Losing precious photos can be devastating. Fortunately, there are several ways to recover deleted photos, whether they were stored on your phone, computer, or in the cloud. This guide will walk you through the steps to recover photos on various devices and platforms.
Recovering Photos from iCloud
iCloud Photos automatically backs up your photos and videos, making recovery possible even after deletion. Deleted photos are kept in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days before being permanently removed.
To recover photos from iCloud.com:
- Access Photos on iCloud.com.
- Locate and click the “Recently Deleted” album in the sidebar. If the sidebar isn’t visible, click the sidebar icon (three horizontal lines).
- Select the photos you wish to recover.
- Click “Recover.”
Recovering photos from the Recently Deleted album on iCloud.com
Recovering Deleted Photos on iPhone
The process for recovering deleted photos on an iPhone is similar to iCloud.com:
- Open the Photos app.
- Navigate to the “Albums” tab.
- Scroll down to “Utilities” and tap “Recently Deleted.”
- Use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock the album (required for iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or later).
- Select the photo(s) you want to recover and tap “Recover.” Alternatively, tap “Recover All” to restore everything in the album.
- Confirm by tapping “Recover Photo.”
How to Recover Deleted Photos on Mac
Mac users can also recover deleted photos through the Photos application:
- Open the Photos app on your Mac.
- In the sidebar, click “Recently Deleted.” If the album is locked, unlock it using Touch ID or your password.
- Select the photos you want to recover.
- Click “Recover.” The recovered photos will return to your main photo library.
Restoring Photos with Time Machine
If photos are deleted from the Recently Deleted album, Time Machine backups can be used for recovery. This requires having Time Machine set up and configured to back up your Mac. Consult Apple’s support documentation for detailed instructions on restoring a Photos library from a Time Machine backup.
Conclusion: Act Quickly to Recover Lost Photos
Accidental photo deletion is a common occurrence, but recovery is often possible. Remember that deleted photos are only temporarily held in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days. Act quickly to maximize your chances of successful photo recovery. Utilizing cloud services like iCloud Photos and regularly backing up your devices can significantly improve your ability to retrieve lost photos.
