply removes them from the app and doesn’t have any effect on the backed up copies.

However, when you delete photos from Google Photos, there are three key ways that this action can impact your stored media. The first way is that you might delete photos from your device that you never intended to delete. This might happen if you delete a photo from one device and it syncs the deletion across all your linked devices.

Secondly, if you delete photos from the Google Photos trash folder, that’s when they’re truly gone. They are no longer retrievable or recoverable, so you should be careful when deleting them. Finally, and most importantly, if you delete your Google account, it will delete all the data associated with it, including your Google Photos, emails, documents, and other data.

So, to recap: deleting Google Photos removes photos or videos from within the app but not from the Google servers, and it’s crucial to keep in mind that deleting files from the trash folder will delete them permanently. However, deleting your Google account will delete everything associated with it.

Do photos stay on Google Photos if deleted from phone?

Yes, photos that are uploaded to Google Photos will remain on the platform even if they are deleted from the user’s phone. This is because when photos are uploaded to Google Photos, a copy of the image is stored on Google’s servers. So even if the original photo is deleted from the user’s device, the uploaded copy of the photo will still exist on Google Photos.

This feature of Google Photos is useful for users who want to free up space on their device but still have access to their photos. It also serves as a backup, in case the user’s device is lost, stolen, or damaged.

However, it is important to note that if a user deletes a photo from Google Photos, it will also be deleted from their account and cannot be recovered. Additionally, if a user decides to delete their Google account, all of their photos on the platform will also be deleted.

So in conclusion, photos that are uploaded to Google Photos will remain on the platform even if they are deleted from the user’s phone, providing a convenient backup and access to their photos. However, users should be aware of the consequences of deleting photos from the platform and be cautious when managing their Google Photos account.

How do I get rid of unwanted Google Photos?

Google Photos is a popular cloud-based photo storage application that allows you to upload and store your pictures and videos for free. However, over time, you may end up with a large number of photos that you no longer want, cluttering up your storage space. To get rid of unwanted Google Photos, you can follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open the Google Photos app on your device.

Step 2: Select the photo(s) that you want to delete. You can either do this by tapping and holding the photo or by selecting multiple photos by tapping on the ‘select’ button and then checking the boxes next to the pictures you want to delete.

Step 3: Once you’ve selected the photos, tap on the ‘trash can’ button that appears on the top right corner of the screen.

Step 4: You will be asked to confirm the deletion. Select ‘delete’ to permanently remove the photos from your Google Photos account.

Alternatively, if you want to delete all photos from your Google Photos account, you can follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open the Google Photos app on your device.

Step 2: Tap on the three horizontal lines on the top left corner of the screen.

Step 3: Tap on ‘Settings’ from the dropdown menu.

Step 4: Select ‘Back up & sync.’

Step 5: Toggle off the ‘Back up & sync’ option to stop any new photos from being uploaded.

Step 6: Tap on the three dots on the top right corner of the screen.

Step 7: Select ‘Free up space.’

Step 8: A prompt will appear, asking you to confirm the deletion. Select ‘free up X GB.’

Step 9: All the photos and videos that have been backed up on Google Photos will be deleted from your device.

Getting rid of unwanted Google Photos is a simple process that can be done in a few easy steps. By deleting unnecessary photos and videos, you can free up storage space on your device and maintain a clutter-free photo library.

Where does Google Photos go after deleting?

After deleting a photo from Google Photos, it is moved to the trash or bin folder within the app. This function serves as a safety net for users who accidentally delete photos or those who have changed their minds and want to recover previously deleted photos.

The deleted photos will remain in the trash or bin folder for up to 60 days, unless they are manually deleted by the user. After 60 days, the deleted files are automatically deleted from the Google Photos cloud and cannot be recovered.

It is important to note that deleting a photo from Google Photos does not necessarily mean that it is permanently deleted from all devices. If the user has enabled device-syncing, the deleted photo will be removed from Google Photos on all synced devices. However, if the photo was downloaded or saved to another device before being deleted, it will remain on that device even if it is removed from Google Photos.

Google Photos places deleted photos in the trash or bin folder for up to 60 days before permanently deleting them from the cloud. If the user has device-syncing enabled, the deleted photo will also be removed from all synced devices. However, photos that were downloaded or saved to other devices before being deleted will remain on those devices even after being removed from Google Photos.

