How to Recover Deleted Photos on an iPhone

Losing photos can feel like a disaster, especially when they capture moments that matter. Fortunately, there are ways to recover them on an iPhone.

Here’s how I go about recovering deleted photos, using built-in options first, then turning to backups or recovery tools if needed.

How to Recover Deleted Photos on an iPhone?

Check the Recently Deleted Album

First, check the Recently Deleted album in the Photos app. It’s an iPhone safeguard that holds deleted photos for 30 days, so there's a good chance the photos might still be there.

To access it, open Photos, go to Albums, scroll down to Recently Deleted, and then tap Recover after selecting the images you want back.

If it’s been more than 30 days, unfortunately you will not be able to recover the images with this method, but if you have a backup then the next fix might work in your favor.

Restore from an iCloud Backup

If you had iCloud Photos turned on, your device may have saved the photos in a previous backup.

To check this, go to Settings > [My Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups, and look for a backup date before you deleted the photos.

If you decide to restore from this backup, it will return your phone to that backup’s state, so you may lose some recent data. But if the photos are valuable, it’s often worth the trade-off.

Restore from iTunes or Finder Backup on My Computer

If you regularly back up your iPhone to your computer, either through iTunes or Finder (on macOS Catalina and later), you may be able to recover your deleted photos from there.

Plug your phone into my computer, open iTunes or Finder, select the iPhone, and choose Restore Backup.

This process restores all data from the selected backup, so any data created since then could be lost. However, it’s a reliable method if all your backups are recent.

Use Third-Party Recovery Software

For more complex recoveries, you can sometimes turn to a third-party software. These tools scan the device for data that isn’t visible through regular recovery methods.

Popular options include Dr.Fone, iMobie PhoneRescue, and Stellar Data Recovery. simply download one of these programs, connect your iPhone to the computer, and follow the software prompts to scan for deleted photos.

These tools are best used shortly after deletion, as using the phone heavily afterward can overwrite the data you're trying to retrieve.

Try Additional Cloud Storage Services

If you prefer to use cloud services like Google Photos or Dropbox, then there’s a chance your photos were automatically saved there.

Open the app for the relevant service, navigate to any Trash or Recently Deleted folder, and see if any photos are available for recovery.

Since these services can be set up to sync automatically, they’re great as an extra layer of backup.

Tips for Quick Recovery

Act Fast: Trying to recover photos soon after deletion increases success rates.
Avoid Overwriting Data: Using the phone after deletion can overwrite photos, making recovery difficult.
Back Up Regularly: iCloud or computer backups make future recovery easier and safer.

How to Recover Deleted Photos on an iPhone FAQs

Can I recover permanently deleted photos without a backup?

If you don’t have a backup, recovering permanently deleted photos can be almost impossible. Third-party tools might help, but they aren’t guaranteed, so backing up is the best prevention.

Is there a way to get photos deleted more than 30 days ago?

If it’s been over 30 days, I look for an iCloud or computer backup from before the deletion date. That’s usually the most reliable way to recover older photos.

What if I accidentally overwrite the data?

Once data is overwritten, recovery becomes unlikely. That’s why stopping any heavy usage of the phone immediately after deletion is crucial for maximizing recovery success.

Takeaway

By trying these methods, I’ve been able to recover photos more often than not. Each option has its strengths, so I pick the one that best fits how long it’s been and what backups I have available.