We all make mistakes sometimes, and accidentally deleting an app on your iPhone is an easy thing to do. Thankfully, recovering a deleted app is usually pretty straightforward. Here are some quick answers to common questions about restoring deleted iPhone apps:
Can I recover a deleted app on my iPhone?
Yes, it is usually possible to recover a deleted iPhone app, as long as you act quickly and don’t overwrite the data.
How does app data get deleted when I delete an app?
When you delete an app from your iPhone, the app itself gets removed but the data and settings associated with that app aren’t immediately deleted. The data stays on your device for a period of time until the storage space is needed for something else.
How long do I have to recover a deleted iPhone app?
You typically have around 30 days to recover a deleted app on your iPhone before the data is overwritten. The sooner you try to restore the app, the better.
What are my options for recovering a deleted iPhone app?
There are a few different options for recovering a deleted iPhone app:
- Restore from a backup – If you have an iTunes or iCloud backup that contains the deleted app, you can restore your phone from that backup.
- Re-download the app – Go to the App Store and search for the app you deleted. You can re-download it for free if you’ve purchased it previously.
- Use iPhone data recovery software – Specialized software like iMyFone D-Back or EaseUS MobiSaver can scan your iPhone and recover deleted app data.
How do I recover an app from an iTunes backup?
Here are the steps to restore a deleted app using an iTunes backup:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes.
- In iTunes, click on your iPhone icon and select “Restore from Backup” in the Summary panel.
- Select the backup you want to restore from, then click Restore.
- iTunes will restore your iPhone from the backup, including the deleted app and its data.
- Once the restore is complete, sync your iPhone to redownload the app.
How do I recover an app from an iCloud backup?
To restore from an iCloud backup:
- Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
- Tap the name of the iCloud backup you want to restore from.
- Tap Restore and confirm on the pop-up message.
- Your iPhone will reboot and restore from the iCloud backup.
- Once complete, the deleted app and its data will be restored.
Can I recover a deleted app without a backup?
It is possible to recover a deleted iPhone app without a backup using data recovery software. Some options include:
- iMyFone D-Back – Scans your iPhone and extracts residual data for deleted apps. Can restore app data and documents.
- EaseUS MobiSaver – Retrieves lost iPhone app data even without backups. Can also recover photos, messages, etc.
- iSkysoft iPhone Data Recovery – Extracts lost app documents, data, and archives from iPhones and iPads.
These data recovery apps work even if you don’t have a backup. Just connect your iPhone, scan it, and restore the app data. However, recovering data without a backup is less reliable than restoring from a backup.
How can I view residual app data before restoring?
When recovering a deleted app without a backup using data recovery software, you’ll usually be able to preview the residual documents and data for that app before choosing to restore it. This allows you to confirm it is the right app data.
For example, in iMyFone D-Back you can browse the extracted data and see app names, documents, and data types prior to recovery. This lets you verify you have found the correct deleted app before restoring.
What types of app data can be recovered?
The types of app data that recovery software can restore include:
- App documents, files, and archives
- App settings and configuration data
- Game progress and saved states
- Messages, history, and other app content
- Offline cache and data
Basically, any data the app stores locally on your iPhone can potentially be recovered as long as it wasn’t overwritten.
Can I recover data from both free and paid apps?
Yes, app recovery software can restore data from both free and paid iPhone apps. It doesn’t matter if the app was free or paid – as long as the app stored data locally on your device, there’s a good chance the data is still recoverable.
Does app recovery work if my iPhone is locked?
Most iPhone data recovery software programs will work to recover deleted apps even if your iPhone is locked. They are still able to scan your device and extract app data by putting the iPhone into recovery mode temporarily during the process.
However, a few things to note if your iPhone is locked:
- You may need to temporarily disable Find My iPhone.
- Passcode locked iPhones can only recover limited app data in some cases.
- For full app data recovery, it’s better if your iPhone is unlocked.
Will I lose any data by re-downloading an app?
If you simply re-download a deleted app from the App Store, you will essentially be starting fresh – any saved data, documents, history, etc. from the old install will be lost.
That’s why it’s better to use data recovery software or restore from a backup whenever possible. That way you can restore the app and all of its old data.
What happens if I can’t recover a deleted app?
If you aren’t able to recover a deleted app using the methods described here, then unfortunately that app data is likely gone for good. Some things to keep in mind:
- Act quickly before the data is overwritten by something else.
- Apps can’t recover data they didn’t originally store, like cached streams.
- Some types of data may not be recoverable after longer periods.
- Regular backups help protect against permanent data loss.
While app data recovery isn’t 100% guaranteed, following the right steps shortly after deleting an app gives you the best chance of getting your data back.
Can I recover a deleted app on my iPad or iPod Touch?
Yes, the recovery process for deleted apps is essentially the same for other iOS devices like iPads and iPod Touches.
You can restore iPad and iPod Touch apps from an iTunes or iCloud backup, re-download them from the App Store, or use data recovery software to extract residual documents and data – just like on an iPhone.
Conclusion
Accidentally deleting an important app from your iPhone can be frustrating. Thankfully there are a few straightforward ways to recover deleted iPhone apps:
- Restore your iPhone from an iTunes or iCloud backup.
- Redownload the app from the App Store.
- Use iPhone data recovery software to extract the leftover app data.
As long as you act relatively soon and don’t overwrite the data, you have a good chance of getting back your deleted apps. Just be sure to regularly backup your iPhone to avoid permanent data loss.