Does Google Photos keep your photos after you delete them?

Google Photos offers a feature called “Free Up Space” that allows you to delete all the photos and videos that have been backed up on their server, which frees up your phone’s storage space. When you choose to use this feature, Google deletes the photos or videos from the device and their cloud servers.

Additionally, Google Photos provides an option to permanently delete any photo or video that is no longer needed. When you choose to permanently delete an item, it removes it from the “Recently Deleted” album and erases it from Google Photos’ servers. This delete action is irreversible, so it is important to make sure that you don’t delete any photos or videos that you might need in the future.

However, Google has access to your content, and they are required to comply with legal requirements and court orders. Therefore, it is unclear whether this applies to all situations, including law enforcement requests, accidental data breaches, or other scenarios that might mandate data retention.

Overall, Google Photos appears to make a sincere effort to delete your photos when you request it. However, it’s important to recognize that the company may retain your data through legal obligations (like subpoenas) or other unforeseen circumstances. To be completely sure of what steps are taken on your data, it might be worth doing your own research and reading the privacy policies of the platform with which you want to share your content.

Do deleted photos stay forever?

No, deleted photos do not stay forever. When a photo is deleted from a device, it is not completely erased from the storage space. Instead, the space that was occupied by the photo is marked as available for new data to be stored. Therefore, until new data overwrites the space where the deleted photo was located, there is a possibility of recovering the deleted photo using specialized software.

However, if the space where the deleted photo was located is overwritten with new data, then it becomes difficult or even impossible to recover the photo. Additionally, some devices have a feature that permanently erases deleted data by overwriting it with nonsensical data, making it impossible to recover the deleted photo using data recovery software.

It is also important to note that if the photo was backed up on a cloud or other secure storage, it may still exist after it is deleted from the device. Therefore, it is always advisable to back up important photos to prevent their permanent loss in case of accidental deletion or loss of the device.

Overall, deleted photos do not stay forever and can be recovered in some cases. However, it is important to take preventive measures such as backing up important photos and ensuring proper deletion to avoid permanent loss.

Can you still see permanently deleted photos?

No, once a photo has been permanently deleted, it cannot be retrieved or seen again. This is because deleting a photo permanently erases its presence from the storage device where it was saved, which means that it no longer exists in any form within the device’s file system.

When a photo is deleted permanently, it is not simply moved to the trash or recycling bin – it is completely wiped out from the storage medium. This process ensures that the photo’s data is overwritten and irretrievable, making it impossible to see or recover.

While there are some data recovery programs and services that claim to be able to recover permanently deleted photos, the efficacy of these methods typically varies depending on the type of storage device, the time elapsed since deletion, and other technical factors. Even so, it is generally true that once you have permanently deleted a photo, it is gone for good and cannot be seen again.

Furthermore, it is important to note that some platforms such as social media platforms and cloud storage services maintain backups of user data. In these cases, even if a photo has been deleted it may still exist in a backup for a period of time until the backup is overwritten. However, accessing these backups is generally not possible for the average user, and usually requires legal or technical intervention.

Overall, the best way to avoid losing important photos is to back them up regularly to multiple locations, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage service. This way, even if a photo is accidentally deleted or becomes corrupt, you can retrieve it from another source.

How long can Google recover permanently deleted files?

Google provides its users with the option to restore deleted files for a limited period of time known as the “Trash” or “Bin” folder. Once the deleted files are moved to this folder, users can access and restore them within a period of 30 days. However, after 30 days, Google automatically and permanently deletes the files from the “Trash” folder to free up storage space.

Once a file is permanently deleted from the “Trash” folder, it cannot be retrieved through conventional methods as there is no backup system in place. This means that once a file is gone, it is gone for good. However, it is not impossible for Google to recover the permanently deleted files.

Google has a specialized team of experts who are capable of recovering lost data in cases of unexpected file deletions, natural disasters, and similar incidents. The recovery process involves using advanced data recovery tools and techniques to retrieve the lost files from various parts of the system.

