On most Samsung tablets, start with My Files > Recycle bin. For deleted photos and videos, open Gallery > Menu > Recycle bin. Some supported tablets also provide a consolidated route through Settings > Device care > Storage management > Recycle bin, where you can choose an app such as My Files, Gallery, or Voice Recorder.
The exact labels and layout depend on your Galaxy tablet model and One UI version. Samsung’s official guide, updated June 18, 2026, says the names, menu paths, and screen configurations can vary; if you do not see “Recycle bin,” look for “Trash” in the same apps or settings areas. See Samsung’s My Files and Trash instructions for the supported-device context.
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Start with My Files
My Files is the broadest first check because it is Samsung’s file manager and, on devices with the updated bin experience, can expose deleted content from Samsung apps. Open the app from the Apps screen or search for “My Files,” then look for Recycle bin on its home screen.
- Open My Files.
- Tap Recycle bin. On some versions the label is Trash.
- Browse the deleted items and identify the file you need.
- Tap Edit, select one item, or choose All.
- Tap Restore and follow any on-screen instructions.
Restoring puts the item back in its original location when the app can determine that location. If you only want to recover a file, do not choose More > Empty. Emptying the bin removes its contents and is a destructive action, not another way to open or preview them.
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Use Gallery for deleted photos and videos
If the missing item is a picture or video, Gallery has its own direct entry point. This route is often faster than searching through file categories in My Files.
- Open Gallery.
- Tap Menu, shown as three horizontal lines.
- Tap Recycle bin (or Trash if that is the label on your tablet).
- Tap Edit, select the photo or video, and tap Restore. Some versions also show Restore All.
Samsung’s Gallery guidance says deleted Gallery items remain in the bin for 30 days and are then automatically and permanently deleted. That 30-day period applies to Gallery items in Samsung’s documented guidance; do not assume every Samsung app uses the same retention period.
For the current Gallery-specific instructions, see Samsung’s Gallery trash guide, updated March 12, 2026.
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Find the bin through Device care
On supported devices, Samsung documents a settings-based view that groups deleted content by app. It can be useful when you are unsure which Samsung app handled the file.
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- Open Settings.
- Tap Device care.
- Tap Storage management.
- Tap Recycle bin.
- Choose My Files, Gallery, or another listed app, such as Voice Recorder.
- Select the item and use the available Restore command, or delete it if you are certain it is no longer needed.
This is an alternate route, not a universal sequence. A tablet may omit the menu, use different wording, or place storage controls elsewhere. If Device care does not show a recycle-bin entry, return to the individual My Files or Gallery app and check there.
Which route should you choose?
| Where you look | Best for | Path | What you can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Files | General deleted files and the broadest starting point | My Files > Recycle bin | Select items with Edit, then Restore; More > Empty clears the bin |
| Gallery | Deleted photos and videos | Gallery > Menu > Recycle bin | Select individual media or Restore All |
| Device care | A consolidated view organized by Samsung app | Settings > Device care > Storage management > Recycle bin | Open an app category such as My Files, Gallery, or Voice Recorder, then restore or delete |
The practical rule is simple: use Gallery when you know the item is a photo or video, My Files for other documents and downloads, and Device care when you want to inspect several Samsung app bins from one settings area.
What to do when “Recycle bin” is missing
Check both app-specific locations
Open My Files and Gallery separately even if one app has no bin entry. The two apps do not necessarily display identical menus, and a deleted photo may be visible in Gallery while a document appears only in My Files.
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Samsung uses “Recycle bin” in the current support instructions, but a particular software build may label the feature “Trash.” Check the app’s menu, the My Files home screen, and Device care’s storage-management page for either term.
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Account for model and software differences
Samsung says menu names, paths, and screen configurations vary by model and software version. The updated cross-app experience is associated with One UI 6.0-era My Files integration, but that does not guarantee that every Galaxy tablet or regional software build presents the same controls. A model-specific Samsung support page is the reliable way to confirm an exact layout when the tablet model and One UI version are known.
Update the tablet before troubleshooting further
If your tablet is eligible for a software update, install it through Settings > Software update, then check My Files and Gallery again. An update can change labels or introduce the integrated bin interface, but it cannot bring back an item that has already been permanently deleted.
Restore files safely
Recovery is reversible only while the item remains in the bin. Before tapping a destructive command, verify the filename, thumbnail, date, and file type. In My Files, Edit > Restore is the recovery action; More > Empty is the cleanup action. In Gallery, select the media and choose Restore or Restore All.
- Do not empty the bin while searching. Emptying removes all items currently stored there.
- Restore only what you recognize. Selecting All can return unrelated files to their former locations.
- Check the original folder after restoration. A restored download may return to Downloads, while a document may return to the folder from which it was deleted.
- Act before the retention deadline. Gallery’s documented 30-day window ends with automatic permanent deletion.
Understanding retention and permanent deletion
The recycle bin is temporary storage, not a permanent archive. Samsung’s 2026 Gallery support guidance specifies a 30-day retention period for deleted Gallery photos and videos. After that period, those items are automatically and permanently deleted from the Gallery bin.
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Samsung’s general My Files guidance explains how to restore or empty bin contents but does not establish one universal retention period for every file type and app. Retention can therefore differ by app, model, and software version. Treat an item as time-sensitive and restore it as soon as you discover it.
If an item is no longer in the relevant bin, the built-in Samsung recovery route described here cannot restore it. Check other legitimate copies you control, such as a synced photo library, a computer transfer, or a manual backup, rather than repeatedly emptying or changing the bin settings.
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A downloaded PDF or document disappeared
Open My Files > Recycle bin. Use Edit to select the document and Restore. If it is not there, check whether it was deleted from another file-management app or stored on removable or cloud storage; Samsung’s bin menus cover the Samsung apps and locations supported by that tablet’s software.
A camera photo or video was deleted
Open Gallery > Menu > Recycle bin. Select the media and Restore. Remember the 30-day Gallery retention limit documented by Samsung.
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A voice recording was deleted
Try Settings > Device care > Storage management > Recycle bin, then choose Voice Recorder if it appears. The exact category list depends on the tablet’s software; if Voice Recorder is not listed, open the Voice Recorder app and look for its own Trash or Recycle bin menu.
The file was deleted from an SD card or another app
First check My Files and the app that created the file. Not every storage location or third-party app necessarily uses Samsung’s built-in recycle-bin integration. If the item never appears in any supported bin, look for a backup or synchronized copy.
Why the tablet’s screen may not match a guide
Samsung’s support pages are written for a range of Galaxy devices and software builds. The Canada My Files guide was updated June 18, 2026 and the Gallery guide March 12, 2026, but those dates do not make their screen layouts universal. Carrier software, regional firmware, tablet generation, and One UI version can all affect the visible wording and order of menus.
Use the documented paths as landmarks rather than assuming every label is identical. “Recycle bin” and “Trash” are the key terms; My Files, Gallery, and Device care are the three places to inspect. If none of them contains a bin, consult Samsung support for the exact model and software version before concluding that recovery is impossible.
Quick Recap
Quick checklist
- Open My Files > Recycle bin.
- For photos or videos, open Gallery > Menu > Recycle bin.
- If available, use Settings > Device care > Storage management > Recycle bin to browse by app.
- Look for Trash if “Recycle bin” is absent.
- Use Edit > Restore; do not tap Empty while trying to recover files.
- Restore Gallery items within 30 days.
- Use a model-specific Samsung guide when your tablet’s One UI layout differs.
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