Why When I Delete a Photo, It Comes Back to Android/iOS? Full Lists of Reasons & Fixes
Have you ever wondered, "Why when I delete a photo, it comes back?" The perplexing recurrence of deleted images can be a source of frustration for many users, necessitating a deeper understanding of the underlying reasons behind this phenomenon. Well, this page is dedicated to unraveling the mysteries surrounding this common issue, shedding light on why deleted photos might reappear on your device and how to fix it on both Android and iOS devices.
Part 1: Why When I Delete a Photo It Comes Back
When you delete a photo from your phone, it should get deleted permanently or at least hidden in the Recently Deleted folder. But the opposite is happening to some mobile users. Once they delete a photo, it comes back. There are various reasons to explain "why do my photos keep coming back/reappearing after I delete them", including:
- Problems with internal storage or SD card issues? (Android SD card unexpectedly removed?)
- The photos are synced to one of your Google accounts or any other cloud-based account.
- Deleted photos persistently returning on Android devices may be linked to mobile cache issues.
Click to Explore:
- 8 Quick Ways to Transfer Photos/Pictures from Android to Computer/PC
- [Full Guide] How to Move Files to SD Card on Android Easily?
Part 2: 7 Tips to Fix When I Try to Delete a Photo, It Comes Back to Android
Now that we've identified major reasons for "why are my deleted photos coming back", let's explore precise methods to solve this issue:
Tip 1. Disable syncing accounts before deletion
I keep deleting photos, and they reappear. First, ensure your Android phone isn't synchronized; if it is, turn off the service, delete files, and remove synchronized content from the cloud. To avoid future issues, disable auto-sync in your phone settings. Reinsert the SD card and check if deleted files reappear.
Tip 2. Clear photo cache on Android
This workaround should resolve the issue of deleted photos returning to your Android. Clear the cache of your Photo app by following these steps (specifics may vary by Android model):
- Open "Settings", scroll down, and tap on "Apps".
- Find and select your "Photo" app (e.g., Gallery).
- Under "Usage", tap on "Storage".
- Press "Cached data" and confirm to clear app cache and data on Android.
Tip 3. Check your phone for malware
Ongoing cyber threats can compromise the security and functionality of your Android device. If deleted photos keep reappearing despite precautions, it may indicate malware. Protect your device with an anti-malware app as a crucial security measure.
Tip 4. Factory reset your phone
Before formatting, please back up your Android phone, as this process erases all data. To erase your Android phone, you can:
- Go to "Settings" and tap "General Management".
- Choose "Reset" and select "Factory data reset".
- Click "Reset phone" and confirm the reset.
Tip 5. Modify External Storage Clearance
SD cards or external storage often boost device storage, but a corrupt or differently formatted SD card may cause photos to reappear after deletion. Formatting the SD card can often resolve this issue. Here are simplified steps for formatting an SD card on Samsung devices:
- Navigate to "Settings > Device maintenance > Storage".
- Click on "Storage" in the menu.
- Select "SD card > Format > FORMAT > Done".
Learn More:
- How to Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone Wirelessly [6 Options with Pics]
- 5 Sensible Approaches to Transfer Photos/Pictures from Android to Android
Tip 6. Uninstall Google Photos
Google Photos has its own "Trash" or "Bin" folder, accessible under the three-bar icon. Begin by emptying the trash to check if deleted photos persist. If the issue persists, temporarily uninstall Google Photos. Prior to uninstallation, understand the implications.
Tip 7: Delete Photos to Keep from Coming Back Using Eraser for Android (Permanent)
If you're still struggling to delete photos from your device even after trying the quick solutions mentioned earlier, MobiKin Eraser for Android can provide assistance. This robust tool for erasing Android files allows you to wipe all of your Android data, including photos, privacy data, and settings, with just one click. Once the erasure is complete, all of your unwanted pics will be permanently removed without any possibility of recovery.
A quick overview of Eraser for Android:
- Let you delete all photos, and they never come back.
- Completely erase your Android phone without being recovered.
- Wipe out files in both internal memory and SD card.
- Offer 3 erasing levels, free trial, and easy to navigate.
- Easy to handle, trouble-free, and free trial.
- Work for practically all Android devices, covering Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, Sony, LG, HTC, Pixel, HTC, OPPO, vivo, etc.
- 100% safe to use.
How to delete a photo and make it never come back with MobiKin Eraser for Android?
Step 1. Before you delete photos from Android phone permamently, download and install this eraser on your computer. Then, connect your Android phone to the machine via USB and enable USB debugging if prompted.
Step 2. Open the program and follow the on-screen instructions to detect your Android phone. Click "Erase" on the main interface.
Step 3. Choose a security level and enter "delete" to confirm. Next, tap "Erase" again to start the scanning process. (Select "Low Level" for difficult data recovery, "Medium Level" for photos, and "High Level" for sensitive information.)
The tool will scan and initiate erasure based on the chosen security level. For system data and settings, please factory reset your Android phone. Follow the prompts, click "Continue", and all data will be permanently removed.
Part 3: 6 Tips to Fix Photos Keep Reappearing after Deleting Them from iPhone
We've detailed "why do my deleted photos keep coming back/appearing on Android". The same reason applies to situations where iPhone photos reappear after being deleted. The following methods are appropriate for Apple users to solve similar problems.
Tip 1: Disable the photo stream
If deleted photos are reappearing on iPhone, it might be due to Photo Stream. To resolve this:
- Open "Settings" on your iPhone and tap on your name at the top.
- Tap on "iCloud", then select "Photos".
- Turn off the toggle next to "My Photo Stream".
Tip 2: Erase the recently deleted folder
- Launch the Photos app on your Apple device.
- Navigate to the bottom and tap on "Albums".
- Scroll down and select "Recently Deleted".
- Tap on "Select" at the top, choose all the photos.
- Click "Delete XX items" to delete all photos from your iPhone.
Tip 3: Check 3rd-party apps
If reappearing photos are from a specific app, uninstall and then reinstall that app. For example, some iOS users have noted issues with Instagram, so try uninstalling it. Note that this won't delete your Instagram account or posted photos.
Tip 4: Check iTunes
Can't delete photos from iPhone? If attempting to delete photos added from iTunes, they won't be removed through regular deletion. Connect your iPhone to the computer via iTunes, unsync the photos, and they will be automatically removed from your phone.
Tip 5: Modify date and time
- Open "Settings" and go to "General".
- Navigate to "Date & Time" and disable "Set Automatically".
- Manually set the date and time to a year or more in the past.
- Open the Photos app and review all albums, including "Recents" and "Recently Deleted".
- Delete any reappeared items. If nothing shows, try going back another year or two.
Tip 6: Restart your iPhone
It's not a challenge for "How come when I delete a picture, it comes back?" Try restarting your phone as the last troubleshooting step for recurring deleted photos. Simply power off and then turn your phone back on.
In Conclusion
One of the factors contributing to "why when I delete photos, they come back" is the unique nature of the system, which makes it more probable for Android to come across this scenario.
Hence, this page dedicated a significant portion to acquainting Android users with the techniques they should employ in such circumstances. It encompasses an ultimate remedy, MobiKin Eraser for Android, capable of wiping out all the photos and other data on your phone. For iPhone owners, the aforementioned solutions can also be considered as a resource. Lastly, if you find this article helpful, feel free to share it on social media.
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