In today’s digital world, losing cherished photos from an iPhone can be distressing. However, there are ways to recover recently deleted photos from iPhone.
Using iCloud or iTunes backups, third-party software, or professional help, there are options to recover iPhone photos that you consider your valuable memories.
By offering insights and techniques, this guide simplifies the process of how to recover deleted photos from iPhone.
So, let’s get started to get rid of the anxiety of losing your precious photos:
Best 6 Methods to Recover Deleted Photos from an iPhone
Important Note: The methods outlined below are applicable to all iPhone models, including but not limited to the latest iPhone 14 series (14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max), as well as the iPhone 13 series (13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max), iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 12 series (12 and 12 Pro Max), iPhone 11 series (11 Pro and 11 Pro Max), iPhone XS series (XS and XS Max), iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 4.
Method 1: Use the Photos App to Restore Deleted Pictures on iPhone
To restore deleted pictures on an iPhone using the Photos app, you can follow these steps:
- Step 1: Open the “Photos app” on your iPhone.
- Step 2: Then, tap on the “Albums” tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Step 3: Next, you’ve to scroll down and tap on the “Recently Deleted” album.
- Step 4: In the Recently Deleted album, you’ll see all the photos that have been deleted within the last 30 days.
- Step 5: Tap on the Photo(s) you want to restore.
- Step 6: Once you’ve selected all the photos you want to restore, tap on the “Recover” button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Step 7: Now, make sure to Confirm that you want to recover the selected photo(s) by tapping on “Recover Photo” in the confirmation pop-up.
After following these steps, the deleted photo(s) will be restored to their original location in the Photos app, usually in the “All Photos” or relevant album.
However, note that, if you’ve accidentally deleted photos more than 30 days ago, or if you’ve permanently deleted them from the “Recently Deleted” album, it may not be possible to restore them using this method.
In such cases, you may need to use a backup or third-party data recovery tool.
Method 2: Retrieve Your Deleted Photos from an iPhone Backup File
In order to retrieve your deleted photos from an iPhone backup, follow these steps:
- Step 1. First, you’ve to launch “Finder.”
- Step 2. Then, “connect your iPhone” to your computer.
- Step 3. Once connected, you need to select your “iPhone” from the list of locations on the left.
- Step 4. After that, simply click the “Restore iPhone” button located in the General tab.
- Step 5. Upon doing so, let Finder “backup your iPhone” before restoring your data.
- Step 6. Now, click the “Restore” button to confirm that you’re ready to restore your iPhone data from a backup.
Method 3: Restore Deleted Photos from iTunes App Backup
If you want to restore your deleted photos from iTunes backup, make sure to follow the below given steps:
- Step 1: Start by launching the “iTunes application” on your computer.
- Step 2: Then, use a “USB cable to connect your iPhone or iPad” to the computer.
- Step 3: In doing so, if prompted on your device, choose to “Trust” the computer.
- Step 4: Next, what you need to do is locate your “device icon” in iTunes and click on it to select it.
- Step 5: After that, under the “Backups” section, select “Restore Backup…”.
- Step 6: Now, you’ll see a list of available backups, so choose the one that contains the photos you want to recover and click “Restore”.
- Step 7: Following that, you’ve to “wait” for the restore process to complete as this may take some time depending on the size of the backup and your internet connection speed.
- Step 8: Once the restore process is finished, you can “check your device” to see if the deleted photos have been restored. They should now be available in your device’s photo library.
Regarding this method, it’s important to note that restoring from an iTunes backup will overwrite any existing data on your device. So, make sure that you back up any important data before proceeding with the restore process.
Method 4: Use iCloud Backup to Recover Deleted Photos
Before using this method, remember that it only works if you have iCloud Photo Library enabled and a recent iCloud backup that includes the photos you want to recover. You can do this by going to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups on your iPhone.
Important Note: If you have iCloud Photo Library enabled, your photos might still be stored in iCloud even if they’re deleted from your device.
So, if it’s a yes then, to recover deleted photos from your iPhone using iCloud, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Firstly, to ensure a complete recovery, erase all content and settings on your iPhone by going to “Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.”
- Step 2: Upon erasing your iPhone, follow the setup prompts until you reach the “Apps & Data” screen.
- Step 3: There, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup” and simply “Sign in” to your iCloud account.
- Step 4: After that, select the most relevant “Backup” that contains the photos you want to recover from the recently deleted section. However, keep in mind that this will replace all data on your iPhone with the data from the selected backup.
- Step 5: Now, the restoration process will begin, and your iPhone will “restart” several times.
Quick Tip: Before the restoration process starts, make sure your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and plugged into power to avoid interruptions.
- Step 6: Once the restore is complete, open the “Photos app” on your iPhone and check if your deleted photos have been successfully recovered.
Hopefully, they should be restored to the state they were in at the time of the backup.
Quick Tip: Always, remember to regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud to prevent data loss in the future.
However, if the above steps didn’t work or you don’t have a recent iCloud backup, you may still have other options for photo recovery, such as using third-party data recovery software or restoring with messaging apps.
Method 5: Recover iPhone photos from Messaging Apps
If you’ve shared your photos through instant messaging (IM) apps such as WhatsApp, Messenger, or Viber, there may still be a chance to retrieve some of them. Even if you’ve deleted a photo from your phone after sending it, it will likely still be stored on the servers of the respective app.
