Can I recover deleted photos from iPhone??

[Cothurnal]

Hi everyone I have an iPhone 14 Pro and I absolutely love it because of its amazing camera. Honestly I take a TON of photos of my cat my dog random street cats or pretty much anything and I’ve never had any issues with them. But now I’ve run into a problem I thought would never happen to me. I accidentally deleted some really important photos from my gallery and now I’m desperately looking for a way to recover them.
If anyone has any ideas on how I can get back my deleted photos on iPhone I’m all ears and ready to try even the craziest suggestion as long as it works.

[D_Harris_05]

18 minutes ago, Cothurnal said:

Hi everyone I have an iPhone 14 Pro and I absolutely love it because of its amazing camera. Honestly I take a TON of photos of my cat my dog random street cats or pretty much anything and I’ve never had any issues with them. But now I’ve run into a problem I thought would never happen to me. I accidentally deleted some really important photos from my gallery and now I’m desperately looking for a way to recover them.
If anyone has any ideas on how I can get back my deleted photos on iPhone I’m all ears and ready to try even the craziest suggestion as long as it works.

Despite your extensive experience with photography, sometimes even the simplest solution can save the day. Have you checked the “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app?

 

If that works, I promise I won’t be able to resist poking a little fun at your photo management expertise on the iPhone! 😉

[Cothurnal]

6 minutes ago, D_Harris_05 said:

Despite your extensive experience with photography, sometimes even the simplest solution can save the day. Have you checked the “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app?

 

If that works, I promise I won’t be able to resist poking a little fun at your photo management expertise on the iPhone! 😉

Hahaha, no, of course, I checked that folder first, but the photos weren’t there. I didn’t clear out that album myself, but I can’t rule out that someone in my family might have done it. Yeah, yeah, I know it’s not the best idea to let someone else use your phone if you’ve got important stuff on it because, well, things like this can happen, just like it did to me.

[TechieGuru99]

Let me continue the “category of silly ideas”—is it possible that you hid these photos instead of deleting them? That could at least explain why they’re not showing up in Recently Deleted. I’ve had moments myself where I accidentally hid photos when I intended to delete them. It’s worth checking!

[Cothurnal]

32 minutes ago, TechieGuru99 said:

Let me continue the “category of silly ideas”—is it possible that you hid these photos instead of deleting them? That could at least explain why they’re not showing up in Recently Deleted. I’ve had moments myself where I accidentally hid photos when I intended to delete them. It’s worth checking!

Good idea, I didn’t think to check that myself, but I looked, and the photos I need aren’t there either.
Any other tips on how to retrieve deleted photos on iPhone?

[TechieGuru99]

By the way, do you have photo synchronization enabled with iCloud? If it’s on, you might be able to check whether your deleted photos are still available in the iCloud gallery or in the Recently Deleted section there. However, this is only possible if the sync hasn’t already occurred. To avoid further synchronization, I recommend immediately disabling any internet connection on your iPhone, whether it’s Wi-Fi or cellular data. Then, check your iCloud library from another device using a browser.

 

I’ve often noticed that changes I make on my iPhone take time to sync due to poor internet connectivity or when battery-saving mode is enabled. So, if the changes haven’t synced yet, you might still be able to retrieve those photos from iCloud.

 

One more thing - this is a long shot, but worth mentioning. In iCloud, there’s a Data Recovery section. It’s primarily designed for cases where files don’t go to the trash bin, such as when you delete synced files on a Mac using the rm command in the terminal. However, I once came across a photo I’d deleted from the Photos app in this section. I still have no idea how it ended up there - maybe it was some kind of copy stored elsewhere. Either way, while you’re in iCloud, check that section too- just in case.

[Cothurnal]

For a long time, I didn’t have iCloud sync enabled, but recently I turned it on because I was running out of space on my iPhone.
I checked all the places you mentioned - iCloud gallery, Recently Deleted, and even the Recovery section -but no luck, the photos aren’t there. I also looked at other forums and Reddit, and I see a lot of ads for different data recovery software for iPhones. Maybe you could recommend one? I’d like to scan my iPhone, but honestly, there are so many options that it’s overwhelming, and it feels like every program claims to be the best, but none of them seem to be well-liked on forums)

[TechieGuru99]

29 minutes ago, Cothurnal said:

For a long time, I didn’t have iCloud sync enabled, but recently I turned it on because I was running out of space on my iPhone.
I checked all the places you mentioned - iCloud gallery, Recently Deleted, and even the Recovery section -but no luck, the photos aren’t there. I also looked at other forums and Reddit, and I see a lot of ads for different data recovery software for iPhones. Maybe you could recommend one? I’d like to scan my iPhone, but honestly, there are so many options that it’s overwhelming, and it feels like every program claims to be the best, but none of them seem to be well-liked on forums)

Here’s the thing about data recovery software claiming to recover photos directly from an iPhone: they’re not telling the full truth. That doesn’t necessarily mean the software is bad, but the iPhone’s storage system is built with robust encryption, making it impossible to access like you would a USB drive or hard disk.

