How to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos Using a Backup
The process of recovering deleted photos is tricky. Before you dive in, let’s quickly check the Photos app on iPhone or Mac.
On the iPhone: Open Photos. Tap Albums and swipe until you find (and then tap) the Recently Deleted item under Utilities. If you see the photo(s) you want to get back, tap the photo and tap Recover in the lower right corner.On the Mac: Open Photos. In the left side bar, click the Recently Deleted icon/label. If you see the photo(s) you want to get back, click the photo and then click Recover at the top of the window.
If the photos weren’t there you’ll have to do a bit of fancy footwork to see if they are yet still recoverable. The first step is to see how your photos were stored. If your photos were stored on your device (and not synced with iCloud Photos), you can restore your device from an iCloud backup. It takes a little while, and you will lose any new data from your device. If the photos are worth the trouble, here’s how to hopefully get them back.
How Do I Recover Permanently Deleted Photos from iCloud Photo Library?
After you permanently delete photos from your device, it takes a little while for Apple’s servers to actually delete them. That means you may be able to recover them with third-party data recovery software if you act quickly. Consider your options when choosing a third-party data recovery program. Retrieving your photos will require logging in with your Apple ID and password. Most of these programs will require payment to retrieve large numbers of photos. Since you may not be able to see or choose which photos are being recovered, you might pay $20 or more for photos you didn’t want. Before using a third-party data recovery tool, check the reviews to see if other users successfully recovered their photos. Here’s how the process worked for the one we tried, CopyTrans.
How Do I Recover Permanently Deleted Photos from iCloud After 30 Days?
When you delete photos, you have 30 days to recover them from your deleted files. After that, they are permanently deleted. If it has been more than 30 days since you deleted your photos, third-party software won’t be able to retrieve your photos. If they weren’t saved on your device, you won’t be able to restore them from a backup.
Are Permanently Deleted iCloud Photos Gone Forever?
Yes, in most cases, if you don’t act to retrieve your photos immediately, they’re gone forever. To preserve your photos in the future, download your photos from iCloud and save them in multiple locations.
