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Dorothy_Addison's avatar
Dorothy_Addison
Copper Contributor
Feb 04, 2026

How to recover permanently deleted photos from Android phone

Accidentally deleted dozens of crucial photos from my Android device (Samsung Galaxy S24, Android 16) and cannot find a way to get them back. I've checked the Trash folder of Google Photos but the 30...
OakleyCruz's avatar
OakleyCruz
Iron Contributor
Feb 05, 2026

ADB Backup Extraction is a free, open-source Java tool for unpacking Android .ab backup files. It can help you recover permanently deleted photos from Android by extracting data from local ADB backups, with no paid features or usage limits.

How to recover permanently deleted photos from Android

  1. Install the Java Runtime Environment on your computer.

  2. Enable USB debugging on your Android device and create an .ab backup file via ADB.

  3. Place abe.jar alongside your .ab backup file within the same directory.

  4. Open Command Prompt or Terminal and navigate to that directory.

  5. Execute the extraction command: java -jar abe.jar unpack backup.ab output.tar

  6. After extracting the tar file, locate your photographs within the resulting folder.

Cons

  • Supports command-line operations only, lacking a graphical interface; not sufficiently user-friendly for novices.

  • Requires installation of the Java Runtime Environment.

  • Data recovery is impossible if no .ab backup file has been created.

This is a secure and free advanced tool designed for experienced users, capable of recovering lost photos from ADB backups. Provided a valid backup file exists, it effectively restores permanently deleted photos from Android devices, serving as a dependable solution for those familiar with command-line operations.