How To Get To The Trash On My Phone (Android & iPhone)

To find how to get to the trash on my phone, you need to know that there is no single "trash" folder; instead, each app keeps its own recently deleted items. To find what you're looking for, jump to the section below that matches what you deleted and which phone you have. This is the fastest way to recover a file you accidentally removed.

How to get to the trash on my phone: An immediate, no-fluff answer

Because Android and iPhone handle deleted files differently, you won't find one universal trash bin. Instead, you must open the specific app where the deletion happened. Your photos, documents, and notes each have their own separate holding area, so the correct path depends entirely on what you're trying to recover.

Find deleted photos in Google Photos (Android)

If you use the standard Google Photos app on your Android device, deleted pictures and videos are moved to a Trash folder. This is the first place to check when you need to recover a recent deletion.

Open the Google Photos app on your Android phone.
Tap the Library tab at the bottom right of the screen.
Select Trash from the menu that appears.

Items in Google Photos' Trash are typically kept for 60 days before being permanently deleted. After that period, they are gone for good, so act quickly if you need to restore something.

On Android, check the Gallery app for a 'Trash' or 'Recently Deleted' folder, as deleted photos/videos may end up there instead of Google Photos.

Find deleted files in Files by Google (Android)

For documents, downloads, and other files on your Android device, the Files by Google app provides a dedicated trash section. This is where you'll find recently deleted non-photo files.

Open the Files by Google app on your Android phone.
Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
Select Trash from the list of options.

From here, you can review items that were moved to the trash and restore any that you need. Note that files in this folder are automatically deleted after a set period.

On Android, you can use a third-party file recovery app from the Google Play Store if no built-in trash folder is found.

Find deleted files in Samsung My Files (Android)

Samsung users with a Galaxy phone will find a separate trash folder inside the My Files app. This is where deleted files from your internal storage and SD card go.

Open the My Files app on your Samsung device.
Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
Select Trash from the dropdown menu.

This folder holds deleted files for 30 days before they are permanently removed. You can restore items to their original location or delete them permanently from here.

Find recently deleted photos on iPhone

On an iPhone, deleted photos and videos are not immediately removed; they go to a Recently Deleted album. This is the primary place to recover a photo you accidentally deleted from your camera roll.

Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
Tap the Albums tab at the bottom of the screen.
Scroll down to Utilities and tap Recently Deleted.

This album typically requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode to unlock, adding a layer of privacy. Items are retained here for 30 days before being permanently deleted.

Find recently deleted files on iPhone

For files you deleted from the Files app on your iPhone, you'll need to check the Recently Deleted folder within that app. This is where documents, PDFs, and other non-photo files are temporarily stored.

Open the Files app on your iPhone.
Tap the Browse tab at the bottom right.
Under Locations, tap Recently Deleted.

This folder works like a standard trash bin, holding deleted files for 30 days. You can restore them to their original location or permanently delete them to free up space.

Find recently deleted notes on iPhone

If you've accidentally deleted a note, the Notes app has its own Recently Deleted folder. This is separate from photos and files, so you need to navigate to it specifically.

Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
Tap the Folders link in the top left corner to see the folder list.
Tap Recently Deleted to view deleted notes.

Notes in this folder are kept for 30 days before being permanently erased. You can recover a note by tapping it and selecting Recover.

How to recover or permanently delete items

Once you've found the right trash or Recently Deleted folder, the actions are consistent across apps. To recover an item, open the respective app's trash folder, select the item(s), and choose the Recover or Restore option. This will return the file to its original location.

If you want to permanently delete items instead, you can usually tap Select, choose the items, and then tap Delete or Empty Trash. Manually emptying a trash folder will permanently delete the items immediately, making them unrecoverable. This is a useful way of freeing up phone storage space, but only do it when you're certain you no longer need the files.

On iPhone, to permanently delete items from the 'Recently Deleted' album and free up storage, tap 'Select', choose items, and tap 'Delete'.

Remember that most trash folders automatically purge items after 30 days, and Google Photos gives you 60 days. After that, the items are gone forever unless you have a backup elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a file after I've emptied the trash?

No, once you manually empty a trash or Recently Deleted folder, the items are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. This is why it's important to double-check the contents before emptying.

Why can't I find the trash folder in my phone's settings?

There is no universal trash folder in phone settings because each app manages its own deleted items. You need to open the specific app (like Photos, Files, or Notes) and look for its trash or Recently Deleted section.

Do deleted items count toward my phone's storage?

Yes, deleted items still take up storage space until they are permanently removed from the trash folder. Emptying the trash is the way to free up that space.

What happens if I delete a photo from a shared album on iPhone?

Deleting from a shared album is different from deleting from your main photo library. Shared album deletions are removed from all devices and don't go to your Recently Deleted folder, so they can't be recovered from there.