Accidentally deleting precious photos on your iPhone can be disheartening. Fortunately, iOS includes several built-in recovery options, and additional methods exist if you’ve backed up your device or use third-party tools. This comprehensive guide covers every approach—from quick fixes in the Photos app to retrieving images from backups—so you can get your memories back, step by step.
Understanding Photo Deletion on iPhone
When you delete a photo in Photos, it isn’t erased immediately:
- Recently Deleted album: Deleted items remain here for 30 days.
- Permanent deletion: After 30 days—or if you manually remove them from Recently Deleted—they’re fully removed from the device and iCloud Photos.
- Backups: If you use iCloud Backup or Finder/iTunes backups, your deleted photos might still reside in those archives.
Method 1: Recover from the Recently Deleted Album
This is the fastest way to restore a photo you just removed.
- Open Photos App
- Tap Photos on your Home Screen.
- Go to Albums
- Tap Albums at the bottom, then scroll to Recently Deleted.
- Select Photos to Recover
- Tap Select in the top right.
- Tap each photo or video you want to restore.
- Tap Recover
- At the bottom right, tap Recover.
- Confirm by tapping Recover Photo.
Tip: You have 30 days to recover. After that, items auto-delete permanently.
Method 2: Restore via iCloud Photos
If you have iCloud Photos enabled, deleted items sync across devices. You can restore from the iCloud website:
- Go to iCloud.com
- On a computer, open a browser and visithttps://www.icloud.com
- Sign In
- Enter your Apple ID credentials and, if prompted, complete two-factor authentication.
- Open Photos
- Click the Photos icon.
- Access Recently Deleted
- In the sidebar, select Recently Deleted.
- Recover Items
- Select the images you want and click Recover.
- Sync Back to iPhone
- Ensure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and that Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos is turned on. The recovered images will download automatically.
Method 3: Retrieve from iCloud Backup
If the photo isn’t in Recently Deleted, you might restore from an older iCloud Backup—but this replaces all current data on your iPhone with the backup state.
- Check Backup Date
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
- Tap your device to view the date of the last backup.
- Erase Your iPhone
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Confirm and enter your passcode.
- Restore from iCloud Backup
- During setup, choose Restore from iCloud Backup.
- Sign in with your Apple ID and select the backup you noted.
- Wait for Download
- Stay connected to Wi-Fi and wait for the restore process to complete. Photos from that backup will reappear in the Photos app.
Warning: This process removes all data added after the backup date. Back up any new data first manually or via iCloud.
Method 4: Restore via Finder or iTunes Backup
For those who back up to a Mac or PC:
- Connect to Computer
- Use a Lightning cable to connect your iPhone.
- Open Finder (macOS Catalina and later) or iTunes (Windows/macOS Mojave and earlier)
- Select your iPhone under Locations (Finder) or click the device icon (iTunes).
- Back Up Current Data
- Click Back Up Now to preserve any data added since the last backup.
- Restore Backup
- Click Restore Backup.
- Choose the backup containing your deleted photos by its date.
- Complete the Restore
- Enter any backup password if prompted, then wait for the process to finish. Your photos from that date will be back on the device.
Note: As with iCloud restores, this overwrites data added after the backup.
Method 5: Use Third-Party Recovery Tools
If no suitable backup exists, specialized software can scan your iPhone’s storage and extract deleted photos—provided they haven’t been overwritten. Popular tools include Dr.Fone, iMobie PhoneRescue, and Tenorshare UltData.
- Download and Install Recovery Software
- On your Mac or PC, install the tool of your choice.
- Connect iPhone and Launch Tool
- Open the recovery app and connect your iPhone via USB.
- Scan for Deleted Data
- Choose Recover from iOS Device (or equivalent).
- Start the scan. Depending on storage size, this may take several minutes.
- Preview and Recover
- Once scanning is complete, navigate to Photos or App Photos within the tool.
- Select the images you need and click Recover to Computer or Recover to Device.
Caution: Only use trusted software from reputable developers. Read reviews and avoid pirated tools.
Preventive Tips to Avoid Photo Loss
- Enable iCloud Photos: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos, and turn on iCloud Photos to keep originals safe in the cloud.
- Regular Backups:
- iCloud Backup: Automatic daily backups when locked, charging, and on Wi-Fi.
- Computer Backups: Manually back up to Finder/iTunes after significant changes.
- Use Shared Albums: Share and store important images in a Shared Album—these remain even if removed from your library.
- Export to External Storage: Periodically transfer photos to your computer or external drive through the Photos app.
- Optimize Device Storage: Enable Optimize iPhone Storage under iCloud Photos to keep full-resolution copies safely in the cloud and free up local space.
Conclusion
Losing treasured photos on your iPhone can be stressful, but recovery is often possible through built-in tools and backups. Start by checking the Recently Deleted album, then move on to iCloud Photos, iCloud or computer backups, and third-party recovery software if needed. To prevent future data loss, enable iCloud Photos, back up regularly, and export important images to external storage. By following these methods and best practices, you’ll maximize your chances of restoring deleted photos and safeguarding your memories for the long term.
