When you delete a file from iCloud, it doesn’t immediately disappear from Apple’s servers. Deleted files are moved to a temporary holding area for up to 40 days before being permanently erased. This allows you time to restore accidentally deleted files if needed.
Why are deleted iCloud files kept for 40 days?
Apple keeps deleted iCloud files in a temporary holding state for 40 days for a few key reasons:
- To give you time to undo accidental deletions and restore lost data
- To ensure files are thoroughly purged from backups and all Apple devices
- To maintain parity with iOS device backup retention policies
The 40 day time period matches how long iOS device backups are stored in iCloud after you delete a device from your account. So it allows files to be recovered from a recent backup if needed.
Can you recover a deleted iCloud file?
Yes, deleted iCloud files can be recovered for up to 40 days after deletion. Here’s how to restore deleted files from iCloud:
- Open the Photos app or Files app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac or iCloud.com.
- Go to the Recently Deleted folder.
- Find the files you want to restore.
- Select Recover to move the files back to their original location.
This will pull the deleted file out of the temporary iCloud holding zone and back into your regular iCloud storage. Act quickly though, as items are only kept for 40 days!
What happens after 40 days?
If a deleted iCloud file remains in the temporary holding area for 40 days, it will be permanently erased. The file is removed from Apple’s servers and can no longer be recovered.
Some key points about permanent iCloud file deletion:
- After 40 days, deleted files are completely purged from iCloud servers.
- There is no further way to recover a file after the 40 day retention period.
- Permanently deleted files are removed from iCloud backups and other Apple devices.
- Even Apple cannot recover files purged after 40 days.
So if you notice a file is missing from iCloud, be sure to check the Recently Deleted folder and restore it within 40 days. Otherwise that file is gone for good.
What types of files are retained for 40 days?
The 40 day retention period applies to all file types deleted from iCloud, including:
- Photos and videos
- Documents
- Music
- iPhone and iPad backups
- App data
- iCloud Drive files
- Calendar, Reminder, and Note entries
- Contacts
- Bookmarks
- Voicemails
Essentially all files and data types stored in iCloud are moved to the temporary holding area when deleted. This allows complete recovery if needed.
Is data secure while temporarily retained?
Yes, deleted iCloud files are still secure during the 40 day retention period. Here’s how Apple protects temporarily deleted data:
- Files are stored encrypted end-to-end during retention period
- Only authorized user with valid credentials can view or recover deleted files
- Two-factor authentication adds extra security layer to prevent unauthorized access
- Minimum retention time ensures files are fully purged from backups and devices
So you can rest assured deleted files are protected while temporarily stored in iCloud. Unauthorized access is blocked.
Can you delete files permanently before 40 days?
There is no manual way to permanently delete an iCloud file before the 40 day period expires. But there are a couple workarounds:
- Turn off iCloud Drive – Stops syncing and deletes all files immediately
- Delete your iCloud account – Will permanently erase all iCloud data right away
However, these options will delete all your iCloud files, not just specific ones. The nuclear options if you really need immediate and permanent deletion.
What about other cloud services?
Most other major cloud storage providers have similar retention policies for deleted files. For example:
- Google Drive – Deleted files held for 30 days
- Dropbox – Files retained for 30 days in trash folder
- Microsoft OneDrive – Deleted files kept for 93 days
- Box – Minimum 3 months retention for deleted files
So iCloud’s 40 day retention for deleted files is standard across top cloud storage platforms. It gives you a month or more to recover lost data.
Can you see pending deletions?
Yes, iCloud provides a way to view deleted files pending permanent removal:
- Open Photos app or Files app
- Go to Albums tab > Recently Deleted folder
- Tap Select > Show Expiring
This displays all files and data pending deletion in the next 30 days. You’ll see when the items will be permanently erased.
What gets immediately deleted from iCloud?
There are a few special cases where files are immediately deleted from iCloud with no retention period:
- Music removed from your iCloud Music Library
- Photos or videos removed from Shared Albums
- @icloud.com email account data
- iCloud data from a lost or stolen device wiped remotely
In these cases, the data is immediately deleted from Apple’s servers with no option to recover.
Can you recover a permanently deleted iCloud file?
Unfortunately, there is no way to recover an iCloud file after it has been permanently deleted from Apple’s servers. Some things to keep in mind:
- Contact Apple Support, but they cannot restore deleted data
- Police may be able to request backups from Apple if investigating a crime
- Third party data recovery services cannot access data deleted from iCloud
So once the 40 day retention period expires, an iCloud file is essentially gone for good. Be sure to restore anything you need within that window!
How can you manually delete iCloud data?
You can manually delete iCloud data like so:
- Photos App – Delete images and videos from All Photos album
- Files App – Delete files from iCloud Drive storage
- Notes App – Permanently delete individual notes
- Contacts App – Remove contacts from your iCloud contacts list
- Calendar App – Erase individual events from your iCloud calendar
This sends the data to the temporary holding area before permanent deletion after 40 days. You can delete data across iCloud apps on iOS devices, Macs and at iCloud.com.
Can you tell if a file is still recoverable?
Yes, when viewing deleted files in the Recently Deleted folder you can check if a file is still recoverable or pending permanent removal. Here’s how:
- Go to Recently Deleted folder in Photos or Files app
- Look for Recover label on deletable files
- See Purged label on expired files that cannot be recovered
If you see the Recover option, you can restore that file back to iCloud. If it shows Purged, that file is gone for good.
Conclusion
In summary, deleted iCloud files go into a temporary holding state for 40 days before being permanently erased. This retention period gives you over a month to recover accidentally deleted files and data using the Recently Deleted folder in Photos or Files apps. Be aware the countdown clock starts ticking from the moment you delete something from iCloud, so act fast if you need to retrieve something important.