Deleted Photos Still in Your Gallery? Why It Happens on Android
Short answer: some photo cleaner apps only mark photos inside the app. Unless the app asks Android to move them to the system trash (and you confirm), nothing changes in your gallery.
Why it happens
Since Android 11, apps cannot silently delete photos they did not create. They must send a delete or trash request that Android shows to you as a confirmation dialog. If the app skips this step, or the request fails, your photos stay put.
Where deleted photos go
On Android 11 and later, photos moved to the trash stay for about 30 days. Open your gallery app (Google Photos, Samsung Gallery…) and look for Trash or Recycle bin to restore or empty it.
How Padsort handles it
Padsort collects your choices for a batch of 50. When you tap Apply, it sends one Android trash request for the whole batch. Android confirms, and the photos leave your gallery right away while staying restorable for 30 days.
FAQ
Do I need to empty the trash to free storage?
Trashed photos still use space until the trash is emptied or 30 days pass. Empty it in your gallery app if you need the space now.
Why did Android ask me to allow it?
That confirmation is how Android protects your photos. One dialog covers the whole batch.
Can I get a photo back?
Yes, from your gallery's trash within about 30 days.
Clean photos for real, 50 at a time: get Padsort (Google Play)