Agree on using PC-based recovery. Those “free apps” in the Play Store don’t do jack. Proper software can at least scan the memory and show you what’s salvageable. You can preview before buying, so you’ll know if your pics are recoverable or not.
Some are total garbage, but there are legit ones. I used one last month when my kid deleted a whole folder of pics. Needed a PC though, not just some random app from Play Store. If your phone’s storage hasn’t been heavily written over, you’ve got a shot.
So you mean like those Android data recovery software things? Always wondered if they actually work or just scammy.
If they’re not in Samsung Cloud or Google Photos, then your only real shot is recovery tools. Android doesn’t have a recycle bin for everything, and updates can overwrite sectors. Just don’t save new files, because that lowers the chance of recovery.
I did connect it to my laptop, same deal. The missing pics just aren’t there in DCIM. Like they were never taken. That’s what freaks me out.
I had this happen on my S20 last year. After an update some files just went missing. OTA updates usually don’t wipe stuff, but corruption during the update can mess with media files. Check if they show up when you connect the phone to a PC. Sometimes gallery apps just fail to index properly.
I updated my Galaxy S21 a few days ago (think it was the July security update?) and noticed a bunch of photos from my gallery just disappeared. Not in Trash, not in Samsung Cloud, not on Google Photos either (I hadn’t turned that sync on). I didn’t factory reset or anything. Just a normal OTA update.
Anyone else ever face this? Is there a legit way to get them back or am I screwed?
I’m gonna try the manual restore first. But it’s good to know there’s still a plan B if WhatsApp won’t cooperate. Thanks everyone
Don’t panic if it doesen’t work.. sometimes the database files can be repaired even if whatsapp refuses to read them. I’ve seen data recovery tools for Android that specifically target whatsapp..they basically read the raw .crypt14 file and rebuild the chat history. Saved me once when WhatsApp wouldn’t restore after a crash.
You can try some apps that claim to fix it, but honestly, plugging into a computer and using real recovery software is usually the only way. Otherwise, good luck praying to the tech gods!
On Windows, you can open Disk Management to see if the pendrive appears there—sometimes it just needs a drive letter assigned. If it’s not showing up, try plugging it into different USB ports or even another computer to rule out a faulty port or PC issue. You might also want to check your USB drivers and update or reinstall them just in case. If the drive is detected but you can’t access your files, data recovery programs like Recuva or EaseUS might help you get your data back.
SanDisk has made its focus on AI the central pillar of its business strategy, particularly since its split from Western Digital. SanDisk and SK hynix have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on standardizing a new memory technology called High Bandwidth Flash (HBF). This technology is specifically designed for AI inference workloads and is intended to address the limitations of traditional High Bandwidth Memory (HBM).
Since you’ve tried the usual stuff like different ports, devices, and drivers, I’d check the power management settings in Device Manager—sometimes Windows turns off USB ports to save power. Also, resetting your BIOS to default can help if it’s a recognition issue.
If none of that works, it might be a hardware problem with your USB ports or motherboard. Running a system file check (sfc /scannow) could help too. If you’re still stuck, a tech might need to take a look.
Yeah, this happened to many, and it is easy to recover most of the stuff, so there’s definitely hope. First off, don’t format the card no matter how many times it asks, that’ll make recovery way harder. Try using a different card reader or USB port if you haven’t already, and maybe even a different computer, just to rule out a hardware issue. If the card still doesn’t show up properly, there are a couple of free tools you can try.
Photorec is good for basic recovery on Windows, and R-Photo is more powerful if the file system is really messed up, as it can pull files even if the drive looks empty or raw.
It’s not the best software, but it works. Also, check Disk Management (on Windows) or Disk Utility (on Mac) to see if the card shows up at all — if it appears as unallocated or RAW space, that’s a decent sign. If none of that works and the files are super important, like irreplaceable memories, you might have to look into a professional recovery tool like Stellar Photo Recovery, but it can be paid.
So my iPhone X suddenly shut down and Apple told me it’s basically unfixable. Logic board failure. I sent it to DriveSavers and they quoted me $3.3k–$3.5k to recover my data. Honestly, that’s insane money for me since I’m still in college. But the phone has all my photos from years back, never backed them up anywhere else.
Do you guys think it’s worth it? Or am I being scammed and there are cheaper options?