How to Find Trash on an Android (2024)

What to Know

Most apps store deleted items which you can permanently erase or restore if you want the files back.
For example, in the Photos app, go to Library > Trash to view, restore, or delete trashed media files.
Fun fact: There's no official trash can on Android phones. The closest one is in the file manager app.

This article teaches you where to find files you've deleted on Android. Most apps have their own trash folder, like Photos, Gmail, Files, etc.

Where Do Deleted Photos Go?

Android doesn't have one trash app, but it does include numerous apps that contain their form of a trash can. One critical place you may want to undelete files from is your photos app.

Photos App Trash

If you use Google Photos, here's where to look for deleted videos and photos in that app:

You don't need to manually erase anything in the Photos app. It will automatically delete a file after it's been in the trash for 30 days. Backed-up items will be auto-deleted after 60 days.

Open the Photos app and tap Library at the bottom.
Tap Trash.

The icon in this screenshot says Bin, due to regional differences.
See Also
Does Deleting an App Mean the Same Thing as Uninstalling It? A Guide for iPhone and Android How to restore your Android phone from a backup | Asurion Backup And Restore Android APPs & Data Quick Solutions to Recover Deleted App Data on Android
Your deleted photos are here. Tap one to restore it, or tap the three-dot menu to empty the Photos app trash.

Gallery App Trash

If you have a Samsung device, you might be using the Gallery app instead of Photos. Here's how to find the Gallery app's trash folder:

Tap the three-line menu at the bottom of the app.
Choose Trash.
Listed here are all your deleted items from the Gallery app. Tap Edit, then pick one or more items to see the Restore option at the bottom.

On some Samsung devices, the trash bin must be enabled before you can restore any deleted media files. To do that, open the menu at the bottom of the app, select Settings, then tap the toggle next to Trash.

How to Find the File Manager Trash

Most Android phones have a file manager app installed. When you delete downloaded files, like documents, the file manager app holds onto them in its trash folder. Here's how to find that:

There are lots of file manager apps out there. These directions apply to the app that comes preinstalled on most Android devices.

Search your device for your file manager. It might be called Files, My Files, or File Manager.
Depending on your device, do one of the following:
- Tap the three-line menu and choose Trash.
- Scroll down and tap Trash.
- Go to Categories > Recently deleted.
You can empty the trash or restore files out of it. Here's how it works on different devices:
See Also
Restore the data you backed up
- Tap the All items button followed by Delete. Or, to restore a file, select it and tap Restore.
- Tap the three-line menu and choose Empty. Or, to take a file out of the trash, touch-and-hold it, then press Restore.
- If you don't see that option, select Delete all to delete everything, or tap each file to restore it.

Can I Restore Permanently Deleted Files?

Generally, no. Some third-party apps claim they can recover deleted texts and files, but it's not guaranteed. Such methods definitely shouldn't be relied on for any critical files. Only delete files from your device if you're sure you don't need them.

If your end goal in deleting the trash is to save storage space, consider moving videos and other big files to a cloud storage service.

Where Is the Trash Can on My Android?

Android doesn't have a trash can. Unlike a PC or Mac, there's no single recycle bin where deleted files are stored. Instead, each app can have its own, separate trash can. This often includes file management apps like Dropbox and Google Photos, plus email apps and really anything that involves items you might want to restore.

How to Empty Trash on Android

FAQ

How do I find the Messages trash folder on my Android phone?

Since Android OS doesn't have a trash folder for messages, it's not easy to access and recover deleted messages. One option is to turn on AirPlane mode to stop your phone from making any data changes and overwriting the deleted messages. You can then try to restore the deleted messages from a Google Drive backup.
How do I find the trash folder for deleted email messages on an Android?

Open Gmail and tap Menu (three lines) > Trash > select the message you want to recover. Next, select More > Move to > Inbox to move the email back to your Inbox folder.

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FAQs

How to locate Trash on Android? ›

Open your File Manager app and look for a 'Trash' or 'Recycle Bin' option. Some file managers have a built-in feature to temporarily store deleted files before deletion. Email Apps: Email apps like Gmail often have a 'Trash' folder where deleted emails are stored temporarily.

