Android deleted files and photos keep coming back? Try these 4 simple fixes

This article focuses on the issue of being unable to permanently delete files or photos from an Android SD card, camera storage card, or USB flash drive, and even formatting the SD card fails eventually. For instance:

• Deleted files persist after an Android device restart
• Deleted photos/images still show up on the Android device
• Files cannot be permanently erased from the SD card as they reappear
• Formatting the SD card multiple times, yet files reappear automatically

Now, you can try the following 3 methods to fix the issue of deleted files reappearing on your Android device immediately:

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Recover deleted files from SD card, unable to delete or format

"I use an SD card to store photos and download movies. A week ago, I found myself unable to delete any files from the SD card. Actually, I can remove whatever I want to delete. But it's just temporary; after deletion, the deleted files get automatically restored. They never go away. It's so frustrating. Please help me out – how do I permanently delete files from Android SD card?"

On Android devices, deleting documents, music, videos, images, or messages should be natural and effortless. Yet some users encounter issues: they hit the delete button, and in a blink of an eye, the file is removed and gone from the screen. Surprisingly, the deleted files come back the next time you reboot your Android device or reopen the app!

Why do deleted files and photos keep reappearing?

So, what causes the deleted files to reappear? Have you ever felt helpless while trying to permanently delete files from your Android micro SD card to free up space?

Most of the time, the issue lies with the card being locked, set to read-only, or write-protected. To get rid of the problem of deleted files reappearing, you need to convert a read-only SD card to normal. Another potential reason that prevents you from permanently deleting files is virus infection or SD card damage, which stops you from formatting it correctly on your Android phone and Windows Explorer. In this case, you can easily fix the issue with third-party partition manager software. It will troubleshoot the problem effortlessly and automatically format the corrupted SD card with simple steps.

Finally, due to data caching and cloud syncing on Android devices, you may see the deleted files again after a new round of file sync.

How to Permanently Delete a File That Keeps Reappearing

Now that we've clearly outlined the four main reasons behind this annoying issue, including SD card write protection, damaged SD card, cache and data sync, it's time to put the solutions into practice and finally fix the problem of not being able to delete files from Android SD card.

Solution 1: Remove the Write Protection on SD Card

First off, before trying any technical workarounds to remove write protection, take the SD card out of your phone or camera and inspect both sides for a lock switch. This switch is meant to stop writing or altering data on the card, and it can give you the false impression that files have been deleted when they haven't. To avoid deletion problems, make sure the switch is in the unlocked position.

What if your SD card type has no lock design? Don't worry, you can use the Diskpart command or a third-party repair tool to remove the attribute from the SD card.

If you don't consider yourself very computer-savvy or comfortable with the command line, don't worry. There are graphical solutions that can help you unlock your hard drive, USB drive, or even an SD card.

CleanGenius is one of those tools that can help you fix such issues on your disk without having to use the command line.

This is a simple and easy-to-understand guide on how to use this tool to address your concerns:

Step 1: Download and install CleanGenius (free) on your computer.

Step 2: Run the CleanGenius tool on your computer, select Optimize, and then choose Write Protect mode.

Step 3: Select the write-protected device and click “Disable” to remove the protection.

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Solution 2: Format and Repair Damaged Android SD Card

Though it may be hard to hear, your SD card is most likely damaged and malfunctioning, especially if you've tried formatting it multiple times, but the files still remain and aren't deleted as expected. Some common symptoms of an SD card error include:

• Receive an "Format Failed" message when formatting an SD card on an Android phone.
• Get the "Windows was unable to complete the format" error when formatting the SD card via Windows Explorer.

Many people have the experience of failing to format an SD card, as the files come back after a while. Don't panic even in the worst case. You can connect the SD card to the computer, download the free partition manager tool, and let the corrupted memory card repair software help fix the damage. Copy the files to the hard drive of your computer to prevent data loss.

Step 1. Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard, right click the partition on the external hard drive/USB/SD card that you want to format, and then choose the “Format” option.

Step 2: Specify a new volume label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size for the selected partition, then click “OK”.

Step 3: Click Yes in the warning dialog to continue.

Step 4. Click on “Run 1 Task” on the top-left corner to check the changes and hit “Apply” to start formatting the external hard drive/USB/SD card.

Solution 3: Turn off cloud sync before you delete

It's possible that your Android has cloud sync turned on. Since there are so many different types of Android devices, and each uses a different cloud service, you'll need to check your device to see if this is enabled. If it is, turn off cloud sync, delete the files, then log into your account on the cloud service and try deleting the synced files and photos from there.

If you do not want to be disturbed again, you can change your phone's settings to turn off automatic synchronization.

Now, put the SD card back into your Android phone and see if the deleted files are gone for good.

Solution 4: Clear the File Cache on Your Android Device

Clear the cache in your file manager, the browser you used to download the movie, and the app you use to play movies.

For each app, tap it and clear its cache:

Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > All (at the top) > {Application} > Clear Cache

This article provides four solutions to fix deleted files that reappear on your Android system. Feel free to share it with others who might need help as well!

Can You Permanently Delete Files from Android SD Card Now?

After going through the steps above, did you notice that the files you deleted or formatted are back? If you can't delete files from your SD card because they keep reappearing, don't leave just yet because the solutions here will definitely help you out. However, if none of these worked and your SD card is still under warranty, you might want to send it in for repair.

For those who are experiencing the opposite case, where your Android SD card deletes files on its own, check the linked page for assistance.