Accidentally deleting a memorable photo from your iPhone or iPad is a common mishap. But you need not feel helpless, for in this article, I will share with you 6 step-by-step methods to recover a deleted photo on your iPhone or iPad.
I’ve been in the same situation and learned how to recover deleted photos on iOS devices. And I’m going to share my learnings with you, too.
So, let’s quickly jump in.
How to Recover a Deleted Photo on Your iPhone or iPad?
Whether you’ve recently deleted your photos or permanently deleted them, the processes listed below will help you find and recover all your deleted photos in just a few seconds.
1. Recovering from the “Recently Deleted”
To recover photos from the “Recently Deleted” album in Photos:
- Launch the “Photos” app on your iPhone.
- Tap on “Albums” at the bottom of the screen.
- Scroll down and locate the “Recently Deleted” album under “Other Albums.”
- Inside the “Recently Deleted” album, you’ll find photos that were deleted within the last 30 days.
- To recover a deleted photo, tap on it to view it.
- Tap “Recover” at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
The photo will be restored to your main photo library.
2. Restoring With the iCloud backups
If you have iCloud backups and want to restore deleted pictures:
- Open “Settings” on your iPhone.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen to access your Apple ID settings.
- Scroll down and tap “iCloud“.
- Under “Apps Using iCloud,” ensure that “Photos” is turned on.
- Go back to the main Settings screen, scroll down, and tap “General.”
- Scroll down and tap “Reset,” then choose “Erase All Content and Settings.” This will erase your device.
- Set up your device until you reach the “Apps & Data” screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup.”
- Sign in to your iCloud account and select the most relevant backup that contains the deleted photos.
Wait for the restore process to complete. After the restore is finished, your deleted photos should be back on your device.
3. Restoring Photos with the Cloud Storage
To restore photos using cloud storage services like iCloud or Google Photos, follow these steps:
- Open the respective cloud storage app on your iPhone (e.g., iCloud, Google Photos).
- Sign in to your account if you aren’t already logged in.
- Navigate to the folder or location where your deleted photos were stored.
- Locate the deleted photos you want to restore.
- Select the photos and look for an option like “Restore,” “Recover,” or “Undelete.”
Confirm the restoration, and the photos will be retrieved and added back to your photo library.
4. Recovering Photos From iPhone Backup
If you have an iPhone backup and want to recover deleted photos from it:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (for Windows) or Finder (for Mac).
- Select your device when it appears in iTunes or Finder.
- Go to the “Summary” tab.
- Click on “Restore Backup.”
- Choose the most relevant backup that contains the deleted photos.
Confirm and wait for the restore process to finish. After the restore is complete, your deleted photos should be back on your device.
5. Retrieving Deleted Photos using Finder
To retrieve deleted photos on iPhone using Finder (for Mac users) :
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
- Open Finder on your Mac.
- In the Finder sidebar, under “Locations,” click on your iPhone.
- In the iPhone window, click on “Recover Photos.”
- You’ll see a list of recently deleted photos.
- Select the photos you want to retrieve.
- Click “Recover” to restore the selected photos to your iPhone.
6. Recovering Deleted Photos Using Third Party Applications.
If the above methods don’t work, don’t worry. There are several third-party apps to recover deleted photos on iOS devices.
Some popular options include “Dr.Fone,” “iMobie PhoneRescue,” and “Tenorshare UltData.” These apps offer more advanced recovery options and can often retrieve photos that other methods can’t.
To restore photos using these apps:
- Download and install your chosen app from the App Store.
- Follow the app’s instructions to scan your device for deleted photos.
- Once the scan is complete, select the photos you want to recover.
- Tap “Recover” or follow the specific app’s recovery process.
Please note that while these apps are effective, some may require a subscription or one-time purchase.
Conclusion
So, there you go- you’ve seen six different methods to recover a deleted photo on your iPhone or iPad.
Always start by checking the “Recently Deleted” album and your iCloud Photos. If those methods fail, consider restoring from a backup or using a third-party app.
Remember to recover your deleted photos as soon as possible since the chances of recovery diminish over time.
FAQs
No, after 30 days, photos are automatically deleted permanently from the “Recently Deleted” album, and you won’t be able to recover them.
Yes, you’ll need a computer with iTunes or Finder to restore your device from a backup.
Most reputable third-party photo recovery apps are safe to use. However, make sure to read reviews and do your research before downloading any app.
If you don’t have any backups, your options for recovering deleted photos become more limited. Third-party apps may still be your best bet.
To prevent accidental deletions, consider enabling the “Optimize iPhone Storage” option in your Photos settings. This stores full-resolution photos in iCloud, while your device keeps smaller versions to save space.
