Microsoft deleted my photos, how ca i get them back

Santiago Marín 0 Reputation points
2026-09-18T20:01:24.4+00:00

I guess i was almost full of storage. I dont remember but maybe they asked me a question to free space, maybe i accepted, and they have disappeared. I love this photos so much, because they were when my daughter was a baby. I want to ask you how can i get my photos come back.

They are not in the recycle bin. I have looked at. And they were deleted maybe in MAY of this year.

Windows for home | Other | Recovery and backup
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  1. John Jefferson Doyon 87,635 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-18T20:43:05.83+00:00

    Hi, @Santiago Marín

    I’m afraid I have some bad news. Since the photos were deleted around May and they are no longer in the OneDrive Recycle Bin, they are already outside OneDrive’s normal recovery period.

    For a personal Microsoft account, deleted files are normally kept in the OneDrive Recycle Bin for 30 days. "Restore your OneDrive" can also only go back within the last 30 days.

    If the photos were permanently deleted from OneDrive after that period, unfortunately Microsoft cannot restore them.

    The only remaining possibility would be if another copy still exists somewhere else, such as an old phone, another computer, an external drive, or another backup.

    I know that’s not the answer you were hoping for, especially with photos that important to you.

    Thanks!

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-18T20:01:41.15+00:00

    Try these recovery paths in order:

    1. Search on the OneDrive website first.
      • Sign in to OneDrive on the web.
      • Use Search everything at the top.
      • Search by more than filename: try dates, places, or descriptions.
      • If the photos were in Personal Vault, they do not appear in search results.
    2. Check the OneDrive Recycle bin again on the website.
      • On the left side, select Recycle bin.
      • If the photos were in Personal Vault, unlock it first and use Show Personal Vault items.
    3. Check the local device.
      • Use File Explorer to search the PC.
      • Also check the PC Recycle Bin.
      • If the files were saved outside OneDrive or had not synced yet, they may still be on the device.
    4. If the photos were deleted from OneDrive, the retention window matters.
      • For personal OneDrive accounts, deleted files can be restored within 30 days.
      • Files cannot be restored after they have been permanently deleted from the OneDrive recycle bin.
    5. If the photos were deleted from local storage and are not in Recycle Bin, try Windows File Recovery.
      • This is a command-line app from the Microsoft Store for recovering deleted files from local storage devices such as internal drives, external drives, and USB devices.
      • It does not support recovery from cloud storage or network file shares.
      • Important: stop or minimize use of the PC or drive before trying recovery, because new activity can overwrite deleted file data.
    6. If the photos are not found in OneDrive search, OneDrive Recycle Bin, local search, or local Recycle Bin:
      • For consumer accounts, support cannot access the files beyond the published recovery guidance.
      • If the photos were deleted in May and this is a personal OneDrive account, that is beyond the documented 30-day restore period.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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