Losing precious iPhone photos can feel devastating - whether it happened after an iOS update, a mistaken tap, or a factory reset.
The good news: most photos aren't gone forever, even if you havn't backed up before.
In this guide, you'll learn every reliable way to get them back - from free built-in options to the most effective professional solution, FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery, trusted by thousands of users worldwide.
How iPhone Handles Deleted Photos
When you delete a photo on iPhone, it will not erase it immediately. First, iPhone will move the deleted photo to a "soft-delete" zone. There will be 3 statuses for the deleted photos, including:
- Recently Deleted Album: Stores deleted photos & videos for 30 days.
- Permanent Deletion: After 30 days (or manual removal), data becomes invisible but still exists in storage until overwritten.
- iCloud Photos Sync: Deletes the same image from all devices if sync is on.
This is why timely action - or a deep-scan tool like FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery - makes all the difference - iPhone doesn't delete photos instantly, and during this period, third-party iPhone photo recovery tools can still detect them and recover for you.
Method 1 - Recover from the "Recently Deleted" Album (Within 30 Days)
Summary: This method focuses on how to recover deleted photos from iPhone if you just delete them within 30 days, without permanently erase the deletions in the "Recently Deleted Album". It can be easy to complete the restore.
Steps
1. Open Photos → Albums → Recently Deleted.
2. Tap Select, choose your photos.
3. Tap Recover → Confirm.
Limitations
- Only keeps files for 30 days.
- Works for photos and videos only.
- If the folder was cleared, they're permanently gone.
💡 Tip: Go to Settings > Photos > Show Hidden and Recently Deleted Albums if you can't see the folder.
If this doesn't work - for example, if you discover that the album is empty - don't give up.
A deep-scan tool such as FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery can still locate and retrieve those hidden photo fragments before they're overwritten.
Why Free Methods Often Fail - and When to Use Professional Tools
Apple's built-in recovery relies on existing backups or short-term storage.
It fails when:
- iCloud Photos sync instantly removes deleted items from every device.
- iCloud Backup wasn't enabled, or space ran out (only 5 GB free).
- iTunes backup is outdated or missing.
- Photos were deleted > 30 days ago.
That's where professional data recovery software becomes essential.
Instead of relying on backups, these tools perform a deep device-level scan — recovering data directly from iPhone’s internal memory.
Method 2 - Recover Permanently Deleted Photos with FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery (Recommended)
Summary: If you have deleted photos on your iPhone permanently (you can't find them in Recently Deleted Album), third-party recovery software, FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery can be the most effective and reliable way to retrieve deleted photos even without backups.
Why Choose FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery
- Recovers photos, videos, messages, contacts, and more.
- Works even after permanent deletion or device reset.
- Supports iOS 12 – 26 / iPhone 6s – 17.
- Preview before recovery.
- Safe, read-only scan (no data overwrite).
FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery excels in retrieving deleted photos from iPhone without backup. Its compatibility with various image formats ensures a high success rate in lossless recovery. And the user-friendly interface provides selective recovery with clear photo previews, while it prioritizes privacy and data security by processing recovery locally. Besides, FonePaw is compatible with all iOS versions and iPhone models, standing as an affordable, reliable, and effective iPhone photo recovery software.
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Key takeaway: Only when the data is overwritten can FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery retrieve permanently deleted photos. So you'd better process the recovery as soon as possible before they are gone.
How It Works
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer.
Step 2. Open FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery → choose Recover from iOS Device.
Step 3. Scan to detect deleted photos.
Step 4. Preview & select images to restore.
Step 5. Recover and save them to your computer.
🧪 FonePaw Lab Test 2025: Average photo recovery success rate = 95 %, tested on iPhone 16 (iOS 18).
🔍 Try Free Scan Now → See what can still be recovered before purchase.
Method 3 - Recover from iCloud Photos or iCloud Backup
Summary: Works if you have enabled the iCloud syncing service and have saved your photos before deletion.
Check iCloud Photos
First, go to iCloud and check if the deleted photos are stored on cloud. If yes, directly downloading them again and the photos will be back on your iPhone in no time.
