Many people have old iPhones lying around that contain sentimental photos from years past. When you upgrade to a new iPhone or your old one becomes damaged or nonfunctional, those photos can get stuck on the old device. People are often unsure about how to retrieve their nostalgic pictures from an old iPhone.
Some common reasons photos get trapped on old iPhones include: upgrading to a newer model and not properly transferring data, the old phone breaking or no longer turning on, forgetting to back up photos before wiping the device, or not knowing how to extract the images.
Losing old photos can be devastating since they capture cherished memories and milestones. The good news is there are various methods to retrieve your photos from an old iPhone, even if you can no longer power it on.
Locate the iPhone
The first step is to thoroughly search everywhere you may have stored the old iPhone over the years, like desk drawers, boxes in closets, garages, basements, attics, etc. Check every location no matter how unlikely it seems. Old devices can often be rediscovered in surprising places after being misplaced years ago.
If you still can’t find the device after a meticulous search, you can try using Find My iPhone to attempt to locate it, as long as Find My iPhone was enabled on the device. Open the Find My app on any Apple device logged into your Apple ID and see if the missing iPhone shows up. You can play a sound to help find it if the old iPhone still has battery power and is within Bluetooth range.
Charge the Device
Before attempting to recover photos from an old iPhone, it is crucial to get the device charged up. The iPhone’s battery must have adequate power for the phone to turn on and allow data transfer. According to Apple Support, you should connect the iPhone to a power outlet using the included charging cable and USB power adapter. Let it charge for at least a few hours before trying to power it on or access the data.
If the iPhone’s battery is depleted or no longer holding a charge, you may need to try other charging methods. Discussions on the Apple forums suggest trying different cables, wall adapters, and computers to provide power. However, if the battery has reached the end of its lifespan, it may never fully recharge. In that case, professional data recovery services may be required to extract the data before the battery dies completely.
Backup with iTunes
One way to retrieve photos from an old iPhone is to connect it to a computer with iTunes installed and do a backup. This will save a copy of the photos to the computer where they can be accessed.
To do this, first connect the iPhone to the computer using the USB cable. Open iTunes on the computer, and make sure the iPhone is detected. On a Mac, the iPhone will show up in the sidebar under Devices. On Windows, it appears in the upper right under the playback controls.
With the iPhone connected and detected, you can initiate a backup by going to File > Devices > Back Up Now on Windows or clicking Back Up Now if you have automatic backups disabled. This will save a full copy of the iPhone data, including photos, to the computer.
However, if encryption was enabled on the iPhone backup, you may be prompted for the password when trying to access the photos. Without the password, there is no way to decrypt the backup and access its contents. Disabling encryption beforehand allows full access to photos in the future.
According to Apple’s support article (source), photos that were not synced to iCloud will be stored locally in the iTunes backup. So this method provides a way to retrieve those photos not already in the cloud.
Use iCloud
If you had iCloud backup enabled on your old iPhone, there’s a good chance your photos were backed up to iCloud. To access your photos, simply log into iCloud.com with your Apple ID and navigate to the Photos section. From here, you can view, download, and manage all of your iCloud photos and videos.
To download your entire iCloud photo library to your computer, click the Settings gear icon when viewing your photos online. Select “Download all” to download full-resolution versions of all your photos and videos. This may take some time depending on how many photos you have stored in iCloud.
Once downloaded to your computer, you can then connect your new iPhone and use iTunes or the Finder (macOS Catalina or later) to sync the photos over. You can also re-enable iCloud Photo Library on your new iPhone and choose the option to download all originals to restore your entire photo library directly.
Transfer Directly to New iPhone
One of the easiest ways to transfer photos from an old iPhone to a new iPhone is by using a device-to-device transfer. This allows you to move photos directly between two iPhones without needing a computer or iCloud. Here is a step-by-step guide for transferring photos using this method:
1. Make sure both your old iPhone and new iPhone are updated to the latest version of iOS. Connect both phones to a power source during the transfer process.
