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Lost your old memories? Learn the exact steps I took to recover photos from 2017 — and how you can do it too, even without being a tech expert.
Imagine stumbling across a way to recover memories you thought were gone forever. That’s exactly what happened to me. I was sure the photos I took in 2017 were lost—wiped from my phone, deleted from every folder, and forgotten in the chaos of digital life.
But one small decision changed everything.
In this article, I’ll walk you through my personal journey of recovering lost photos and give you step-by-step instructions to do the same. Whether you’re trying to recover family memories, travel pictures, or just precious moments from years ago, this guide is for you.
Let me ask you:
When was the last time you saw those old photos? Months? Years?
Wouldn’t it feel amazing to see them again?
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Step 1: Don’t Panic — Your Photos Might Still Exist
First, let’s bust a myth: “Deleted” doesn’t always mean gone forever.
When you delete a photo, your device doesn’t immediately erase the file. It simply marks the space as available. Unless new data has overwritten it, there’s still a chance to get it back.
That’s why the sooner you act, the better.
Step 2: Check the “Recently Deleted” Folder
Most phones and computers have a hidden safety net: the Trash, Recycle Bin, or Recently Deleted folder.
Here’s where to look:
- Android: Open your Photos or Gallery app > go to “Recently Deleted.”
- iPhone: Open Photos > Albums > scroll to “Recently Deleted.”
- Windows/Mac: Check your Recycle Bin or Trash on the desktop.
If you’re within 30 days of deletion, your photos are probably still there.
🔔 Tip: Don’t delete new files or use your device heavily until you’ve tried recovery—this could overwrite the photos you’re trying to save.
APP
Dr.Fone
Step 3: Search Your Cloud Backups
Many people forget that they’ve enabled automatic photo backup in the cloud.
Try these services:
- Google Photos (photos.google.com)
- iCloud (via icloud.com)
- OneDrive
- Dropbox
- Amazon Photos
How to search:
- Sign in with every email account you might have used.
- Look for albums from 2017.
- Use keywords, dates, or even faces to find what’s hidden.
Pro Tip: Sometimes your phone uploads photos to the cloud silently in the background. Even if the photo is gone from your phone, it might still live online.
Step 4: Use Recovery Software (This Saved Me)
Here’s where the real magic happened for me.
I had an old Samsung phone with a dead battery. I took out the SD card and used a free tool called Recuva on my computer. In under an hour, I recovered over 600 photos, many of them from 2017.
Here are the best tools I found:
🛠️ DiskDigger (Android)
- Available in the Play Store.
- Deep scan finds deleted files (requires root access for best results).
- Preview and recover photos individually.
🛠️ Recuva (Windows)
- Free and beginner-friendly.
- Ideal for SD cards, USB drives, or old hard disks.
- Just select the location > scan > restore.
🛠️ Dr.Fone by Wondershare
- Works for Android and iOS.
- Can recover from both device and cloud.
- Offers a simple interface and photo preview before recovery.
🛠️ PhotoRec (Windows/Mac/Linux)
- More technical but extremely powerful.
- Can recover thousands of image formats, even from formatted disks.
⚠️ Important: Do not install the recovery software on the same device or storage where your photos were deleted. That can overwrite the data and ruin your chances.
Step 5: Don’t Forget Old Devices and Emails
Sometimes, your lost photos aren’t actually lost—they’re just somewhere unexpected.
Places to check:
- Old phones, tablets, or cameras.
- USB drives or SD cards.
- Email inboxes and sent folders (search for image attachments).
- WhatsApp or Messenger conversations.
Many messaging apps automatically store shared media. Open your chats from 2017 and scroll up—you might be surprised at what you find.
Step 6: Try Mobile Recovery Apps
If you don’t have access to a PC, try these mobile apps that work directly on your phone:
- Dumpster (Android): Like a Recycle Bin for your phone.
- UltData (iOS/Android): Recovers lost data with a simple scan.
- Tenorshare Photo Recovery: Offers cloud recovery options too.
These apps are great for fast, on-the-go scanning and can be a lifesaver for less technical users.
Step 7: Call the Experts (As a Last Resort)
If all else fails—and your photos are deeply valuable—you can turn to professional recovery services.
Companies like DriveSavers, Ontrack, or local tech support centers specialize in recovering data from physically damaged or corrupted storage.
However, keep in mind:
- These services are expensive.
- Success is not guaranteed.
- Best used when the photos are truly priceless.
My Personal Story: The Photos That Came Back to Life
Back in 2017, I took a trip with my best friend to the Grand Canyon. I captured hundreds of breathtaking shots — sunsets, smiles, trails.
Years later, I changed phones. I thought everything had transferred… but I was wrong.
Five years passed. One rainy afternoon, I found my old microSD card. Out of curiosity, I used Recuva, ran a full scan, and waited.
Minutes later… there they were.
The orange sky. The muddy boots. That goofy selfie at the cliff’s edge.
I’ll never forget how I felt seeing them again.
Don’t Make These Mistakes
Here are 5 common mistakes that can destroy your chances of recovery:
- Installing recovery software on the same device – always use another system.
- Writing new data (taking more photos, installing apps) – this can overwrite deleted files.
- Resetting to factory settings – this wipes the storage completely.
- Ignoring backups – always check cloud storage first.
- Giving up too soon – recovery takes patience and a bit of trial and error.
How to Prevent Future Losses
Now that you’ve seen the possibilities, let’s make sure this never happens again.
✅ Enable automatic backups
- Google Photos: Set to “Backup & Sync ON.”
- iCloud: Check Settings > iCloud > Photos > “iCloud Photos ON.”
- Dropbox/OneDrive: Use auto-upload features.
✅ Create manual backups monthly
- Use an external hard drive or USB.
- Send your favorite photos to your own email as a backup.
- Use apps like Google Takeout to download all your Google data in one zip file.
✅ Store in multiple places
Keep at least 2 copies of important photos: one online, one offline.
Conclusion: You Can Get Your Memories Back
Losing old photos feels like losing a part of your past.
But as you’ve seen in this article, recovery is very possible — even years later. Whether it’s with recovery software, cloud backups, or just digging through old devices, the key is to act quickly and try every option.
If I was able to recover hundreds of images from 2017, you can too.
So take a deep breath, follow these steps, and go rescue your memories.
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Leave a comment and share your recovery story. You might inspire someone else to save their memories too.
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