Losing precious photos can be devastating. Fortunately, there are several ways to restore erased photos, depending on where they were stored and how they were deleted. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for recovering deleted photos from iCloud, iPhone, and Mac.
Recovering Deleted Photos from iCloud
iCloud Photos automatically backs up your photos and videos, making recovery possible if you accidentally delete them. Deleted photos are kept in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days before being permanently removed.
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Access Recently Deleted Album: On iCloud.com, open Photos and click the “Recently Deleted” album in the sidebar. If the sidebar isn’t visible, click the sidebar icon.
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Select Photos to Recover: Choose the photos you want to restore. You can select multiple photos.
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Recover Photos: Click the “Recover” button. The selected photos will be moved back to your iCloud Photos library.
Restoring Erased Photos on iPhone
Similar to iCloud, your iPhone keeps deleted photos in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days.
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Open Recently Deleted Album: Launch the Photos app and tap the “Albums” tab. Scroll down to the “Utilities” section and tap “Recently Deleted.”
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Authenticate: In iOS 16 and later, use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock the Recently Deleted album.
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Select Photos: Tap “Select” and choose the photos you want to recover. You can also tap “Recover All” to restore everything in the album.
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Confirm Recovery: Tap “Recover” to confirm your choice. The photos will return to your main photo library.
Retrieving Deleted Photos on Mac
Your Mac also offers a Recently Deleted album within the Photos app for recovering erased photos within 30 days of deletion.
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Open Recently Deleted Album: In the Photos app, click “Recently Deleted” in the sidebar. If the album is locked, unlock it with Touch ID or your password.
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Select Photos: Choose the photos you wish to restore.
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Recover Photos: Click “Recover.” The selected photos will be restored to your Photos library.
Alternative Recovery Methods
If your photos are not in the Recently Deleted album, you may still be able to recover them using Time Machine backups if you have this feature enabled. Refer to Apple’s support documentation for instructions on restoring a Photos library from Time Machine.
alt text: Screenshot of Recently Deleted album in Photos on Mac
Preventing Photo Loss
Regular backups are crucial for preventing permanent photo loss. Ensure iCloud Photos is enabled on your devices and consider using Time Machine for comprehensive backups of your Mac. Remember to periodically review your backup settings and storage to ensure they are up-to-date and sufficient for your needs.
