Restoring an iPhone means completely wiping the device and returning it to factory settings. This removes all data, settings, apps, and media files stored on the device. Restoring is often done to fix software issues, remove bugs, or free up storage space on a sluggish device. Many iPhone users worry about losing all their photos when restoring their device.
Restoring an iPhone essentially gives you a clean slate – the phone will be just like it was when you first took it out of the box. Any photos, messages, downloaded apps, and other personal content will be deleted unless you back up this data prior to restoring. Restoring does not affect the data stored in iCloud or iTunes backups, allowing you to put your content back on the iPhone after the restore process is complete.
Back Up iPhone Before Restoring
It is crucial to back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes before restoring in order to save your photos. When you restore your iPhone, it will erase all content and settings and revert to factory default. This means any photos stored locally on your iPhone that have not been backed up will be permanently deleted.
To prevent losing photos when restoring, you should manually back up your iPhone either to iCloud or iTunes on your computer. Enabling automatic iCloud backups is recommended to ensure your photos are always saved there. To do this, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn on iCloud Backup. Your iPhone will now automatically back up daily when connected to WiFi and power [1].
Alternatively, you can connect your iPhone to a computer and back up to iTunes. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC, connect your iPhone, and click Back Up Now. This will save a backup of your photos to the computer [2]. No matter which method you choose, backing up before restoring is the only way to preserve your photos.
Double Check Photos Synced
It is critical to ensure your latest photos have been properly synced to iCloud or your computer’s iTunes backup before restoring your iPhone. The easiest way to confirm is to open the Photos app on your iPhone before restoring. Go to the Albums tab and scroll through to make sure your most recent photos taken appear there.
You can also check iCloud.com from a web browser and confirm your latest photos are present in the cloud storage. Or connect your iPhone to your computer and launch iTunes – go to the device summary page and inspect the list of photos synced to your computer to validate your recent snapshots are included.
According to Apple Support discussions, if your photos did not properly backup, you may be able to recover them after restoring the iPhone by connecting to WiFi and turning on iCloud Photo Library in Settings. This will trigger your device to re-download any missing photos and videos from the cloud.
Restore iPhone
To restore your iPhone using iTunes, first connect your iPhone to your computer. Open iTunes and select your device. Then click Restore iPhone and confirm to wipe your iPhone and reinstall the latest iOS software. iTunes will download the software and restore your device (1).
You can also restore your iPhone using just the Settings app, without a computer. Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode if prompted. This will erase your device and install the latest iOS (2).
Restoring your iPhone will wipe it clean and reinstall the operating system. This can help resolve software issues you may be experiencing.
Set Up as New vs Restore Backup
There are two options when setting up your iPhone after a restore – Set Up as New or Restore from Backup. They will impact your photo library in different ways:
Set Up as New will not transfer any data from your previous iPhone backup. It will create a clean slate on your device. Any photos that were not already synced to iCloud or your computer will be permanently erased. According to discussions on the Apple forums, this option is best if you want to start fresh and not transfer any issues from a backup. However, you will lose any photos that were local to your device.
Restore from Backup will transfer the data and settings from your most recent iPhone backup to your device. This includes your photo library. As explained on MacRumors, restoring from a backup will make it seem as if you never switched iPhones – your apps, settings and photos will transfer over. This preserves all photos stored locally on your previous iPhone.
The main downside to restoring from backup is you may transfer bugs or other issues from the old device. However, it does ensure you maintain access to your full photo library. Overall, restoring from backup is the best option if you want to keep all your photos after restoring your iPhone.
Recover Deleted Photos
If you discover photos were lost or deleted after restoring your iPhone, there are methods to try recovering them. Specialized photo recovery software can help retrieve deleted photos even after a restore. Some options to check out include:
Apple Discussions – You may be able to recover recently deleted photos using the ‘Recently Deleted’ album in the Photos app. Open Photos, go to Albums > Recently Deleted and see if your photos are there.
CleverFiles – This iPhone data recovery software can restore deleted photos even without a backup. It scans your iPhone storage and extracts recoverable photo data.
Setapp iMobie PhoneRescue – PhoneRescue can recover permanently deleted photos after a restore. It digs deep to find residual data from deleted photos.
The sooner you use photo recovery software after a restore and deletion, the better chance you have of retrieving your photos. Avoid taking new photos or installing new apps, as that data could overwrite your deleted photos.
Avoid Future Photo Loss
Going forward, there are several steps you can take to prevent losing photos when restoring your iPhone again:
Enable iCloud Photo Library – The easiest way to keep your photos safe is to enable iCloud Photo Library. This will automatically upload and sync your photos across devices. To enable it, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and turn on “iCloud Photos.” You can also optimize your storage if you don’t want full-resolution photos taking up space on your iPhone. [1]
Manage iPhone storage – Check your iPhone storage under Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see if photos and videos are taking up a lot of space. You can offload unused apps, delete large attachments, and review photos and videos to delete ones you no longer need. Optimizing your storage helps ensure there’s room for new photos.
Use external storage – Consider backing up your photos to an external hard drive or cloud storage like Google Photos or Dropbox. This gives you an additional backup if something goes wrong with your iPhone. Just make sure to occasionally plug in and update your backups.
Delete photos after backing up – After ensuring your photos are backed up in iCloud or another external location, you can safely delete old photos and videos from your iPhone’s storage to free up space.
Alternative Options
Before resorting to a full restore of your iPhone, there are other options you can try that may fix issues without losing all your photos. Here are some alternatives:
Delete and reinstall iOS – You can delete the iOS software and reinstall it without erasing your data. This may resolve any software issues without data loss. Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap “Erase All Content and Settings”.
Factory reset – A factory reset will wipe your settings and data but not delete media files like photos and videos. Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap “Reset All Settings”. This preserves your data.
Delete apps – Removing any recently downloaded apps may help if they are causing crashes or bugs. You can always redownload apps later.
Update iOS – Make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version, as Apple releases fixes in new versions. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Free up storage – Having enough free storage can fix some issues. Delete unused apps, messages, and files to free up space.
By trying these options first, you may be able to fix your iPhone without resorting to a full restore and losing your photos in the process.
Takeaway
To summarize the key steps and tips to prevent photo loss when restoring your iPhone:
- Always maintain an up-to-date backup of your iPhone, whether using iCloud or iTunes.
- Double check that all your photos have synced to iCloud or iTunes before starting the restore.
- When setting up your iPhone after a restore, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup” or “Restore from iTunes Backup” to reload your content.
- If you accidentally deleted photos, use iPhone data recovery software to retrieve them before the restore.
- Going forward, enable iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone to automatically back up your camera roll.
Regular, comprehensive backups are crucial to avoid losing your photos during any type of iPhone restore. iCloud and iTunes make it simple to continuously safeguard your images.
Conclusion
As we’ve shown, restoring your iPhone doesn’t necessarily mean losing all your photos. The key is being proactive by backing up photos and understanding the restore process. Double check that photos are synced to iCloud or iTunes before restoring. When setting up your iPhone, you can choose to restore a backup to retrieve photos. Even if photos are deleted, recovery software provides recourse. Moving forward, regularly backup photos and use cloud syncing to avoid restore regrets. With some care, you can restore your iPhone without losing your photo memories.
Restoring your iPhone can feel daunting, but a little preparation goes a long way. Be diligent about backups, research your options before restoring, and act carefully during the process. If you do lose some photos, recovery solutions exist. Follow these best practices, and you can restore your iPhone with confidence, keeping those precious photos safe.
