How to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos on iPhone

If you’ve accidentally lost important pictures, you’re probably wondering how to recover permanently deleted photos on iPhone. 

It can feel stressful when personal memories disappear, whether it’s vacation photos, family moments, or important documents you stored in your gallery. 

But before you panic, know that there are ways to try and recover permanently deleted photos, even if they seem permanently gone.

Let’s walk through the options step-by-step. 

Some solutions are easy, and others might take a little work, but with patience, there’s a good chance you can recover photos back.

Why Photos Get Deleted and What Happens to Them

When you delete a photo on your iPhone, it isn’t removed right away. 

Instead, it goes to a folder called Recently Deleted album, where it stays for 30 days. 

This acts as a safety net, giving you time to restore anything you might have deleted by mistake. 

But after the 30 days, these files are cleared from the folder and become more challenging to recover.

Even after they are “permanently deleted,” some of that data might still be on your phone’s storage, although you can’t access it through normal means. 

The more you use your iPhone, the higher the chances that this space will get overwritten by new data, which makes recovery trickier.

Check the Recently Deleted Folder

Your first stop should always be the Recently Deleted album in the Photos app. 

This Recently Deleted folder recover deleted photos for 30 days before they are wiped out completely.

To check:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Scroll down and tap Recently Deleted.
3. If your photos are there, tap Select and choose the ones you want to restore.
4. Press Recover to move them back to your gallery.

If your photos were recently deleted more than 30 days ago, you won’t find them here. 

But don’t worry – there are other ways to try and recover permanently deleted photos.

Recover from iCloud Backup

If you’ve enabled iCloud backups, you may be able to recover photos saved there. 

Apple’s iCloud automatically backs up your data at night as long as your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in. 

However, restoring from an iCloud backup is a bit of a process because it requires you to reset your phone.

Here’s how to restore your iPhone using an iCloud backup:

1. Check your iCloud backup by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
2. Make sure the backup contains to recover photos you need.
3. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
4. After your iPhone restarts, follow the setup instructions.
5. When prompted, select Restore from iCloud Backup and log in to your iCloud account.

Keep in mind that restoring from backup will replace your current data with the backed-up version. 

Any data or photos saved after the backup was created will be lost.

Protecting Your Photos with Locker: Photo Vault

Sometimes, the best way to recover permanently deleted photos is to avoid losing them in the first place. 

Locker: Photo Vault is an excellent app to protect important iPhone photos by keeping them in a secure, hidden folder. 

This way, even if you accidentally delete photos from your main gallery, they remain safe within the app.

Locker: Photo Vault offers:

• Password protection to keep private iPhone photos secure.
• Encrypted storage so only you can access them.
• Hidden folders that won’t appear in your main photo album.

If you store your sensitive iPhone photos or important documents in Locker: Photo Vault, you won’t have to worry about accidentally deleting them again. 

It’s a proactive solution to ensure your memories are safe.

Install the app today from the App Store for a safe and secure experience for free.

Use Third-Party Recovery Software

If you don’t have an iCloud backup, recovery software can be a lifesaver. Some reliable programs can scan your iPhone’s storage for traces to recover recently deleted photos. 

These tools work by connecting your iPhone to a computer and running a scan to find recoverable files. 

Once the scan completes, you can preview the deleted photos and decide which ones to restore. 

However, these tools aren’t guaranteed to recover permanently deleted photos, especially if a lot of new data has been added to your iPhone after the iPhone photos were deleted.

Recovering Deleted Photos from iTunes Backup

If you prefer to back up your iPhone using iTunes, you can recover permanently deleted files from a previous backup through your computer. 

iTunes backups are useful, especially if you don’t use iCloud or if your iCloud storage is full.

To recover permanently deleted photos from iTunes:

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer you used for backups.
2. Open iTunes and click on your iPhone icon.
3. Under Summary, click Restore Backup.
4. Choose the backup that contains your deleted photos and click Restore.

Just like iCloud recovery, restoring from iTunes will overwrite your current data with the backup. 

Be sure to back up any new data before restoring.

Are Permanently Deleted Photos Really Gone Forever?

In most cases, deleted photos marked as “permanently deleted” can still be recovered until new data overwrites the storage space. 

But the longer you wait, the harder it becomes. That’s why it’s important to try recovery methods as soon as you notice the deleted photos are missing.

A 2023 survey revealed that nearly 30% of iPhone users accidentally delete photos at least once a year. 

And while recovery is possible in many cases, those who act quickly have a much better chance of success.

Comparison Table: Recovery Methods

Final Thoughts

If you’re still wondering how to recover permanently deleted photos on iPhone, your best bet is to act fast. 

Start with the Recently Deleted folder, and if that doesn’t work, check your iCloud or iTunes backups. 

Recovery software is another option, but it’s not foolproof, especially if new data has overwritten your old files.

To prevent this stress in the future, I recommend using Locker: Photo Vault. 

It’s a great way to store important deleted photos safely so they’re protected from accidental deletion. 

Plus, it gives you peace of mind knowing your private pictures are secure.

Losing deleted photos can feel overwhelming, but with a bit of patience and the right tools, there’s always a chance to recover permanently deleted photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Still Recover Permanently Deleted Photos from My iPhone?

Yes, there’s still a chance to recover permanently deleted photos, but it depends on a few things. 

If the deleted photos were deleted recently and your phone hasn’t stored a lot of new data, recovery tools might help you get them back. 

However, if the storage space that held those recover deleted photos has been overwritten, it becomes much harder.

To avoid dealing with this kind of headache in the future, I recommend storing and to retrieve deleted photos in Locker: Photo Vault. 

Even if you accidentally delete images from your main gallery, to retrieve deleted photos saved in Locker remain safe, hidden, and accessible only to you. It’s the best way to protect what matters.

Can Forensics Recover Permanently Deleted iPhone Photos?

Yes, forensics can often recover permanently deleted photos that seem permanently deleted, but this process is complex and usually not available to the average person. 

Experts use advanced software to scan the storage at a deep level, retrieving bits of deleted data that haven’t been overwritten. 

However, this is often costly and time-consuming, and it’s typically used in legal cases, not personal recovery attempts.

For most people, prevention is the smarter move. If you store sensitive photos in Locker: Photo Vault, you won’t have to worry about losing them or needing forensic help to get them back. 

It gives you control over your private pictures and keeps them safe from accidental deletion.

How to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos from Lost iPhone Without Backup?

If you lost your iPhone and don’t have a backup, recovering your photos gets tricky. Without an iCloud or iTunes backup, you won’t be able to restore them using Apple’s tools. 

In this situation, Locker: Photo Vault is a great solution if you had it installed before losing your device. 

It keeps your photos locked away safely, and because they don’t rely on the regular gallery or iCloud, you don’t have to worry about losing them even if the phone is gone.

If Locker was installed and synced, you can log into your account from another device and access your protected photos easily. 

It’s a great way to ensure that your important images are always within reach, no matter what happens to your phone.

Will Deleting Photos from iPhone Stay on iCloud?

Yes, deleting photos from your iPhone will also delete them from iCloud if you have iCloud Photos turned on. 

iCloud syncs in real-time, meaning any changes you make to your iPhone’s gallery, including deletions, are reflected in iCloud. 

However, to restore deleted photos and stay in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days gives you some time to recover deleted photos if needed.

To avoid accidental deletion affecting both your phone and iCloud, Locker: Photo Vault is a better option. 

Store your important and recover photos in Locker, and they’ll be hidden and protected, without syncing to iCloud or risking accidental deletion. 

It’s a smart way to ensure your memories are safe, regardless of what happens on your iPhone.