How to Recover Photos from a Formatted Phone
Formatting your phone is often the last resort when it becomes slow, buggy, or overloaded with files.
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It’s like giving your device a fresh start — but it comes at a price.
Once you hit “Factory Reset” or “Format Storage,” every photo, video, and file stored in your internal memory gets erased.
What do you want to recover?
At least, that’s what most people think.
The truth is, formatted photos aren’t immediately gone forever. In many cases, recovery is still possible — if you act fast and use the right tool.
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Now you will walk through how data deletion really works, what you should avoid after formatting, and how to use Dr.Fone to recover your lost photos step by step.
How Formatting Actually Works
When you format your phone, it doesn’t physically erase your photos right away.
Instead, the system simply marks the storage space as “available” for new data.
Imagine erasing a book’s table of contents but leaving all the chapters intact. The words are still there — until you start writing over them.
That means your old photos remain hidden on your phone’s internal memory, waiting to be replaced.
The sooner you try recovery, the better your chances of success.
What You Should Do Immediately After Formatting
If your goal is to get your photos back, what you do right after formatting matters more than anything else.
Here are some crucial steps to follow:
- Stop using the phone immediately.
Every new app you install or photo you take might overwrite deleted data. - Avoid reinstalling apps or restoring backups yet.
These actions create new files that can permanently erase recoverable photos. - Use another device for downloads and recovery tools.
Always perform recovery from a computer or another phone to avoid overwriting. - Act quickly.
The longer you wait, the higher the chance your deleted photos will be overwritten by system files.
Why Dr.Fone Is the Best Option for Formatted Phone Recovery
When it comes to recovering photos from formatted phones, Dr.Fone by Wondershare is one of the most reliable and user-friendly tools available.
It’s been around for years, used by millions of users worldwide, and supports both Android and iPhone recovery.
Here’s what makes Dr.Fone stand out:
- 🧠 Smart Scanning: It scans deeply into your phone’s memory to locate deleted images, even after formatting.
- 💾 Selective Recovery: You can preview and choose which photos to restore instead of recovering everything.
- 📱 Cross-Device Compatibility: Works on most brands — Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Motorola, Oppo, Vivo, etc.
- 🖥️ PC-Based Recovery: Minimizes the risk of overwriting data since all recovery is done through your computer.
- 🔒 Safe and Secure: No rooting or complicated setup required.
✅ Download for iOS | Download for Android | Website
How to Use Dr.Fone to Recover Photos from a Formatted Phone
Let’s go step by step. You’ll need a computer (Windows or macOS) and your formatted phone with a USB cable.
Step 1: Download and Install Dr.Fone
Visit the official Wondershare Dr.Fone website and download the version compatible with your computer.
Once installed, launch the program. You’ll see several modules — choose “Data Recovery.”
Tip: Avoid downloading Dr.Fone directly to the formatted phone. Use your computer for safety.
Step 2: Connect Your Phone
Use a USB cable to connect your phone to the computer.
The program will automatically detect your device and may ask for authorization to enable USB Debugging (for Android).
If prompted, follow the on-screen instructions. This step allows Dr.Fone to access your phone’s internal storage safely.
Step 3: Choose File Types to Recover
Dr.Fone gives you the option to choose what kind of files to scan.
Select Photos (or “Gallery”) as the target data type. You can include videos or other media if needed, but focusing on photos speeds up the process.
Step 4: Start the Deep Scan
Click Start Scan to begin.
Dr.Fone will now analyze your phone’s storage sector by sector, looking for recoverable photos left behind after formatting.
This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour, depending on your phone’s capacity.
During scanning, you’ll see a preview of files being discovered in real time — it’s a good sign your data is still there!
Step 5: Preview and Recover Photos
Once the scan finishes, Dr.Fone will show you all recoverable photos, grouped by folders or file types.
You can preview each image to confirm what’s worth restoring.
Select the photos you want to recover, then click Recover to Computer.
This saves your files safely on your computer, avoiding the risk of overwriting anything on your phone.
Step 6: Transfer the Photos Back to Your Phone (Optional)
After recovery, you can transfer your photos back to your phone using the Dr.Fone Phone Manager tool or simply copy them manually.