However, the chances of successfully recovering a permanently deleted file depend on several factors such as the time elapsed since deletion, the type and size of the file, and the condition of the system on which the file was saved. Hence, it is important to act quickly and contact Google support immediately if a user needs to recover a permanently lost file.

To sum up, Google can recover permanently deleted files in certain cases, but it is not a guaranteed solution. Users must be aware of the limitations of the system’s built-in backup and recovery features and take necessary precautions such as creating regular backups of important data to ensure that data loss does not occur.

Is it possible to recover deleted photos from 2 years ago?

Yes, it is possible to recover deleted photos from 2 years ago. However, the process of recovery can be complicated and success rates can vary depending on the situation.

Firstly, it is important to determine the storage device from which the photos were deleted. If they were stored on a computer’s hard drive or an external storage device, there may be a chance to recover them using data recovery software. These programs scan the storage device for any remnants of deleted files and attempt to piece them together.

If the photos were stored on a phone or tablet, there may still be a chance to recover them through data recovery software. However, it is important to note that recovery success rates can vary depending on the device and how long ago the photos were deleted. Additionally, if the storage device has been used frequently since the photos were deleted, there is a higher chance that the data has been overwritten and is unrecoverable.

Another option for recovering deleted photos is to check if they were backed up to a cloud storage service. Many smartphones automatically back up photos to services such as Google Photos or Apple iCloud. If you have been using a cloud service regularly, it may be possible to retrieve the deleted photos from there.

While it is possible to recover deleted photos from 2 years ago, the success rates can vary depending on the storage device and how long ago the photos were deleted. It is important to use data recovery software or check for cloud backups as soon as possible for the best chance of recovery.

Can I delete Google Photos without losing my photos?

Yes, you can delete Google Photos without losing your photos. Google Photos is a cloud-based photo storage and sharing service that allows users to store their photos and videos on Google’s servers. However, when you delete the Google Photos app, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your photos are deleted from your device or from the cloud.

If you have enabled the “Backup & Sync” feature on Google Photos, your pictures and videos will be saved on the cloud account. However, to ensure that your photos are not deleted along with the app, you should transfer your photos and videos to a different cloud storage service or to your device’s local storage before deleting the Google Photos app.

Alternatively, if you want to keep using Google Photos but don’t want the app to take up storage space on your device, you can instead choose to clear the app’s cache, which will remove any temporary files that might be taking up storage space on your device.

Deleting the Google Photos app doesn’t mean that you will lose your photos as long as you have either backed up your photos to a different cloud storage service, downloaded them to your device’s local storage, or enabled the “Backup & Sync” feature on Google Photos.

Why is my Google Photos storage full?

There could be several reasons why your Google Photos storage is full despite Google offering free unlimited storage. Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons below:

1. High-quality photos and videos: Even though Google offers free unlimited storage for high-quality photos and videos, if your photos and videos are of high-quality, then they can quickly take up a lot of storage space. The limit for free unlimited storage for high-quality photos is 16MP, but if your images exceed this size, they will take up some of your allocated storage capacity.

2. Stored original quality photos and videos: If you choose to store your photos and videos in their original quality instead of the high-quality option offered by Google, then this will count towards your storage limit. Google Photos offers a limited amount of free storage, which is shared between all Google products, including Gmail and Google Drive.

3. Automatic backup of all photos and videos: If you have enabled automatic backup for all photos and videos on your device, this may be the reason why your Google Photos storage is full. Backing up all photos and videos regardless of their quality can quickly take up a lot of storage space. Consider turning off automatic backups or only backing up select photos and videos manually.

4. Other reasons: Occasionally, system glitches or software updates can cause storage errors in Google Photos. You may also have a large number of old, unnecessary photos and videos that are taking up space in your library. Consider deleting old photos and videos or checking if there are any system errors that could be causing the issue.

It’S important to understand the different reasons why your Google Photos storage may be full. By identifying the reason for the full storage, you can take appropriate steps to free up space and ensure that you continue to enjoy and benefit from the application.

Resources

  1. When I delete a photo from Google Photos permanently, is it …
  2. What will happen, when Photo deleted permanently
  3. What happens to permanently deleted Google Photos?
  4. Does Google keep deleted photos? – 2023 Calendar Canada
  5. How to delete Google Photos – NordVPN