In the worst-case scenario, there might be some loss of original quality due to image compression by the app. However, this is preferable to losing the photo entirely.
Certain apps like Viber, WhatsApp and Messenger offer features that allow you to conveniently access all shared media in one location. This facilitates browsing through the pictures you’ve exchanged with a contact and selecting the ones you wish to recover.
Alternatively, you may be able to utilize filters to refine your search for specific messages.
For instance, in Slack, you can utilize the search function to find specific messages containing images. By typing “has:image” in the search bar, Slack will filter and display only the messages that include embedded pictures. Similarly, if you wish to narrow down your search to messages sent by you, you can add “from:your-user-name” to your search query. This allows you to focus solely on the messages you’ve sent, making it easier to locate the desired images.
Method 6: Use Third Party Software to Retrieve Deleted Photos on iPhone Without Backup
If none of the above methods work, then last but not least, you can consider using third-party data recovery software specifically designed for the iPhone. These tools can scan your device and recover deleted photos, including those sent or received through messaging apps.
So, here are the steps for how to recover deleted photos from iPhone using a third-party tool called “Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (iOS)”:
- Step 1: Go to the official website of Dr.Fone and download the “Data Recovery (iOS)” tool on your computer by following the on-screen instructions.
Quick Tip: Make sure to download the version compatible with your operating system (Windows or macOS).
- Step 2: Once downloaded, launch the “Dr.Fone software” on your computer by double-clicking its icon.
- Step 3: Then, use a USB cable to “connect your iPhone to the computer.”
- Step 4: In addition to that, what you’ve to do is unlock your iPhone and tap “Trust” on the device if prompted.
- Step 5: Now, in the Dr.Fone main interface, select the “Data Recovery” mode option from the available tools and once your iPhone is connected, Dr.Fone will detect it automatically.
- Step 6: Following that, you’ve to click on the “Start Scan” button to begin scanning your iPhone for deleted photos and other data.
- Step 7: Once the scanning process is complete, Dr.Fone will display a “list of recoverable files,” including deleted photos.
- Step 8: From the list, you can “preview the photos” one by one and “select the deleted photos” you want to recover.
- Step 9: After you’ve selected the deleted photos, click on the “Recover” button.
- Step 10: Now, choose a “location” on your computer to save the recovered photos and as you do so, Dr.Fone will start recovering the selected photos.
Important Note: The time Dr.Fone will take to recover your photos depends on the number and size of the photos being recovered.
- Step 11: Once the recovery process is complete, navigate to the location on your computer where the photos were saved to have access to the recovered deleted photos from your iPhone.
So, by following these steps, you can use Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (iOS) or a similar third-party tool to recover deleted photos from your iPhone. But, remember to act promptly to increase the chances of successful data recovery.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to get deleted photos back from iPhone, hopefully, by using any of the six methods discussed above, you’ll be able to recover your recently deleted photos from iPhone.
However, it is possible but, it’s advisable to create a backup of the recovered photos to prevent data loss in the future. You can store them on your computer or transfer them back to your iPhone using iTunes or iCloud.
FAQs
Q: Can I recover deleted photos from my iPhone without a backup?
A: Yes, you may still be able to recover deleted photos even without a backup by using third-party data recovery software or professional services that specialize in iPhone data recovery.
Q: Will restoring my iPhone from iTunes or iCloud backup bring back deleted photos?
A: Yes, restoring your iPhone from an iTunes or iCloud backup can recover deleted photos, but it will replace all current data on your device with the data from the backup.
Q: How can I ensure successful photo recovery from a damaged iPhone?
A: To ensure successful photo recovery from a damaged iPhone, you need to act promptly to minimize data loss, refrain from using the device further, and seek professional assistance if necessary. Other than this, you can utilize reputable data recovery software or services compatible with damaged devices.
Q: Can I recover permanently deleted photos from my iPhone?
A: Permanently deleted photos from your iPhone are challenging to recover, but it’s still possible in some cases, especially if you act quickly. In this case, third-party data recovery software or professional services may help you with the solutions.
Q: Is it possible to recover deleted photos if my iPhone is water damaged?
A: Yes, it’s possible to recover deleted photos from a water-damaged iPhone. However, its success depends on the extent of the damage. To be on a safer side, you can seek professional data recovery services that specialize in water-damaged devices for the best chance of recovery.
Q: Will jailbreaking my iPhone increase the chances of recovering deleted photos?
A: Jailbreaking may provide access to advanced data recovery tools, but it also poses security risks and may void your device’s warranty. So, it’s recommended that you explore other options before resorting to jailbreaking.
Q: Can I recover deleted photos from a stolen or lost iPhone?
A: If your iPhone is lost or stolen, recovering deleted photos becomes more challenging. However, if you have enabled iCloud Photo Library or have recent backups, you may still be able to retrieve your photos by logging into your iCloud account from another device.
Q: How can I prevent accidental deletion of photos on my iPhone in the future?
A: To prevent accidental deletion of photos on your iPhone in the future, you can enable iCloud Photo Library or regularly back up your photos to iCloud or iTunes/Finder. Additionally, you can consider using third-party apps or cloud storage services for extra backup protection.
