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Learn step by step how to restore your memories without losing quality.
Accidentally deleted a photo on your iPhone and panicked? Don't worry. That special image may still be at your fingertips.
Whether you deleted it by mistake, restored your device, or lost photos after an update, It is possible to recover your photos —and you don’t need to be an expert!
In this article, we'll teach you how to restore deleted photos from your iPhone using native features, reliable apps, backups, and strategies that actually work.
The best part: you'll do it yourself and without any complications.
If you want other options to recover photos, read our complete article:
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Recover lost photos.
🗂️ Check your "Recently Deleted" folder
It's the first place you should look
Before trying advanced solutions, review the recently deleted photos folder, which saves deleted images for up to 30 days.
How to access?
- Open the app Photos
- Go to Albums
- Scroll down to “Recently deleted”
- Select the images you want to recover
- Touch Recover (top right)
📌 Important: If more than 30 days have passed or you've emptied that folder, the photos will no longer be visible there.
☁️ Recover your photos from iCloud
Ideal if you have automatic copying enabled on your iPhone
One of the great advantages of the Apple ecosystem is iCloud, which makes automatic backups if the feature is enabled.
Steps to recover from iCloud.com:
- Access to www.icloud.com
- Sign in with your Apple ID
- Click on Photos
- Go to Recently deleted
- Select and click on Recover
✅ iCloud keeps deleted photos for 30 days. After that, they're gone forever.
🔁 Restore from an iCloud Backup
Recover deleted photos even if they don't appear in the gallery
If you backed up your iPhone when you still had those photos, you can restore that version of the device and recover your images.
Steps:
- Make sure you have a previous backup (Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Backup)
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings
- On reboot, select “Restore from iCloud backup”
- Sign in with your Apple ID and select the desired copy
⚠️ Warning: This process will erase all current content on your phone. Make sure to back up your current files before restoring.
💻 Recover Photos from an iTunes Backup
Useful option if you make backups on your computer
If you've ever backed up your iPhone in iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina or later), you can restore that copy to get your photos back.
Steps to do it:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable
- Open iTunes or Finder
- Select your device
- Click on Restore backup
- Select the most recent copy before the photos were deleted
💡 This method also replaces all current content on the iPhone, so make a fresh backup before restoring.
📲 Use Professional Recovery Apps
When you don't have a backup and they're not in iCloud
If your photos are not in “Recently Deleted” or backups, your best option is to use a professional data recovery software.
🧰 Best iPhone Tools:
📌 iMyFone D-Back
- Compatible with photos, videos, messages, contacts and more
- Recover from iPhone, iTunes, or iCloud
- Allows you to preview before restoring
- Free version with limited features
📌 Dr.Fone – iOS Data Recovery
- Very popular and reliable
- Deep system scan
- Supports more than 20 data types
- It has a free trial version
App
Dr.Fone
📌 PhoneRescue for iOS
- Recover photos, messages and files
- Easy to use and with a good success rate
- Allows you to restore without overwriting data
🛠️ How do these tools work?
- Install the program on your computer
- Connect your iPhone with a USB cable
- Run a full scan of the device
- Preview recoverable files
- Select photos and recover them locally or directly to your iPhone.
📌 Important: Most of these programs are paid, but they offer free trials to check if your photos can still be recovered.
🧠 Why Are Deleted Photos Still Recoverable?
Understand how recovery works
When you delete a photo, the system does not delete data immediately. It simply marks the space as “available” for use by other files. As long as that space isn’t overwritten, the image can still be recovered.
That is why it is essential:
- Do not use the iPhone intensively after erasing.
- Do not install new apps or record videos
- Try to recover as soon as possible
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
What NOT to do if you want to recover your photos
- ❌ Don't ignore the system trash
- ❌ Do not overwrite iPhone content with new files
- ❌ Do not use unknown or unverified apps
- ❌ Do not restore without checking if you have a backup of your current data.
🔐 Prevention is key to avoiding permanent losses.
🔄 How to Prevent Photo Loss in the Future
Your memories deserve protection
Once you manage to recover your photos, create a backup strategy so you don't go through the same scare again.
🛡️ Practical tips:
- Active Photos in iCloud and make sure you have enough storage
- Use apps like Google Photos for an additional copy in the cloud
- Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac every week to back up your iPhone to iTunes.
- Use external hard drives to store your most important photos
- Schedule monthly reminders to review your backups
📆 A backup routine is the best way to protect your gallery.
🤔 Frequently Asked Questions
❓Can I recover photos after 30 days?
Yes, but only if you have a backup or use specialized software. After 30 days, photos are permanently deleted from iCloud and "Recently Deleted."
❓Are recovery apps safe?
Yes, as long as you choose reputable tools like iMyFone, Dr.Fone, or PhoneRescue. Avoid downloading software from unofficial sites.
❓Can I recover photos without using a computer?
Yes. If they're in iCloud or the Deleted folder, you can do everything from your iPhone. But for deep recoveries, you do need a computer.
✨ Conclusion: Your Photos Still Have Hope
Losing a photo can hurt, but it's not the endWith the right tools, a little patience, and the right strategies, it's entirely possible to recover your images and relive your memories.
Now that you know what to do, don't wait any longer: Check your folders, your iCloud backups, and if necessary, download a reliable recovery program.
📸 Has something similar happened to you? Have you managed to recover photos from your iPhone?
Leave us a comment telling us about your experience and share this guide with someone who needs to recover their memories too.
🔁 Because memories are worth more than a simple file.