How to Recover Lost Photos on iPhone?

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Ever wondered what if your memorable or important photos on iPhone get suddenly deleted? Losing or accidental deletion of photos on an iPhone can be a distressful experience, but the good news is that there are several photo recovery methods available online to recover lost photos on iPhone. This comprehensive guide will explore various techniques to retrieve your precious memories, from built-in iPhone features to third-party iPhone data recovery software. So, let’s get started!

Common Reasons for Deletion of Photos on iPhone

Photos on an iPhone can be deleted due to several reasons, ranging from user error to software glitches. This can also help you take preventive measures to avoid accidental loss of your valuable memories. Here are some of the most frequent causes of photo deletion on an iPhone:

  • Accidental Deletion: One of the main reasons for losing photos on any device, including iPhones, is accidental deletion, i.e., when you delete photos while navigating through the photo gallery or performing other tasks on it.
  • Software Updates: iOS updates can occasionally cause sudden deletion of photos if there’s a glitch during the update process. It’s always advised to back up your iPhone before performing a software update. 
  • Factory Reset: Performing a factory reset without backing up your data will cause the deletion of all photos and other data on your iPhone. 
  • Jailbreaking: Jailbreaking an iPhone provides access to unauthorized apps and features and destabilizes the iOS system, causing potential data loss, including photos.
  • Device Malfunctions: Sometimes, hardware issues, like failing storage components, can cause the loss of photos. Such instances mainly occur due to sudden power failures or storage drive crashes.

How do I Recover Deleted Photos on iPhones?

Whatever the cause for the deletion of photos on your iPhone, it is recommended to avoid saving new files on it. This makes the photo recovery process for recover deleted photos from iPhone simple and easy. Here are some commonly used methods to help you learn how to recover deleted photos from iPad or iPhones:

Method 01: Check the Recently Deleted Album

Every deleted photo on an iPhone goes to the “Recently Deleted” folder before getting permanently removed from it. Those deleted photos and videos remain stored there for 30 days, after which they get permanently deleted from your iPhone. You can follow the below steps to recover deleted photos on iPhone directly from the Recently Deleted folder: 

  • Launch the Photos app and go to the Album tab. 
  • Scroll down and click on the “Recently Deleted” tab.
  • Go through the photos and videos and select the ones that you need to recover. 
  • Click the Recover button from the lower-right corner to conclude the recovery process. 

Method 02: Restore Deleted Photos from iCloud Backup

iCloud2

If the photos are not available in the Recently Deleted folder, then it might have been permanently deleted from your iPhone. In such cases, you can check and restore them using an iCloud backup. This method will restore your iPhone to a previous state, so backup of any data created after can be easily restored. Here’s how to recover deleted photos from iPad or iPhone using iCloud backups: 

  • Firstly, launch a web browser on your iPhone and visit https://www.icloud.com.
  • Now, log in with your username and password.
  • After successful login, choose “Photos” from the web page.
  • Click on the “Recently Deleted” marked album. Also, go through the list of the photos ready for deletion within the next 40 or fewer days.
  • Choose the photos you need to restore and select “Recover”. This will restore your chosen photos to the photo albums. 

Method 03: Restore Lost Photos On iPhone using iTunes Backup

iTunes

Another backup alternative that you can use to recover deleted photos from iPad or iPhones is iTunes backup. If you regularly backup your iPhone to your computer using iTunes, follow the below steps to restore a previous backup to recover your photos:

  • Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch iTunes.
  • Click on your device icon in the iTunes window.
  • Navigate to the Summary tab, and click on “Restore Backup.”
  • Now, select the most relevant backup and then click “Restore.”

Method 04: Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software

If the above methods fail to recover photos from the iPad, third-party data recovery software can help retrieve deleted photos. There are several data recovery tools available online, but the Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone is known for its amazing features. The software supports the recovery of photos deleted due to many reasons, including accidental deletion, virus attacks, formatting, etc. 

The Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone software is known for many features, some of which are: 

  • Not only photos, but the software also supports recovery of deleted videos, texts, contacts, etc.
  • Compatible with iPhone Series 15/14/13/12/11/X and below.
  • The software works with both Windows and Mac devices. 
  • Offers a Deep scan feature to search for lost files based on the file signature.
  • It allows you to preview the recoverable files before saving them on your device.

Here’s how to recover lost or deleted photos on iPhone using the Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone tool: 

Step 1: Firstly, download and install the Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone tool on your Windows/Mac device. Also, connect your iPhone to that device.

Step 2: From the home screen, select Recover from iPhone and choose the type of file you need to restore. To recover Instagram, Snapchat or other App’s photos, select Apps Library. Click the Next button to continue. 

Step 3: Wait till the scanning process is completed. Then, preview the recoverable photos and choose the ones that you need to restore. 

Step 4: Click the Save button to save selected photos at the desired location. 

Preventive Measures to Avoid Deletion of Photos on an iPhone

Hopefully, the above-mentioned methods will help you recover photos from iPad or iPhone. However, it is important to avoid such data loss instances in the future. You can consider the below preventive measures to minimize the risk of photo deletion on an iPhone: 

  • Regular Backups: Maintain regular backups of your photos to iCloud, iTunes, or other cloud services.
  • Careful Navigation: Be cautious while deleting files and ensure you are not removing important photos.
  • Manage Storage: Monitor your iPhone’s storage and manage it without hastily deleting photos.
  • Check App Permissions: Be careful while using third-party apps that request access to your photo library and only grant permissions to trusted apps.
  • Avoid Jailbreaking: Refrain from jailbreaking your iPhone to maintain system stability and security.

Conclusion

Recovering lost or deleted photos on an iPhone can be distressing, but with the right methods and tools, it is often possible to recover deleted photos easily. Start with the built-in recovery options like the “Recently Deleted” album and iCloud or iTunes backups. If these manual methods fail to recover photos from iPad or iPhone, consider using reputable third-party recovery software, such as Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. Additionally, enabling automatic backups can help protect your photos in the future. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of successfully recovering lost photos on your iPhone.