If you plan to restore them directly into the gallery, create a new folder named something like “Recovered Photos.”
What Types of Photos Can Be Recovered
Dr.Fone can restore a surprisingly wide range of image formats and sources, including:
- Photos taken with your phone camera
- WhatsApp or Messenger media
- Screenshots
- Downloaded or saved images
- Cloud-synced thumbnails or cached previews
Even if your phone’s gallery was completely empty after formatting, Dr.Fone often finds hidden or system-level copies that weren’t visible before.
✅ Download for iOS | Download for Android | Website
Common Reasons People Lose Photos After Formatting
Understanding why photo loss happens helps prevent it next time.
Here are the most common scenarios that lead users to this problem:
- Accidental Factory Reset: A mistaken tap during troubleshooting or cleaning storage.
- System Update Glitches: Failed updates that force a factory reset.
- Virus or Malware Attack: Some malware corrupts system files, triggering reformatting.
- Storage Errors: Corrupted partitions or SD card errors that require formatting.
- Performance Optimization: Some users format their phones to fix lag or free up space without realizing it wipes personal data.
No matter the cause, the recovery process remains similar — and Dr.Fone can handle them all.
How Long After Formatting Can Photos Be Recovered?
There’s no fixed time limit, but the sooner you act, the better.
If you’ve formatted your phone and haven’t added much new data, the chances of recovery can be over 80%.
However, if you’ve used the phone heavily — installing apps, taking new photos, or syncing online accounts — those chances drop drastically.
Can Dr.Fone Recover Photos from SD Cards Too?
Yes. If your formatted device used an SD card, Dr.Fone can scan it separately.
Simply remove the SD card from your phone, insert it into a computer using an adapter, and select External Devices Recovery in the app.
This often works even when the card is corrupted or not recognized by the phone anymore.
What If My Phone Won’t Turn On?
If your device doesn’t power on after formatting, Dr.Fone also has a feature called Broken Android Data Extraction.
It helps retrieve data from phones that are stuck on the logo screen, boot loop, or have black screens.
This tool supports several Samsung models and can still extract photos from the internal memory even when the phone can’t boot normally.
Tips to Avoid Losing Photos Again
Once you’ve successfully recovered your pictures, take a few simple steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again:
- Turn on automatic cloud backup.
Services like Google Photos, OneDrive, or iCloud can sync your images daily. - Regularly back up your phone to your computer.
Dr.Fone also includes a one-click backup feature that makes this easy. - Avoid unnecessary formatting.
Before factory resetting, try using cleaning apps or deleting unused apps manually. - Use reliable storage.
Cheap SD cards often corrupt easily — invest in a good one.
✅ Download for iOS | Download for Android | Website
Real-World Example: How Dr.Fone Saved My Gallery
“I accidentally formatted my Samsung Galaxy A52 while trying to fix a boot issue. I thought all my photos were gone — over three years of family pictures! After some research, I found Dr.Fone, connected my phone to the computer, and within 20 minutes, it showed hundreds of images I thought were lost forever. I recovered almost 90% of my photos. I couldn’t believe it.”
Stories like this are incredibly common — and they show how effective Dr.Fone can be when used right after formatting.
FAQs
🕐 Can I recover photos if I formatted my phone months ago?
It’s possible but harder. If you’ve continued using your phone actively, chances drop because new data likely overwrote the old photos.
💻 Can I do this without a computer?
For formatted phones, a PC-based recovery is strongly recommended. Mobile recovery apps usually don’t have deep-scan capabilities like Dr.Fone’s desktop version.
🔋 Does Dr.Fone work on all Android versions?
Yes, it supports most Android devices from Android 5.0 up to the latest versions. iPhones are supported as well.
🧩 What if my photos were in Google Photos?
Check Google Photos first — if backups were enabled, your pictures may already be safe in the cloud.
Final Thoughts
Formatting your phone can feel like losing a part of your life — especially when precious photos disappear in seconds.
But as you’ve learned, those images might still be there, hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be restored.
With a tool like Dr.Fone, recovery is not only possible but surprisingly simple. The key is acting fast, avoiding new data, and following each step carefully.
So before giving up on your memories, try Dr.Fone today — your photos might still be just a few clicks away.