 

The only way these tools can “access” your iPhone’s data is by creating an iTunes backup and then scanning that backup. Essentially, they pull the current data on your iPhone into a backup file and parse it with their algorithms. While it’s true that some deleted files might still exist in the backup as cached data or remnants, the chances are minimal.

 

Another important point is how iPhone handles storage cleanup. If you thought the previous explanation made recovery seem unlikely, here’s more: files on an iPhone are stored in database-like structures. When you delete a photo (permanently), the system marks the data as “trash” and then triggers a cleanup process. This process permanently removes those files, making recovery nearly impossible.

 

So, while you may come across tools offering hope, it’s critical to understand these limitations. They can only work with what’s available in the backup, and if the cleanup process has already run, there’s no going back.

[Cothurnal]

Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot of new details I hadn’t even thought about before. So does this mean I’m out of options for recovering deleted photos from my iPhone? Am I right in thinking that even professional recovery services won’t be able to help me get back deleted photos on my iPhone?

[PixelDreamer5]

Just now, Cothurnal said:

Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot of new details I hadn’t even thought about before. So does this mean I’m out of options for recovering deleted photos from my iPhone? Am I right in thinking that even professional recovery services won’t be able to help me get back deleted photos on my iPhone?

Services for data recovery on iPhones mostly focus on fixing damaged devices - like replacing a screen or a component to restore access to the data. That’s basically what “recovery” means in this context
I read through all the messages in the thread and noticed you mentioned you hadn’t used iCloud photo sync for a long time. Were the deleted photos from the time when you didn’t have sync enabled? Just trying to figure out the situation here

[Cothurnal]

Just now, PixelDreamer5 said:

Services for data recovery on iPhones mostly focus on fixing damaged devices - like replacing a screen or a component to restore access to the data. That’s basically what “recovery” means in this context
I read through all the messages in the thread and noticed you mentioned you hadn’t used iCloud photo sync for a long time. Were the deleted photos from the time when you didn’t have sync enabled? Just trying to figure out the situation here

No, these are pretty old photos, and they were definitely on my phone before I turned on iCloud sync. How does that affect things? Your message has given me a bit of hope 🙏

[PixelDreamer5]

Look, if you made an iTunes backup when iCloud sync was turned off, your photos would’ve been included in that backup. (Even with iCloud sync on, photos get backed up but only if they’re stored locally on your phone in full size). You can restore that backup, but keep in mind you’ll lose all unsynced data created after the backup was made. So, think carefully before restoring the whole backup.

Another option, if you do have that iTunes backup, is using iPhone data recovery software. These tools can scan your old backups and extract individual files without needing to restore the entire backup. Since you’re dealing with just a few photos, this could be a good solution. But heads up- these apps usually don’t allow free recovery, though they let you scan and preview files. Sometimes that’s enough to check if the photos you need are there.

From personal experience, I’d recommend Disk Drill, but you could also try iPhone Backup Extractor. Just a note - the latter has an annual subscription, while Disk Drill offers a lifetime license, which might be a better deal in the long run.

[spakk]

On 3/7/2025 at 4:16 PM, Cothurnal said:

Hi everyone I have an iPhone 14 Pro and I absolutely love it because of its amazing camera. Honestly I take a TON of photos of my cat my dog random street cats or pretty much anything and I’ve never had any issues with them. But now I’ve run into a problem I thought would never happen to me. I accidentally deleted some really important photos from my gallery and now I’m desperately looking for a way to recover them.
If anyone has any ideas on how I can get back my deleted photos on iPhone I’m all ears and ready to try even the craziest suggestion as long as it works.

If no backup or iCloud storage is available, try using one of the following data recovery software:

• Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (iOS)
• iMobie PhoneRescue
• Tenorshare UltData
• EaseUS MobiSaver

[Cothurnal]

1 hour ago, PixelDreamer5 said:

Look, if you made an iTunes backup when iCloud sync was turned off, your photos would’ve been included in that backup. (Even with iCloud sync on, photos get backed up but only if they’re stored locally on your phone in full size). You can restore that backup, but keep in mind you’ll lose all unsynced data created after the backup was made. So, think carefully before restoring the whole backup.

