If you have accidentally deleted music from your iPhone, there are a few options for trying to get it back. However, it’s important to act quickly after deletion to increase your chances of recovering the lost music.
Try the Recently Deleted Folder
When you delete content from your iPhone, it gets moved to the Recently Deleted folder. This folder acts as a temporary holding place for deleted items. Any content in the Recently Deleted folder stays there for up to 40 days before being permanently erased from your device.
To access the Recently Deleted folder on your iPhone:
- Open the Photos app
- Go to the Albums tab at the bottom
- Scroll down and tap on Recently Deleted
This will display any photos, videos, or audio files that have been recently deleted. If you see your deleted music files here, you can tap to select them and then tap Recover to move them back to the Photos or Files app on your iPhone.
Restore from iTunes or Finder Backup
If you regularly sync your iPhone to iTunes on a computer or use Finder backups on a Mac, you may be able to restore deleted music from a previous backup file. This would involve completely erasing your iPhone and restoring it from the backup where you know the deleted music still existed.
To restore from a backup on a computer:
- Connect your iPhone to the computer
- Open iTunes or Finder on the computer
- Select your iPhone under Devices or Locations in the sidebar
- Go to the Summary or General tab
- Click Restore [device] and follow prompts to restore from the latest backup
This process will erase your iPhone and replace all of its content and data with the selected backup file. If the backup contains the deleted music, it will be restored to your device.
Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software
If you don’t have an iTunes or Finder backup that contains your deleted music, you may need to turn to a third-party iOS data recovery app to attempt to retrieve it. These specialized apps can scan your iPhone’s storage and sometimes find remnants of deleted files that can then be recovered.
Some popular recovery apps to consider include:
- iMyFone iBypasser – Scans iPhone storage and extracts recoverable data
- Fonelab iPhone Data Recovery – Retrieves lost iOS data from device or backups
- EaseUS MobiSaver – Finds residual traces of deleted files
- iSkysoft iPhone Data Recovery – Claims high music recovery success rate
To use one of these apps to recover deleted iPhone music:
- Select an app and install it on a computer
- Connect your iPhone to the computer
- Open the app and select the type of data to scan for (music files)
- Allow the app to scan your device for recoverable data
- Preview found files and select music to restore
- Recover selected music back to your computer or iPhone
Retrieve from iTunes or Music App Purchase History
If the deleted music on your iPhone was purchased from iTunes or the Apple Music app, you may be able to retrieve it by looking in your purchase history.
To view your purchase history on iPhone:
- Open the App Store app
- Tap on your profile icon
- Scroll down and tap on Purchased
- Tap on Music to view purchased songs and albums
From here, you can download past music purchases again for free. This works even if the purchases were originally made from a different iPhone or iOS device.
You can also access your iTunes purchase history by:
- Opening iTunes on your computer
- Clicking Account > View My Account
- Scrolling down to Purchase History and viewing music downloads
Re-download any previously purchased music that is now missing from your iPhone.
Sync with iTunes Library Again
If you originally synced music onto your iPhone by connecting it to a computer with iTunes, you may be able to get the deleted tracks back by syncing again.
To restore music via syncing with iTunes library:
- Connect your iPhone to the computer
- Open iTunes and select your iPhone
- Go to the Music section in the sidebar
- Check Sync Music and select Entire music library or specific playlists
- Click Apply to sync the music onto your device again
This will re-add music from your iTunes library that is no longer showing up on your iPhone. Just be aware that it may also delete any additional music you’ve added to your iPhone since the last sync.
Retrieve from iCloud Music Library
If you use Apple Music or subscribe to iTunes Match, your music may be available from the iCloud Music Library that stores all your songs in the cloud.
To get back deleted music using iCloud Music Library:
- Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud
- Make sure iCloud Music Library is enabled
- Open the Apple Music app on your iPhone
- Tap Library at the bottom
- Browse your artists or playlists to re-download missing music
As long as the song or album was previously added to your iCloud Music Library, you can download it again even if deleted from your iPhone.
Contact Apple Support
If you are still unable to recover deleted music after trying these methods, you can contact Apple Support for additional help.
You can contact Apple Support via:
- Online chat on the Apple Support site
- Scheduling a phone call back from a support advisor
- Booking an appointment at an Apple Store Genius Bar
When contacting Apple Support, be ready to provide:
- iPhone model
- iOS version
- Details about when/how music was deleted
- Steps taken so far to recover music
An Apple Support advisor may be able to suggest additional troubleshooting steps specific to your situation. They can also remotely access your iPhone with your permission to attempt data recovery.
Avoid Future Data Loss
While you hopefully can get back lost music using the methods outlined above, it’s always good practice to proactively prevent deletion and data loss in the future.
Here are some tips for avoiding the need to recover deleted iPhone music again:
- Regularly backup your iPhone to iTunes or iCloud
- Double check when deleting large numbers of files
- Think carefully before restoring iPhone from an old backup
- Use iCloud Music Library to store your library in the cloud
- Activate Lost Mode on a lost iPhone to protect its data
- Enable auto-backup of photos to cloud services like Google Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does deleted music stay in the Recently Deleted folder?
Deleted music files will remain in your iPhone’s Recently Deleted folder for up to 40 days before being permanently erased. The exact length of time depends on how much storage space you have available.
What are my chances of recovering deleted music from my iPhone?
If acted upon quickly, the chances of recovering recently deleted iPhone music are fairly good. Using data recovery apps or restoring from an iTunes backup made shortly after deletion offer the best results. After about a month, unrecoverable data loss is more likely.
Can I recover music deleted weeks or months ago?
It becomes very difficult to recover iPhone music deleted more than a few weeks in the past. Backup files and device storage are regularly overwritten after that time period. However, some data recovery apps claim to rescue old deleted files in some cases.
Is it free to retrieve my purchased iTunes music?
Yes, you can always re-download past music purchases from iTunes at no additional cost, even years later. Just find the purchases in your iTunes account history and download them again.
Does syncing with iTunes remove all non-synced content?
Syncing your iPhone to re-add missing music can cause other content to be erased. To avoid this, create a special sync playlist instead of syncing your entire library. Or manually transfer specific music files without allowing a full sync.
Can Apple Support access my iPhone remotely?
Yes, with your approval Apple Support advisors can securely access your iPhone to diagnose issues and attempt data recovery while viewing your screen. This requires installing a temporary support profile on your device.
| Method | Success Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Recently Deleted Folder | High if recovered quickly | Free |
| iTunes/Finder Restore | High with recent backup | Free |
| Data Recovery Software | Medium-High | Paid software |
| iCloud Music Library | High for purchased music | iCloud storage fee |
Conclusion
While accidentally deleting music from your iPhone can be frustrating, there are several effective options for getting those lost tracks back and avoiding permanent data loss. Move quickly to take advantage of the Recently Deleted folder, restore from an iTunes or iCloud backup, or use specialized data recovery software. With some time and effort, you hopefully can restore your missing music libraries and continue enjoying your favorite songs.