Losing precious photos from your iPhone can be a frustrating and emotional experience. Whether it’s a memorable vacation, family gathering, or a once-in-a-lifetime event, photos often hold irreplaceable value. Fortunately, Apple provides several ways to recover deleted photos.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through how to recover deleted photos from your iPhone, including methods to recover permanently deleted photos. Whether you have a recent backup or not, we’ll explore all the available options to help you retrieve your lost memories.
We’ll cover:
- How photo deletion works on iPhone
- The difference between temporary and permanent deletion
- Step-by-step methods to recover deleted photos
- Tools and backups that can help
- Tips to avoid future data loss
Whether you’re a beginner or a tech-savvy iPhone user, this guide will walk you through the recovery process with simple, clear steps.
Let’s begin by understanding what happens when a photo is deleted from an iPhone and whether permanent deletion really means it’s gone forever.
Can You Recover Permanently Deleted Photos on iPhone?
The short answer is: Yes, in many cases, it is possible to recover permanently deleted photos on an iPhone.
When you delete a photo from your iPhone, it doesn’t disappear immediately. Here’s what actually happens:
- First Deletion: The photo is moved to the “Recently Deleted” folder in the Photos app.
- Retention Period: It stays there for 30 days, allowing you to recover it easily.
- After 30 Days or Manual Deletion: If you delete it again from “Recently Deleted” or the 30 days pass, it’s considered permanently deleted.
But even then, all hope is not lost.
Is Recovery Still Possible After Permanent Deletion?
Yes, permanently deleted photos can sometimes be recovered if:
- You have an iCloud backup or iTunes/Finder backup made before the photo was deleted.
- The data hasn’t been overwritten by new files.
- You use a third-party recovery tool that scans your device storage deeply.
Key Factors That Affect Recovery:
- Time Since Deletion: The sooner you act, the better your chances.
- Backup Availability: iCloud or iTunes backup made before deletion improves recovery success.
- Data Overwriting: Installing new apps, taking more photos, or large software updates may overwrite deleted data.
How to Recover Deleted Photos from iPhone (Recently Deleted Folder)
If you’ve recently deleted photos from your iPhone, there’s good news: Apple provides a built-in safety net called the “Recently Deleted” folder. This folder stores your deleted photos and videos for up to 30 days before they are permanently removed.
Steps to Recover Photos from the Recently Deleted Folder:
Follow these simple steps to restore deleted photos:
- Open the Photos App
Launch the Photos app from your iPhone’s home screen. - Tap on ‘Albums’
At the bottom menu, tap on the Albums tab to switch to the album view. - Scroll Down to ‘Utilities’ Section
Scroll down until you find a section called Utilities. Here, tap on Recently Deleted. - Authenticate (If Prompted)
You might be asked to authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or Passcode to view deleted content. This is a security measure to protect your privacy. - Select the Photos You Want to Recover
Browse the deleted photos. Tap Select in the top-right corner, then tap on the photos you wish to recover. - Tap ‘Recover’
After selecting the desired photos, tap the Recover button in the bottom-right corner. - Confirm Recovery
Tap Recover Photo(s) in the pop-up to confirm. Your photos will be restored to your main photo library.
Photos stay in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days from the day they were deleted. After 30 days, photos are automatically and permanently deleted.
If your photos are no longer in the Recently Deleted folder, we’ll show you how to recover permanently deleted photos without a backup.
How to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos on iPhone (Without Backup)
If your deleted photos are no longer in the “Recently Deleted” folder and you don’t have an iCloud or iTunes backup, you may still be able to recover them using third-party iPhone data recovery tools. These tools can scan your device’s internal storage and retrieve deleted data.
Use a trusted computer with internet access to perform the recovery.
Steps to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos Without Backup:
Using Third-Party Software (Recommended)
Some popular iPhone data recovery tools include:
- iMobie PhoneRescue
- Tenorshare UltData
- Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (iOS)
- iMyFone D-Back
Most of these tools offer a free trial to scan your iPhone and preview recoverable data.
Step-by-Step Process (Example Using iMobie PhoneRescue):
- Download and Install Software
Visit the official website of PhoneRescue (or your preferred tool), download the software, and install it on your PC or Mac. - Connect Your iPhone to the Computer
Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the computer. Trust the computer on your iPhone if prompted. - Launch the Software and Choose Recovery Mode
Open the software and select the recovery mode:
“Recover from iOS Device” (for recovering without backup). - Scan Your iPhone
Click the Next button to start scanning your device for deleted data. This may take a few minutes. - Preview Deleted Photos
After the scan, you’ll see a list of recoverable data. Navigate to the Photos section and preview the deleted images. - Select and Recover
Select the photos you want to recover and click the Recover button. You can choose to recover them back to your iPhone or save them to your computer.
