How do I recover a photo I deleted by mistake on iPhone with iCloud?
Answer
Open the Photos app, go to Albums, Recently Deleted, select the photo, and tap Recover. If it is not there, check iCloud.com Photos while signed into the same Apple ID before the retention period ends.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Items removed from Recently Deleted are usually permanently deleted and cannot be recovered from that album.
Follow these steps
Recover from Recently Deleted
Open Photos, tap Albums, scroll to Recently Deleted, open it, select the photo, and tap Recover.
You should see: The photo returns to the main library or its previous album.
Check iCloud Photos on the web
If the photo is missing on the phone, sign in at the official iCloud Photos site with the same Apple ID and look in Recently Deleted there, then recover.
You should see: The photo is restored to iCloud Photos and syncs back to the iPhone.
Check other synced devices
If you have another iPhone, iPad, or Mac on the same Apple ID with Photos syncing, open Recently Deleted there and recover.
You should see: The photo is recovered from another device sharing the library.
Restore from backup only if needed
If Recently Deleted is empty everywhere, consider restoring an iCloud or computer backup made before the deletion. Understand that a full device restore can change newer data.
You should see: You either recover the photo from backup or confirm it is permanently gone.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Recently Deleted album, days remaining before permanent deletion, and whether iCloud Photos is enabled for the same Apple ID.
Before you change anything: Do not empty Recently Deleted. Sign in with the same Apple ID used when the photo was taken. Avoid third-party recovery apps that ask for your Apple ID password.