Midjourney Deleted Images Recovery: How to Find and Recover Lost Generations
Midjourney deleted images recovery requires a different approach from traditional file recovery because Midjourney images exist in multiple places simultaneously: on Midjourney's servers, in Discord's message history, in your browser cache, and on your local drive if you downloaded them. Understanding where your specific images were stored determines the right recovery method.
Part 1. Midjourney Recovery Methods Overview
The recovery method depends entirely on where your images were when they were lost. Most Midjourney users have more recovery options than they realize.
| Recovery Method | What It Recovers | Time Window | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discord message history scroll | Generations still in channel history | Until Discord deletes the message | Easy |
| Midjourney website archive | All generations linked to your account | Varies by account age | Easy |
| Discord DM with Midjourney Bot | Direct generations in /imagine DMs | Until messages deleted | Easy |
| Job ID regeneration | Re-run identical prompt with same seed | While Job ID is stored | Medium |
| Browser cache recovery | Recently viewed images not yet saved | Hours to days | Medium |
| Local file recovery with Ritridata | Downloaded PNG/WebP files | Until overwritten | Medium |
| Discord CDN link (direct URL) | Images still on Discord's CDN | Typically 1โ2 years | Easy if URL saved |
๐ก Tip: Before running any file recovery scan, check your Midjourney account on midjourney.com first. The web interface shows your complete generation history including images that you never downloaded. This is often the fastest way to find a lost generation.
Part 2. Understanding the Midjourney Job ID Recovery Window
Every Midjourney generation is assigned a unique Job ID. This ID can be used to request regeneration of the exact same output using the same prompt and seed โ effectively recreating a "lost" image without true file recovery.
| Recovery Scenario Using Job ID | Feasibility | Where to Find Job ID |
|---|---|---|
| Image still in Discord history | Use Job ID from /info or context menu | Right-click image > Copy ID in Discord |
| Image deleted from Discord but account active | Check midjourney.com generation history | Account > Generations tab |
| Account deleted or subscription expired | Job ID may no longer be usable | Limited โ contact Midjourney support |
| Image was a variation/upscale | Job ID recovers upscale result, not original | Same Job ID approach applies |
๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ธ r/midjourney user: "I accidentally deleted a whole Discord channel where I'd been generating images for months. Then I realized all of them were in my Midjourney gallery on the website. Every single one. I had no idea that archive existed."
Part 3. Recovering from Discord Message History
Discord retains message history unless the server admin deletes messages or the server itself is deleted. Your Midjourney generations in a Discord server or your DMs with the bot are often still accessible even after you think they are gone.
Where to look in Discord:
Your DMs with the Midjourney Bot โ Navigate to your Direct Messages, find the Midjourney Bot, and scroll through your conversation history. All your /imagine results are here.
Server channels where you generated โ If you generated in a Midjourney-specific server or a friend's server, scroll back through the channel. Discord's search function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) lets you search by your username to find only your messages.
Pinned messages โ If you pinned any generations, check the pinned messages in the channel.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Discord CDN links to Midjourney images have expiration behavior that can change without notice. If you see a generation you want to keep, download it to your local drive immediately rather than saving only the Discord link. Links that work today may not work in six months.
Part 4. Recovering Locally Saved Midjourney PNG Files
If you downloaded Midjourney generations to your computer and then accidentally deleted them, Ritridata can recover them from your hard drive or SSD.
Midjourney downloads files in PNG format (for upscaled images) and WebP format (for some grid views). Both formats have well-defined binary signatures that recovery scanners can identify.
Step 1 โ Identify Where You Saved Your Downloads
Midjourney downloads typically go to your browser's default Downloads folder. On Windows, this is usually C:\Users\[Username]\Downloads. On macOS, it is typically /Users/[Username]/Downloads.
Step 2 โ Check the Recycle Bin / Trash First If you deleted files from the Downloads folder, check the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (macOS) before running a scan. Files deleted through File Explorer usually land here first.
