Quick Answer
It is possible to recover deleted photos from an iPhone from up to 2 years ago, but the success rate decreases over time. The best method is to use a third party iOS data recovery software that can scan the iPhone storage and find any recoverable photo data. However, the longer ago the photos were deleted, the less likely a full recovery will be possible.
In Depth Answer
When photos are deleted on an iPhone, they are not immediately erased from the storage. 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 storage and find the deleted photo data to recover it.
However, over time the deleted photos have a higher chance of being partially or fully overwritten by new data as the iPhone continues to be used normally. Here are some key factors that affect the recoverability of deleted iPhone photos:
Time Since Deletion
The less time that has passed since the photos were deleted, the higher the chance of recovery. Any photos deleted within the past few days have a very high recovery rate. As the deletion time gets older, more data may have been written over the storage space. Recovering photos from 2 years ago or longer becomes less likely.
iPhone Storage Capacity and Usage
iPhones with more available storage space are less likely to overwrite deleted data quickly. Heavy iPhone users who take lots of photos and videos will overwrite data faster than light users. The more full the iPhone storage, the higher chance of deleted data being overwritten.
Whether the iPhone was Restored or Wiped
Restoring or wiping the iPhone deletes all data and makes recovery impossible through scanning the storage alone. Backups would need to be used to recover deleted photos from before the restore/wipe.
Best Recovery Methods
To recover deleted photos from an iPhone, even years later, you need to avoid writing any data to the storage to prevent overwriting the deleted files. Then data recovery software can scan the storage for recoverable photo data. Here are the best practices:
Use a Trusted Recovery App
Specialized third party iOS data recovery software is the most effective way to recover deleted iPhone photos. They perform a deeper scan than built-in tools. Top options include iSkysoft Toolbox, EaseUS MobiSaver, and Tenorshare UltData.
Connect the iPhone to a Computer
For the recovery app to scan the iPhone storage, connect it directly to a computer using the USB cable. Do not recover over WiFi or remote connection. Direct physical access provides the best results.
Avoid Overwriting Data
Once deleted photos are discovered for recovery, be extremely careful not to write new data to the iPhone storage or the files could be overwritten. Avoid capturing new photos, videos, downloading apps, updating iOS, etc.
Factors Affecting Success Rate of Recovery
Many factors determine how likely a complete recovery of photos from 2+ years ago will be on an iPhone:
| Factor | Impact on Recovery Success |
|---|---|
| Time since deletion | The longer ago deletion occurred, the lower the success rate |
| Storage capacity | Higher capacity makes overwriting deleted data less likely |
| iPhone usage and fullness | Heavy usage and full storage increase chance of overwriting |
| Restoration or wiping | Makes storage-only recovery impossible, need backups |
| iOS version | Some versions handle deleted files differently |
| Jailbreaking | Can enable deeper data access for better recovery success |
As the table shows, the most important factor is the time since the photos were originally deleted. The longer the time span, the less likely a full recovery becomes.
Improving Success Rate of Photo Recovery
If you need to recover deleted iPhone photos from 2+ years ago, follow these tips to improve success:
Use Multiple Recovery Methods
Combining iOS data recovery software with a backup scan will yield the maximum results. The software scans the live storage while the backup provides an earlier snapshot to fill any gaps.
Avoid Actions That Overwrite Data
Minimize iPhone usage once deleted photos are discovered to prevent new data overwriting them. Avoid capturing new photos, downloading apps and media, updating iOS, etc.
Recover Sooner Rather Than Later
Do not delay photo recovery once deletion is discovered. The sooner recovery is attempted, the better the outcome will be.
Jailbreak the iPhone If Needed
Jailbreaking gives data recovery tools deeper access to storage for better results. But it is not required if recovery is done soon after deletion.
Know iOS Behaviors for Different Versions
Some iOS versions handle deleted files differently than others. Research to understand the specific version’s behavior and optimal recovery methods.
Alternative Options If Recovery Fails
If recovery of deleted iPhone photos from 2+ years ago fails through the storage and/or backups, there are still some options:
iCloud Photo Library
If iCloud Photos was enabled at the time, the deleted photos may still be retrievable from Apple’s cloud storage. The entire library can be downloaded to check.
Synced Computers
The photos may still reside on a computer the iPhone was previously synced to if that sync connection was never reset.
Photo Sharing Sites
If deleted photos were shared on social media or cloud photo services, the original uploads may still be accessible through those accounts.
Hard Copy Prints
Prints or photo gifts made from the deleted photos can be scanned and turned back into digital copies if the hard copies still exist.
Accept Loss
If all recovery options are exhausted, the photos may sadly just be lost permanently. But take it as a lesson to always have good backups for the future.
Preventing Photo Loss
To avoid needing photo recovery from an iPhone in the future:
Enable iCloud Photo Library
This automatically backs up new photos to Apple’s cloud storage so deletions can be undone. It also includes device-to-device syncing.
Create Regular Manual Backups
Do periodic backups to a computer, external hard drive, or cloud photo service. This provides multiple secondary copies of photos.
Use Non-Destructive Editing
When editing photos, use non-destructive editing that saves changes separately without altering originals. This preserves integrity of photos.
Confirm Deletions
Go slowly when deleting photos. Double check they are backed up elsewhere before confirming deletion. Avoid bulk deletions.
Store Photos in Multiple Places
Saving photos in several locations, both locally and in the cloud, provides redundancy that prevents loss if one copy is deleted.
Conclusion
While recovering photos from 2+ years ago on an iPhone becomes harder over time, it can certainly be successful in many cases using the right recovery tools and methods. The most important factors are acting quickly before storage is overwritten, avoiding any usage that could cause overwriting, and scanning both live storage and backups. Following proper backup procedures can prevent photo loss from occurring in the first place.