Another option, if you do have that iTunes backup, is using iPhone data recovery software. These tools can scan your old backups and extract individual files without needing to restore the entire backup. Since you’re dealing with just a few photos, this could be a good solution. But heads up- these apps usually don’t allow free recovery, though they let you scan and preview files. Sometimes that’s enough to check if the photos you need are there.

From personal experience, I’d recommend Disk Drill, but you could also try iPhone Backup Extractor. Just a note - the latter has an annual subscription, while Disk Drill offers a lifetime license, which might be a better deal in the long run.

YAY!! I managed to find what I needed!! I started looking for those backups, checked my personal Windows PC, but there were no copies there. Then I remembered that I had made a backup on my work Mac to test something—I don’t even remember what anymore—but luckily, it was still there!

 

I downloaded Disk Drill based on your recommendation, and honestly, it’s pretty convenient. I opened the iPhone recovery section, and it automatically detected my backup. I started the scan, filtered the results, and within a few minutes, I found my files. While I could already access the data, I decided to fully restore the photos. Unfortunately, I couldn’t save screenshots of them without buying the software, so I decided to purchase it and recovered the photos in their original resolution.

 

Honestly, I think having Disk Drill in my toolkit is a great investment for the future. And it’s amazing that I didn’t have to reset my phone to the backup state! This feels like a miracle! 🎉

[oleksandr-lukashyn]

For future visitors of this thread, let’s summarize the steps to recover deleted photos from iPhone:

• Disable any internet connection: This prevents further synchronization with iCloud if it’s enabled on your device.
• Check iCloud for your files: Changes from your iPhone might not have synced yet, allowing you to recover deleted files through iCloud. Check all relevant folders, from the Recently Deleted section in the Photos app to the Data Recovery section within iCloud.
• If the above steps fail, you’ll need to rely on backups. You can either restore your phone to a previous backup to regain access to your files or use data recovery software compatible with your type of backup (iTunes or iCloud). As mentioned in the thread, photos are included in backups only if they aren’t synced with iCloud. Although not explicitly stated, this applies equally to both iCloud and iTunes backups.

In the case of the @Cothurnal, he successfully recovered his photos using an iTunes backup and Disk Drill. @Cothurnal also noted that investing in Disk Drill was a great decision, and I have to agree - having such a versatile data recovery tool is a valuable asset for the future.

 

Thanks to everyone who contributed advice and support to this thread!

 

[Emma962]

Honestly, most iPhone data recovery tools out there are still based on Apple’s own methods, like iCloud, iTunes, or the “Recently Deleted” folder, to help you get back lost photos or files.

That said, some tools do make things a bit easier. For example, MagFone iPhone Data Recovery can scan your whole device and organize everything into categories, so it’s simpler to go through and find what you need. Since these tools usually run on a computer, it’s also much easier to preview your lost files on a bigger screen.

Personally, I’d try the official options first. If you still can’t find your files and they’re important, then it’s worth giving this kind of software a try. And if it doesn’t work out, you can usually contact their support team and request a refund.

[RowanBellamy]

On 3/10/2025 at 1:55 PM, TechieGuru99 said:

Here’s the thing about data recovery software claiming to recover photos directly from an iPhone: they’re not telling the full truth. That doesn’t necessarily mean the software is bad, but the iPhone’s storage system is built with robust encryption, making it impossible to access like you would a USB drive or hard disk.

 

The only way these tools can “access” your iPhone’s data is by creating an iTunes backup and then scanning that backup. Essentially, they pull the current data on your iPhone into a backup file and parse it with their algorithms. While it’s true that some deleted files might still exist in the backup as cached data or remnants, the chances are minimal.

 

Another important point is how iPhone handles storage cleanup. If you thought the previous explanation made recovery seem unlikely, here’s more: files on an iPhone are stored in database-like structures. When you delete a photo (permanently), the system marks the data as “trash” and then triggers a cleanup process. This process permanently removes those files, making recovery nearly impossible.

 

So, while you may come across tools offering hope, it’s critical to understand these limitations. They can only work with what’s available in the backup, and if the cleanup process has already run, there’s no going back.  онлайн казино

This is a really clear explanation. A lot of people assume it works like recovering files from a PC, but iPhones just don’t handle storage that way at all.

Edited June 20 by RowanBellamy