Can you recover permanently deleted photos from iPhone?
Yes, it is possible to recover deleted photos from an iPhone even if they have been permanently deleted. When you delete photos from your iPhone, they are not completely erased from the device right away. Instead, the space they occupied is marked as available to be overwritten by new data. As long as this space has not been overwritten, recovery software can scan the iPhone’s storage and restore the deleted photos.
However, the chances of recovery depend on how much time has passed since the photos were deleted. The sooner you act, the higher the likelihood of recovering the lost photos. If too much new data has been added to the iPhone after deletion, then the deleted photos may get overwritten and become unrecoverable.
How are deleted photos stored on an iPhone?
When you delete photos on your iPhone, either from the Camera Roll or recently deleted folder, they are not immediately removed from the device’s storage. Instead, iOS simply marks the space occupied by the photos as available for new data. The actual photo data remains on the storage until that space is overwritten by something else.
This is done for performance reasons. Deleting files immediately is a slow process that can degrade the responsiveness of the operating system. By just marking files as deleted, the OS can continue working at full speed. The space is then reclaimed in the background when new data needs to be written.
This behavior is why deleted photos remain recoverable using data recovery software, provided the storage space has not been reused since deletion. However, the chances of recovery decrease over time as the likelihood of overwritten data increases.
How to recover permanently deleted photos from iPhone without backup?
Here are the steps to recover deleted photos from an iPhone without a backup:
1. Stop using the iPhone immediately
As soon as you realize photos are deleted, stop using the iPhone. More usage could overwrite the storage space where deleted photos reside.
2. Connect the iPhone to a computer
Use the charging cable to connect your iPhone to a computer. This allows recovery software to scan the device storage directly.
3. Run data recovery software
Install data recovery software on the computer and scan the iPhone drive. The tool will find deleted photos if the space hasn’t been overwritten.
4. Select the photos to recover
The software will display recoverable deleted photos. Select the ones you want to restore.
5. Save the photos to the computer
Finally, choose a folder on the computer to save the recovered photos.
Pro tip: Opt for a data recovery tool specialized in iOS devices, as it will provide the best results for iPhone photo recovery.
How to recover permanently deleted photos from iPhone with backup?
If you have a backup of your deleted iPhone photos, you can easily restore them from the backup. Here’s how:
1. Identify the relevant backup
Determine which backup contains the deleted photos you want to recover. This could be an iCloud backup or a local iTunes/Finder backup.
2. Restore the iPhone from the backup
On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset and choose “Erase all content and settings”. Then set up the iPhone again and restore from the backup during setup.
3. Extract photos from the backup
For iCloud backup: sign in to iCloud on a computer and navigate to Photos to download the pictures.
For local backup: use a tool like iExplorer or iMazing to extract photos from the backup folder on your computer.
4. Save photos to the computer or iPhone
Once extracted, you can choose to save the recovered photos back to your iPhone’s Camera Roll or to a folder on your computer.
Can you recover permanently deleted photos without backup?
Yes, it’s possible to recover permanently deleted iPhone photos without a backup using data recovery software. This works by scanning the raw storage on your iPhone and extracting recoverable photo data before it gets overwritten.
Some things to keep in mind when recovering without a backup:
– Act quickly before deleted data gets overwritten. The sooner you run recovery, the better.
– The iPhone must not be used after deletion so that new data doesn’t occupy photo space.
– Only store new data on the computer during recovery to avoid overwriting deleted files on the iPhone.
– Recovery success depends on the state of the device and amount of new data added after deletion.
– You’ll need data recovery software specialized in retrieving lost iOS data. General purpose tools may not work as well.
So while recovering deleted photos without a backup is possible, it carries a risk of failure and should be attempted as soon as possible after deletion.
How to choose an iOS data recovery app?
When selecting data recovery software for your iPhone, here are some key factors to consider:
Compatibility
The tool should support all iOS versions and models, especially newer ones like iOS 16 and iPhone 14.