Step 3 โ Install and Run Ritridata Download Ritridata and install it on your system drive. Select the drive containing your Downloads folder. Run a Quick Scan for recently deleted files.
Step 4 โ Filter by PNG and WebP In the scan results, filter by PNG and WebP file types. Midjourney PNG upscales are typically 1024x1024, 2048x2048, or larger depending on your subscription tier. Filter by file size (above 1 MB) to reduce results to actual generated images rather than thumbnail cache files.
๐ก Tip: Midjourney filenames follow a pattern that includes your Discord username and a timestamp. If you remember approximately when you generated the images, use the date filter in Ritridata to narrow results to that time period.
Part 5. Browser Cache Recovery for Unsaved Midjourney Images
If you viewed a Midjourney generation in your browser but never downloaded it, the image may still be in your browser's disk cache. Browser caches are stored as files on your computer's drive and can be accessed or recovered.
Chrome cache location:
- Windows:
C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\Cache_Data\ - macOS:
/Users/[Username]/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome/Default/Cache/Cache_Data/
Firefox cache location:
- Windows:
C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[profile]\cache2\ - macOS:
/Users/[Username]/Library/Caches/Firefox/Profiles/[profile]/cache2/
Browser cache files are stored without file extensions, which makes them harder to find manually. Recovery tools can identify image files within the cache directory by their binary signatures.
๐ฃ๏ธ r/StableDiffusion user: "Found a Midjourney image I forgot to save by digging through my Chrome cache. The file was there with a weird name but it was the full resolution image. Worth checking before you give up."
Part 6. Ritridata Recommendation
Ritridata recovers deleted PNG and WebP files from hard drives and SSDs where Midjourney downloads were previously saved. Its file signature scanning engine locates image files even when they have been deleted from the Downloads folder, moved, or lost after a system crash.
All recovery is local and private โ your generated images are never uploaded to any external service.
Download Ritridata and recover your Midjourney images
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Does Midjourney store all my generations permanently on their servers? Midjourney retains your generation history as long as your account is active. The duration and conditions for retention may change with platform updates. Check midjourney.com for the most current data retention policy.
Q2: Can I recover a specific Midjourney image if I have the Job ID but no local file?
Yes, in many cases. Use the /show command in Midjourney with your Job ID to retrieve and re-display a specific generation. This works as long as the job is still in Midjourney's history for your account.
Q3: What if I deleted my Discord account โ are my Midjourney generations gone? Deleting your Discord account removes your access to your Discord message history. However, if your Midjourday subscription is separate from your Discord account, generations may still appear in your Midjourney website gallery. Check midjourney.com before assuming everything is lost.
Q4: Can I recover Midjourney grid images (the 2x2 preview) as well as upscales? Yes. Both grid previews and upscaled individual images can be recovered as local files if they were downloaded. Grid previews are WebP format; upscales are PNG. Both are recoverable by Ritridata.
Q5: How large are typical Midjourney PNG files? Standard upscales from Midjourney v6 are typically 1024x1024 pixels at roughly 2โ8 MB per image. Upscale subtle and upscale creative outputs are larger, ranging from 4โ20 MB depending on content complexity.
Q6: Can I use a recovered Midjourney image commercially? Commercial use rights for Midjourney images depend on your subscription tier. Paid subscribers generally have commercial use rights. Check Midjourney's terms of service for current policy details.
Q7: What is the best format to save Midjourney images locally? Save upscaled generations as PNG for maximum quality. For web use, WebP provides good quality at smaller file sizes. Avoid converting PNG to JPEG, as JPEG introduces lossy compression artifacts on AI-generated images.
Q8: Can Ritridata recover Midjourney images saved to an external drive that was later formatted? Yes. A quick format clears the file system index but not the data sectors. Ritridata can locate PNG and WebP files using binary signatures through a deep scan of the formatted drive.