In the next section, we’ll show you how to recover permanently deleted photos using an iCloud backup, if one exists.
Recover Permanently Deleted Photos iPhone With iCloud Backup
If your photos are permanently deleted and no longer in the “Recently Deleted” folder, but you have iCloud Backup enabled, you may be able to recover them by restoring your iPhone from an iCloud backup made before the photos were deleted.
This process will replace all current data on your iPhone with the contents of the selected backup. Make sure to back up your current data before proceeding.
Steps to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos via iCloud Backup:
Step 1: Check If an iCloud Backup Exists
- Go to Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap your Apple ID (your name at the top).
- Tap iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Check the date of the last backup.
If it was made before the photos were deleted, you may be able to recover them.
Step 2: Erase Your iPhone to Prepare for Restore
You must erase your iPhone to restore from an earlier backup.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode or Apple ID password when prompted.
- Your iPhone will restart and return to the setup screen.
Step 3: Restore from iCloud Backup
- On the Apps & Data screen, choose Restore from iCloud Backup.
- Sign in to iCloud using your Apple ID and password.
- Select the backup created before you deleted the photos.
- Wait for the restore process to complete. This may take time depending on your internet speed and backup size.
If you don’t have an iCloud backup, don’t worry, we’ll cover how to recover using iTunes or Finder backup on a computer.
Recover Permanently Deleted Photos iPhone With iTunes/Finder Backup
If you regularly back up your iPhone using iTunes (on Windows or older macOS) or Finder (on macOS Catalina and later), you can recover permanently deleted photos by restoring your iPhone from a backup that was created before the photos were deleted.
Just like with iCloud restore, this method will erase your current iPhone data and replace it with the backup version. Be sure to save anything important first.
Steps to Recover Photos Using iTunes or Finder Backup:
Step 1: Check for Available Backups
Before restoring, make sure you have a recent backup stored on your computer.
- On Windows/macOS Mojave or earlier, use iTunes.
- On macOS Catalina or later, use Finder.
Step 2: Connect Your iPhone
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
- Open iTunes (Windows/macOS Mojave) or Finder (macOS Catalina and later).
- Select your iPhone when it appears in the window.
Step 3: Restore from Backup
- In iTunes or Finder, go to the Summary tab (or General tab in Finder).
- Click Restore Backup.
- Choose the most relevant backup, ideally one dated before you deleted the photos.
- Click Restore and wait for the process to complete.
- Keep your iPhone connected until it finishes restarting.
Precautions Before and After Recovery
Recovering deleted photos from your iPhone can be a lifesaver, but to maximize your chances of success and avoid future data loss, it’s important to take a few essential precautions both before and after the recovery process.
Precautions Before Starting Recovery:
- Stop Using Your iPhone Immediately
When photos are permanently deleted, the space they occupied becomes available for new data. Any new files (photos, videos, messages, etc.) could overwrite the deleted photos and make recovery impossible. - Avoid Installing New Apps or Updates
Installing apps or software updates can also overwrite deleted data. Try not to modify your device until after the recovery process is complete. - Turn Off Internet Connectivity (Optional)
Disabling Wi-Fi or cellular data reduces background syncing and automatic updates, lowering the risk of data being overwritten. - Back Up Current Data
If you’re restoring from a backup (iCloud or iTunes/Finder), first create a fresh backup of your current data to avoid losing anything new or important.
Precautions After Recovery:
- Save Recovered Photos in a Safe Location
After recovering your photos, back them up to multiple places like iCloud, Google Photos, or your computer to avoid losing them again. - Enable iCloud Photos
Go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos and turn on iCloud Photos. This keeps your media synced and backed up automatically. - Turn On Automatic iCloud Backup
Enable iCloud Backup by going to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Turn On Backup. This ensures your phone backs up daily when connected to power and Wi-Fi. - Use Third-Party Cloud Storage as an Extra Layer
Consider using services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive to keep additional copies of important photos. - Regularly Transfer Photos to a Computer or External Drive
Make it a habit to transfer your photos periodically to a computer or hard drive for long-term storage and peace of mind.
Conclusion
Losing precious photos from your iPhone can be distressing but as we’ve explored in this guide, there are multiple ways to recover both recently and permanently deleted photos.
If your images were deleted recently, the “Recently Deleted” folder is your first and easiest option. For permanently deleted photos, recovery depends on whether you have a backup (iCloud or iTunes/Finder) or need to use a trusted third-party recovery tool.
While recovery is often possible, preventing future data loss is even more important. Make it a habit to regularly back up your photos using iCloud, your computer, or cloud storage services like Google Photos. Also, be cautious during the recovery process to avoid overwriting valuable data.
With the right approach, tools, and precautions, you can significantly improve your chances of restoring lost memories and ensure they stay safe going forward.