Discover the secrets behind retrieving deleted photos from your smartphone like a pro. This guide takes you through seven practical methods, offering simple steps and ingenious solutions to your photo recovery woes. Whether it's accidental deletion or a system glitch, you’ll find effective ways to bring those memories back to life. No need for a PhD in technology—just straightforward advice to solve a common problem.
Smartphone Recovery Guide: Fix, Reset & Retrieve Data
Got a glitchy phone or lost important files? You don’t need to throw it away. In the next few minutes you’ll learn the most useful tricks to bring your smartphone back to life, whether it runs Android or iOS.
Quick data rescue before a reset
First thing – back up what you can. For Android, open Settings > Google > Backup and turn on "Back up to Google Drive." For iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap "Back Up Now." This takes a few minutes and saves contacts, photos, apps and messages.
If you can’t access the screen, use a computer. Connect the phone via USB and look for a "File Transfer" or "Photos" mode. Copy the DCIM folder, WhatsApp media, and any other visible files to a safe folder on your PC.
Reset without losing data
When the phone still acts up after backup, a soft reset is the next step. On Android, go to Settings > System > Reset > Reset app preferences. This clears hidden glitches while keeping your data intact.
iPhone users can try a forced restart: press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears. This often clears frozen apps without erasing anything.
If those steps don’t work, consider a factory reset but keep your data safe. Android offers "Reset phone" under Settings > System > Reset, with an option "Erase all data and reset settings" – make sure you’ve synced everything first. iPhone users can go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then restore from the iCloud backup you made earlier.
For stubborn Android bugs, secret codes can open hidden menus. Dial *#*#4636#*#* to view battery, usage stats and run tests. Enter *#*#7780#*#* for a factory reset without wiping the SD card. These codes are like shortcuts for tech‑savvy users.
iOS also has hidden recovery modes. If your iPhone won’t start, connect it to iTunes (or Finder on macOS) and hold Power + Volume Down until the recovery screen appears. From there you can choose "Update" to reinstall iOS without erasing data, or "Restore" to start fresh.
Testing the phone’s health before a full reset can save time. Android’s *#*#7353#*#* runs a quick test of sensors, while iPhone users can check Battery Health under Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If the battery shows 80% or lower, consider a battery swap before you dive into software fixes.
Lastly, keep your OS up to date. On Android, go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update and tap "Check for update." On iPhone, Settings > General > Software Update does the trick. New updates often patch the bugs that cause crashes and data loss.
Follow these steps, and most smartphone problems can be solved without a costly repair shop. Back up, try a soft reset, use hidden codes if needed, and only go for a full factory reset as a last resort. Your phone will thank you.