2. On the new iPhone, open the Settings app and tap “General” then “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”
3. Select “Transfer from iPhone” then tap “Continue.” The new phone will search for your old iPhone.
4. When prompted, enter your passcode on the old iPhone and tap “Trust.” This will start the data migration process.
5. On the new iPhone, you’ll see an animation of the data transfer taking place. Let the process complete – this can take awhile depending on how much data is being moved.
6. Once finished, you’ll see “Transfer Complete” on both iPhones. The new phone now has all your photos (and other data) from the old phone.
This direct iPhone-to-iPhone transfer is a convenient way to move your photos to a new device while avoiding iCloud or a computer. Just make sure both phones are fully charged and remain connected during the entire data migration.
Extract from iCloud.com
If you recently upgraded to a newer iPhone, your old photos may still be stored in iCloud. You can access and download your photos directly from the iCloud website.
To do this:
- Go to iCloud.com and sign in using your Apple ID and password.
- Click on the Photos icon.
- This will open your iCloud photo library. Browse and select the photos you want to save.
- Click the Download button at the bottom.
- Choose to download the original full-resolution photo files.
- Select a folder on your computer to save the photos to.
The selected photos will download from iCloud to your computer. You can then access them without needing your old iPhone.
This provides a simple way to retrieve photos stored in your iCloud account online, even from an older iPhone you no longer use or have access to.
Third Party Software
Third party software provides another option for recovering photos from an old iPhone. Some popular programs include:
- iMazing – Allows wirelessly recovering data or extracting backups from iCloud. The paid version ($44.99) enables full data recovery.
- Dr. Fone – Claims to recover data in over 20 file types from iOS devices. The premium version ($79.95) adds more features.
- Disk Drill – Scans storage and reconstructs lost data. The Pro upgrade ($89) enables all recovery capabilities.
The benefits of third party software are that they are specialized for data recovery and often more robust than built-in tools. The scans can dig deeper to extract deleted files. These programs also give you more control over the recovery process.
Downsides are the costs involved for the full versions. There are also risks around security and privacy when using third party apps. You need to trust them with access to your data. Finally, results can vary, so there’s no guarantee of recovering all lost photos.
Professional Data Recovery
If you have a damaged or non-functioning iPhone that contains important photos or data you need recovered, you may want to utilize a professional iPhone data recovery service. Companies like Tenorshare, FlashFixers, and Rossmann Repair Group specialize in retrieving data from damaged iPhones and iOS devices.
The process involves carefully disassembling the iPhone and removing the storage chips to be read by specialized equipment. This allows data to be extracted even if the phone itself no longer turns on. Costs vary but generally start around $200-300 for basic iPhone data recovery, with prices going up for newer models like the iPhone X which require more complex procedures. Most services quote total costs upfront after evaluating the device.
The major advantage of professional data recovery is the ability to retrieve data from devices with significant hardware damage. However, it tends to be more expensive than DIY software options. Expect 1-3 business days turnaround, though rush services are sometimes available for an additional fee.
Concluding Advice
When it comes to storing and transferring photos from old iPhones, it’s important to have a system in place to prevent losing photos in the future. Here are some tips:
Store new photos properly going forward. Use iCloud or Google Photos to automatically back up photos from your iPhone. This ensures photos are saved off of your device storage in the cloud. Check settings to optimize storage and quality (cite url from exact_sources).
Back up regularly. Don’t let months or years go by without backing up your iPhone’s photos. Back up to your computer with iTunes or iCloud on a regular basis. The longer you wait, the more photos may be lost if your iPhone fails or is lost/stolen (cite url from exact_sources).
Don’t let photos get stranded on old devices. When upgrading to a new iPhone, make sure to transfer over all photos and videos first. Use the techniques in this guide to extract photos before performing a reset or trade-in.
Following these steps will ensure you always have access to your irreplaceable iPhone photos.