Method 1: Recover from the Recently Deleted Album (Within 30 Days) Open the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap “Albums” at the bottom. Scroll down and tap “Recently Deleted.” Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode (if prompted). Browse the photos deleted images remain here for up to 30 days. Tap Select in the top right corner. Tap the photos you want to recover or tap “Recover All”. Tap Recover to confirm. Your photos will be restored to your main Photos library.
Method 2: Recover from iCloud Photos If you use iCloud Photos, deleted photos may still be recoverable online: Go to iCloud.com in a web browser. Sign in with your Apple ID. Click on the Photos app. Open the Recently Deleted folder (left-hand menu). Select the images to recover and click Recover.
Method 3: Restore from an iCloud or iTunes Backup (If Not in Recently Deleted) Use this if photos were permanently deleted and not available in the Recently Deleted folder. For iCloud Backup: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Follow prompts to erase the device. When the iPhone restarts, select “Restore from iCloud Backup”. Sign in with your Apple ID and choose the most relevant backup. Warning: This erases current content and replaces it with backed-up data.
For iTunes/Finder Backup: Connect your device to your computer. Open iTunes (on Windows/macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (macOS Catalina and later). Select your device. Click Restore Backup and choose the desired version. Click Restore and wait for completion.
Bonus Tip: Use a Third-Party Recovery Tool Apps like iMobie PhoneRescue, Dr.Fone, or Tenorshare UltData can sometimes retrieve photos lost due to system crashes, permanent deletions, or failed updates though they may require a computer and subscription.
Always back up your device with iCloud or iTunes to avoid losing important photos permanently. Enable iCloud Photos and regularly check Recently Deleted for recoverable content.
