Where do permanently deleted photos go?

When photos are permanently deleted, they are no longer accessible or recoverable by the user. They do not go to a new, retrievable location, but are instead purged from the system.

Understanding Permanent Deletion

Permanent deletion signifies that a digital item has been removed from your accessible storage and, critically, cannot be restored. This process typically occurs after a temporary "trash" or "recycle bin" period, during which items can still be recovered.

For instance, in services like Google Photos, there's a specific window before deletion becomes permanent:

• Backed-up photos and videos: These items remain in your trash for 60 days.
• Photos and videos that were not backed up: These stay in your device's trash for 30 days.

During these retention periods, you have the opportunity to restore missing photos and videos by checking your trash or recycle bin.

The Path to Permanent Deletion

The journey to permanent deletion involves a two-stage process:

1. Temporary Deletion (To Trash/Recycle Bin): When you first delete a photo or video, it usually moves to a temporary holding area like a "Trash" or "Recycle Bin." This acts as a safety net, allowing you to recover items you might have deleted by mistake. The duration items stay in this area varies by service and backup status.

   Photo/Video Status	Retention Period in Trash
   Backed Up	60 days
   Not Backed Up	30 days

2. Permanent Deletion: An item becomes "permanently deleted" under two main conditions:

   • After the Retention Period: Once the specified time in the trash (e.g., 30 or 60 days) expires, the system automatically purges the item.
   • Manual Emptying of Trash: If you manually empty your trash or recycle bin, items within it are immediately and permanently removed, regardless of how long they've been there.

What "Permanently Deleted" Means

From a user's perspective, "permanently deleted" means the data is irretrievable. While the exact technical process involves marking storage space as available rather than instantly wiping the data, the practical outcome is that the user no longer has any mechanism to access or restore those photos. This is why it's crucial to check your trash if you're looking for recently deleted items, as that is the only window for recovery before permanent removal.

For more details on recovering deleted items, you can refer to support resources like the Google Photos Help page on restoring photos.