How to Recover Deleted Photos on iPhone

Edited 4 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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In today's digital age, capturing moments using a smartphone has become an everyday task for many people. Known for its high-quality camera, the iPhone is often the preferred choice for taking photos. While capturing memories is convenient, accidentally erasing those beloved images can be devastating. Fortunately, it is often possible to recover deleted photos on iPhone thanks to various features and tools provided by Apple. This guide will explore various methods and steps to recover deleted photos on iPhone.

Understanding how to delete photos on iPhone

Before we proceed with the recovery process, it's important to understand how the process of deleting photos on iPhone works. When you delete a photo, it's not removed from the device immediately. Instead, it moves to an album called 'Recently Deleted.' This album stores the photos for 30 days in case you decide to recover them. After 30 days, the photos are permanently deleted.

Method 1: Recovering photos from “Recently Deleted” album

The easiest way to recover deleted photos on your iPhone is to check the 'Recently Deleted' album. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Go to the Albums tab at the bottom.
3. Scroll down to find the Recently Deleted album.
4. Open the 'Recently Deleted' album, and you'll see the photos that are about to be permanently deleted, along with how many days are left until they are deleted.
5. Tap Select in the top right corner.
6. Select the photos you want to recover or tap Recover All to restore all deleted photos.
7. Once you've made a selection, tap Recover in the bottom right corner, and the photos will be returned to your main library.

This method only works if the photos are within 30 days of being deleted.

Method 2: Restore from iCloud Backup

If you regularly back up your iPhone with iCloud, you can restore your deleted photos using a recent iCloud backup. Here's how to do it:

1. Verify the last backup date: Before proceeding, you should check when the last iCloud backup was created. This ensures that the backup includes your deleted photos.
2. On your iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
3. Check the date and time of your last backup under Back Up Now.
4. Erase iPhone: If the backup contains the photos you're looking for, you'll now need to erase your iPhone to restore the backup.
5. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to begin the erasing process.
7. Restore from iCloud Backup: After your iPhone restarts, you'll be in the Setup Assistant. Select Restore from iCloud Backup and sign in with your Apple ID.
8. Select the backup that you verified earlier and wait for the restore process to complete.

Please note, restoring an iCloud backup will restore your iPhone to the exact state it was in when the backup was created, meaning any data after the backup will be erased.

Method 3: Use an iTunes or Finder backup

If you regularly back up your iPhone to your computer via iTunes or Finder, you can use it to restore deleted photos. Here's how:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and open iTunes or Finder.
2. When your device appears on the screen, select it.
3. Under the General or Summary tab, click Restore Backup.
4. Choose the most relevant backup from the list by checking the date and time.
5. Click on Restore and wait for the process to finish.

Just like iCloud, this method will restore your entire iPhone to the state it was in when the backup was made.

Method 4: Use third-party software

If the above methods don't work, and you still can't recover your deleted photos, you can try using third-party recovery software. These tools can scan your iPhone's storage for recoverable files and help restore them. Popular recovery tools include:

• Dr.Fone by Wondershare
• iMyFone D-Back
• Tenorshare UltData

When using third-party software, it's important to choose reputable programs, as they require access to your device and data. Here's a general guide to using such software:

1. Download and install recovery software on your computer.
2. Launch the program and connect your iPhone with a USB cable.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to begin a scan of your device for recoverable files.
4. When the scan is finished, you will get an overview of the recoverable files, including your deleted photos.
5. Choose the photos you want to restore and follow the software’s procedure to recover them.

Third-party software cannot recover data if it has been overwritten, nor is recovery guaranteed. Always read user reviews and make sure the program is compatible with your device.

Method 5: Consult Apple Support

If you still can't recover your photos after using all the options, it may be worth contacting Apple Support. Although they can't always recover photos, they may provide additional options or solutions specific to the latest iPhone models and iOS versions.

Preventive measures to protect your photos

Precautionary steps can save you the grief of losing precious photos. Here are some tips to prevent photo loss:

• Regular backups: Enable automatic iCloud backups or manually back up your iPhone regularly using iTunes or Finder.
• iCloud Photos: Consider using iCloud Photo Library, which automatically syncs and stores your photos in iCloud, which can be accessed from any Apple device.
• Third-party storage services: Services like Google Photos or Dropbox provide additional storage space and automatic photo backup, providing greater data security.
• Be careful: always double-check before deleting a photo to avoid accidentally deleting it.

Conclusion

While accidentally deleting photos can be stressful, there are several ways to recover them on iPhone. From the simple 'Recently Deleted' album to more complex methods like iCloud and iTunes backups, users have several options before resorting to third-party solutions or Apple support. Additionally, preventive measures play a vital role in safeguarding your digital memories for the future. By following these suggested steps you can ensure that your precious photos remain safe and you can access them whenever you need them.

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