1. Visit iCloud.com/photos.
2. Sign in → browse library & Recently Deleted.
3. If the deleted photos can be found on iCloud, you can directly recover them by downloading from the cloud.
Restore from iCloud Backup
If the deleted photos are not found online, try restore your phone to an earlier backup following the steps below:
1. Erase Device: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
2. Re-set up iPhone → Restore from iCloud Backup.
3. Choose a backup made before the loss.
Limitations
- Requires Wi-Fi and Apple ID.
- Restoring will overwrite current data.
- Free 5 GB storage often too small for photos, which means that you will need to pay extra fee for enlarging your iCloud stroage.
Method 4 - Recover from iTunes / Finder Backup
Summary: If you've ever backed up iPhone to a computer, you can restore deleted photos from the backup files saved on your desktops. But all data will be reloaded as no selective function is available.
Steps
1. Connect iPhone → open Finder (macOS Catalina +) or iTunes (older macOS/Windows).
2. Select device → Restore Backup.
3. Pick a backup created before deletion → Restore.
Limitations
- Restores the entire system (not selective).
- May overwrite new data.
💡 Tip: You can use FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery to extract only photos from an iTunes backup without resetting your device.
Comparison Table - Which Method Works Best
Key Takeaway: To select the best method and most suitable to recover deleted photos, you should consider whether you have backed up iPhone data before, and how long you have deleted the photos on your device. Definitely, the success rate can also affect the efficiency in dealing with deleted photo recovery on iPhone.
| Method | Need Backup | Overwrite Risk | Supported Data | Difficulty | Success Rate |
| Recently Deleted | No | Low | Photos/Videos ≤ 30 days | ★☆☆ | 60% |
| iCloud Backup | Yes | High | Full device | ★★☆ | 40% |
| iTunes Backup | Yes | High | Full device | ★★☆ | 45% |
| FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery | No | None | Photos, videos, messages etc. | ★★★ | 95 % ✅ |
How to Choose the Right Recovery Path
Based on the different situations you are in, the option can vary. Here's the recommended method for different users to retrieve deleted photos from iPhone:
| Your Situation | Best Option |
| Deleted < 30 days ago | Recently Deleted folder |
| Have iCloud backup | Restore from iCloud |
| Have computer backup | iTunes / Finder |
| No backup / permanent deletion | FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery |
Expert Tips to Boost Recovery Success
The success rate of deleted photo recovery can be affected greatly based on whether your data is backed up or overwritten. Here are some tips that focus on data protection in order to guarantee higher recovery success rate when you delete your photos accidentally:
- Stop using your iPhone immediately to avoid data overwriting.
- Scan before restoring - never perform blind recovery.
- Backup current data first to a computer.
- Avoid "cleaner" apps that erase cache or temp files.
- Enable regular iCloud or Finder backups after recovery.
FAQ - Common Questions about Photo Recovery
Q1. What's the most reliable way to recover permanently deleted photos?
Using FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery, which performs a device-level scan with up to 95% success rate. It also supports partial recovery and can deeply scan permanently deleted photos before they are overwritten, which can help you get back most of your photos without hassle.
Q2. How long does iPhone keep deleted photos?
Generally, iPhone will keep deleted photos for 30 days in its Recently Deleted album.
Q3. Will recovery software erase my data?
No. FonePaw operates read-only and never modifies your files.
Q4. Does it work on iPhone 17 / iOS 26?
Yes - FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery is fully compatible with the latest models and systems. For the latest-released iPhone 17 of iOS 26 system, FonePaw has just added the support!
Q5. Is there any free way to recover photos?
Only if they remain in Recently Deleted or an existing iTunes / Finder backup, or you will need to pay for third-party services to recover deleted photos instead.
Conclusion - Right Tools Ready for Deleted Photo Recovery
Whether you have a backup or not, acting quickly with the right tool matters. This blog has reviewed 4 different methods to help you process deleted photos recovery under different situations.
🔍 Try FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery to see what’s recoverable before you buy.
Bring your memories back in minutes.