Recovery capabilities
It should be able to recover photos, messages, contacts, notes, call history, WhatsApp data, and other file types.
Success rate
Preferred tools have a high recovery success rate, even for permanently deleted files.
Scan speed
Faster scan times mean shorter wait to preview recoverable data.
Data safety
The software should not overwrite or alter data during the recovery process.
Ease of use
An intuitive interface makes it simple to operate for both tech-savvy and non-tech users.
Customer support
Prompt and knowledgeable customer support in case any assistance is required.
Pricing
Affordable pricing in line with the value provided by the product. Avoid tools with very low or very high prices.
The best iOS recovery apps check all these boxes and deliver reliable, efficient recovery with minimal hassle. Leading choices include iMyFone D-Back, EaseUS MobiSaver, FoneDog Toolkit, Disk Drill and PhoneRescue.
What are the best free data recovery apps for iPhone?
Here are some of the top free data recovery apps for retrieving deleted files from iOS devices:
1. iMyFone D-Back
Has free trial that allows previewing recoverable data. Easy to use. Offers thorough scanning and recovery.
2. EaseUS MobiSaver
Free version can recover limited data like photos, messages, contacts. Simple interface.
3. Disk Drill
Enables recovery of limited data in free mode. Additional file types require upgrade.
4. PhoneRescue
Can recover up to 30 items without payment. Intuitive design.
5. Primo iPhone Data Recovery
No file number limits. Recovers photos, messages, call logs, contacts, notes and more.
While the free trials allow you to preview recoverable data, most limit the number of items you can actually restore for free. So consider upgrading to the paid versions for full functionality.
Is it possible to recover permanently deleted photos/videos without computer?
It is possible to recover deleted photos and videos from your iPhone without a computer in the following ways:
Via iCloud backup
If you have an iCloud backup that contains the deleted photos, you can restore from it directly on your iPhone. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups > Restore Backup.
Third-party cloud service
If you had synced the deleted photos to a cloud service like Dropbox or Google Photos, you may be able to restore them using the app on your iPhone.
iTunes/Finder wireless restore
You can wirelessly restore from a local iTunes or Finder backup on your Mac or PC using your iPhone’s Wi-Fi connection.
iPhone data recovery apps
Some iOS data recovery apps like iMyFone D-Back offer on-device recovery tool that works directly on your iPhone to restore deleted data without a computer.
Jailbreak method
By jailbreaking your iPhone you can install data recovery apps with deeper system access to retrieve deleted files from iPhone storage directly. But jailbreaking has risks.
So in summary, while a computer enables more recovery options, you do have computer-free methods to restore deleted photos and videos on iPhone as well.
What to do if “Delete All” is clicked in Photos app?
If you have accidentally tapped the “Delete All” option in the Photos app and permanently deleted all your photos, here are some tips on what you can do next:
Stop using the iPhone immediately
Do not save or access any new data on the iPhone, as it could overwrite your deleted photos making them unrecoverable.
Download data recovery software on your computer
Use a reliable iOS data recovery tool to scan your iPhone and extract the deleted photo data before it is lost permanently.
Recover the photos onto your computer
The data recovery tool will find recoverable photos. Select all of them and restore them to a folder on the computer.
Check iCloud photos library
Some photos may have been synced to iCloud before deletion. Login online to iCloud.com and restore them.
Restore iPhone from latest backup
If you have a recent backup via iCloud or iTunes, it may contain some of your deleted photos that you can restore.
Acting quickly is crucial for recovery success. Avoid adding any new data on the iPhone before recovering the deleted photos using data recovery software and backups.
Conclusion
While accidentally deleting photos on your iPhone can be devastating, there are ways to get them back. As long as the storage space containing the photos hasn’t been overwritten, data recovery software can help restore them. Just be sure to stop using the iPhone right after deletion and immediately attempt recovery using specialized iOS data recovery tools and any available backups. With prompt action, you stand a good chance of getting back your precious memories even if they were permanently erased.