How to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos on iPhone Step by Step

Key Takeaways

• Deleted photos on iPhone first go to the Recently Deleted album, where they can be recovered within about 30 days.
• iCloud.com is an alternative option if the device is unavailable.
• Once the Recently Deleted album is emptied or expires, photos are considered permanently deleted.
• If you've ever backed iPhone to iCloud or iTunes, you can recover permanently deleted photos by restoring the backup of the entire device.
• If you don't have a backup, you can use third-party recovery software to recover permanently deleted photos on an iPhone without a backup.

Accidentally deleting photos on an iPhone is quite common. The last time I was cleaning up my photo library, I accidentally deleted important pictures in bulk. Are they permanently gone? Is there a way to recover deleted photos on an iPhone?

Don't panic. In most cases, they are not gone permanently. Deleted photos first go to the Recently Deleted album, where you can recover recently deleted photos within 30 days, as long as it hasn’t been emptied.

Well, how to recover iPhone photos that are deleted over 30 days? Is it possible to recover them? That is exactly what this post is about. If you have a backup, you can restore your iPhone photos from iCloud or iTunes/Finder backup by restoring your device to an earlier state. If you don't have a backup, don't worry either. You can try third-party data recovery software to scan your device and retrieve lost photos. Keep reading to learn how to recover deleted photos on iPhone with or without backups!

Check the Recently Deleted Album First

The Recently Deleted Album is the first place you should look when photos are missing. Keep in mind that deleted items are only stored here for 30 days before they are permanently removed.

Step 1: Open Photos.

Step 2: Scroll down and find the Recently Deleted option. Unlock it with your Face ID or Touch ID.

Step 3: Click Select in the top right.

Step 4: Check your desired photos and click the three-dot button in the bottom right.

Step 5: Click Recover.

Recover Deleted Photos from iCloud Backup

If you have an iCloud backup before the deletion, you can restore deleted iPhone photos from the iCloud backup. Note that this method will reset your iPhone to factory settings. Please back up your current important data in advance.

Step 1: Factory reset your iPhone in Settings.

Step 2: Choose Restore from iCloud Backup on the Apps & Data screen.

Step 3: Sign in with your Apple ID and password.

Step 4: Select the backup and start the recovery.

*Note: Please keep your iPhone connected to a stable internet all the time.

Recover Deleted Photos Using iTunes/Finder Backup

If you've ever backed up your iPhone using iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac), you can recover completely deleted photos on iPhone from a computer. Note that this method will overwrite your current data and reset your device to the backup state. Also, back up important data in advance.

Step 1: Open iTunes.

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to your computer with an original Apple cable.

Step 3: Click your iPhone icon in the top left.

Step 4: Click Restore Backup.

*Note: For Mac users, the steps in Finder are almost identical to iTunes.

Recover Permanently Deleted Photos on iPhone Without Backup

If you don't have a backup, don't worry. There are many professional data recovery software for iPhone on the market that enable you to retrieve permanently deleted photos, even without a backup. These tools often enable you to preview the deleted photos in advance and selectively recover them without data overwrite.

Here, we will introduce two professional tools and walk you through their step-by-step recovery process.

Solution 1: Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery

Step 1: Go to Apeaksoft's official website to download Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery. These tools are usually free to download.

Step 2: Launch the program and choose Recover from iOS Device.

Step 3: Connect your iPhone to the software and click Start Scan.

Step 4: Choose the Photo type in the left panel.

Step 5: Choose to show deleted photos only in the filter.

Step 6: Check your desired photos and click Recover.

*Note: Besides photos, these data recovery tools also enable you to recover deleted iPhone videos, contacts, messages, and more.

Solution 2: Disk Drill

Step 1: Go to Disk Drill's official website to download and install it.

Step 2: Connect your iPhone via a USB cable.

Step 3: Wait for the software to scan your device thoroughly.

Step 4: Filter the photo type and preview all recoverable files.

Step 5: Select what you need and click Recover.

Conclusion

Can you recover deleted photos on iPhone now after reading this comprehensive guide? Absolutely. Whether your photos are still in Recently Deleted, stored in an iCloud or iTunes backup, or permanently erased without backup, there is always a corresponding solution. If you find this post useful, don't hesitate to share it with your friends and family!