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KaidenFinn's avatar
KaidenFinn
Iron Contributor
Jun 13, 2025

How to Permanently Delete Photos from Android Before Selling

Hi everyone, I'm planning to sell my old Android phone soon and want to make sure I remove all my personal photos before handing it over. I've already done a factory reset, but I've read that photos...
ZaneHunter's avatar
ZaneHunter
Iron Contributor
Jun 13, 2025

Permanently deleting photos from your Android device before selling it is essential to protect your personal data. Simply deleting photos or even formatting your device may not be enough, as data can often be recovered with the right tools. Here's a step-by-step guide to ​​permanently delete photos​​ from Android:

Method 1: Use a File Manager to Delete Photos from Hidden Folders​​

Some apps store photos in hidden or system folders (like WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.). Use a file manager app (like ​​Files by Google​​ or ​​Solid Explorer​​) to navigate to:

  • DCIM/
  • Pictures/
  • WhatsApp/Media/
  • Instagram/

Manually delete any leftover photos from these folders.

Method 2: Encrypt Your Device (Highly Recommended)​​

Encrypting your device scrambles your data, making it unreadable even if someone tries to recover it after a factory reset.

Go to ​​Settings​​ > ​​Security​​ (or ​​Biometrics and Security​​) > ​​Encrypt Phone​​ or ​​Encrypt Device​​.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

This process may take some time, depending on your device and storage size.

By following these steps, you can ​​permanently delete photos​​ from Android phone and the photos cannot be recovered by anyone after you sell your Android device.

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