Read On ›

How do I find my Trash messages on my Android phone? ›

Open the Messages app on your phone,
Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner,
Open the Recycle bin,
Check your deleted text messages,
Long tap the message you want to retrieve,
elect Restore at the bottom,
Now check if the message is restored in your inbox.

Mar 20, 2024

Discover More Details ›

Can you recover emptied Trash on Android? ›

You can restore recently deleted photos and videos that are still in your trash. Items that are permanently deleted can't be restored.

How to access gallery Trash on Android? ›

To check your trash, simply open Google Photos, tap on the three lines in the top left corner, and select "Trash" from the menu. If the item you want to retrieve is in the trash, tap on it, select "Restore," and it will be moved back to your main library.. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .

See Details ›

Where is the recycle bin in Android Samsung? ›

Step 1. Go to the Gallery > Menu (the three horizontal lines). Step 2. Select Recycle bin.

Find Out More ›

Where do deleted pictures go on Android? ›

Learn what happens to photos & videos you've deleted

If you delete a photo or video that's backed up in Google Photos, it will stay in your trash for 60 days.
If you delete a photo or video from your Android 11 and up device without it being backed up, it will stay in your trash for 30 days.

Tell Me More ›

How do I retrieve deleted trash messages? ›

Recover messages from your trash

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app .
At the top left, tap Menu. Trash.
On the left of each message you want to recover, tap the sender's profile image.
At the top right, tap More. Move to.
In the "Move to" menu, choose where you want to move the messages.

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How do I search trash messages? ›

Here's how to see search messages in Spam and Trash:

On your computer, open Gmail.
In the Search Box at the top of the page, click the Down arrow. .
In the drop-down menu next to "Search," select Mail & Spam & Trash.
Enter your search information.
At the bottom, click Search.

Explore More ›

Can deleted text messages be recovered? ›

Get deleted texts back with recovery software

Find a good data recovery tool. Look for an app with good reviews and a high success rate. We recommend SMS Backup & Restore or Recoverit. Download and install the app: Once you've found an app you like, download and install it on your phone.

Where are deleted files on Android? ›

You can also use the Files by Google app (the default file manager on Android) to find deleted items on your Android phone. In the app, tap the three horizontal lines (top left), then Trash. Files are kept for 30 days, and if you select a file, you'll see the Restore and Delete options become active at the bottom.

Show Me More ›

Does Android have empty trash? ›

Open your Settings app and tap on Battery and device care. Tap on Storage. The Trash section will show which of your installed apps have trash that can be emptied through the Settings app. Tap on the app you wish to empty.

Read The Full Story ›

Is deleted trash gone forever? ›

Deleted files are still recoverable!

Emptying your Recycle Bin doesn't permanently delete your files.

See Details ›

Where is trash stored on Android? ›

Android doesn't have a trash can. Unlike a PC or Mac, there's no single recycle bin where deleted files are stored. Instead, each app can have its own, separate trash can.

Get More Info Here ›

How do I retrieve trash messages on Android? ›

Open your messaging app.

Checking the Recycle Bin should be your first step, as it is a quick and straightforward way to recover messages. If you have enabled automatic backups on your Android phone, you may have the option to restore your deleted messages from a backup.

How to show recently deleted on Android? ›

Restore Deleted Files on Android from Google Account

Google Drive will save deleted files in your trash for 30 days: Open Google Drive and tap on the Menu icon. Find Trash. Select the file you want to restore, tap More and then Restore.

How to find deleted files on Android phone? ›

To retrieve lost files on Android, you can use a few different methods, starting with simply checking the recycle bin, checking your cloud backups, using recovery apps for PC or Android, and even contacting the developer. However, it's important to remember that there is no guarantee of retrieving lost Android files.

View Details ›

Where is Google Drive trash on Android? ›

Permanently delete files

In the upper left, tap Menu .
Tap Trash.
Next to the file you'd like to delete, tap More .
Tap Delete forever.

How do I access the Recycle Bin folder? ›

Step 1: Press Win + E to open File Explorer. Step 2: Type recycle bin into the address bar at the top. Step 3: Press Enter and the Recycle Bin will be opened immediately.

Learn More ›