Google Photos Cuts Trash Recovery Window to 30 Days
Backed-up photos and videos now have half the previous time to be restored from Trash.
Google Photos 30-day trash limit is now the rule for deleted photos and videos, cutting the recovery window for backed-up media from 60 days to 30 days.
Google's current Photos support documentation says deleted photos and videos stay in Trash for 30 days before they are permanently deleted. Once permanently deleted, they cannot be restored. The same 30-day policy is reflected across Google's current Photos help pages.
What changed in Google Photos
Previously, backed-up photos and videos could remain in Trash for 60 days. Photos deleted from Android devices without backup were already subject to a 30-day period.
The change brings those retention periods together at 30 days. Recent reporting from Android Authority and 9to5Google indicates Google has started rolling out the shorter window, including notifications to some Android users.
TL;DR
- Backed-up photos and videos now remain in Trash for 30 days.
- The previous 60-day recovery period has been cut in half.
- Permanently deleted items cannot be restored through Google Photos.
What this means for users
The practical change is simple: if you accidentally delete a backed-up photo or video, you have less time to recover it.
The update is worth noting alongside other recent Google Photos changes. Gemini Spark Can Now Manage Google Photos covers Google's newer AI controls for the service, while Google Photos Video Remix: How to Use It, What It Can't Do, and How It Compares to CapCut looks at another recent Photos feature.
Google does not give a reason for the shorter retention period in its support documentation. The official Google Photos help page now lists the 30-day policy as the current retention period.
For users, the main takeaway is to check Trash sooner when a deleted photo may still be needed. After 30 days, the item is permanently deleted.
