Google Photos Cuts Deleted‑Item Recovery Window to 30 Days

Overview

• Google has halved the trash recovery period in Google Photos from 60 days to 30 days, a change reflected in the product’s support documentation and visible in the Android app.
• The updated policy states that photos and videos removed from the trash will be permanently deleted after 30 days and cannot be restored.
• The rollout was first flagged by third‑party tech outlets and is now appearing as an in‑app message for Android users rather than as a broad public announcement from Google.
• Because Google Photos is widely installed on Android phones and has billions of Play Store downloads, the shorter window reduces how long a large share of users have to recover accidentally deleted memories.
• Users should check their backup and export settings and act sooner to restore or save important media, since the shorter retention period raises the risk of permanent loss for people who delay recovery.