How to Recover Deleted Photos on iPhone
Updated
Deleted a photo you meant to keep? In most cases it isn't gone yet. Here's where deleted photos go on iPhone and iPad, and how to get them back.
Restore from Recently Deleted (within 30 days)
When you delete a photo or video — in the Photos app or in an app like Butterfly — it moves to the Recently Deleted album and stays there for 30 days.
- Open Photos, scroll down to Utilities, and tap Recently Deleted.
- Unlock the album with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
- Tap Select, choose the photos you want back, and tap Recover — or use Recover All.
Recovered photos return to your library in their original place. Recently Deleted has been locked by default since iOS 16; you can change that in Settings › Apps › Photos.
Check iCloud and your other devices
If you use iCloud Photos, Recently Deleted is shared across your devices and iCloud.com/photos, so you can also recover items there within the same 30 days. Emptying it on one device empties it everywhere.
It's also worth checking the Hidden album under Utilities — a hidden photo can look like it's missing.
After 30 days: restore from a backup
Once an item is removed from Recently Deleted, the Photos app can't bring it back. Your remaining option is a backup made before the photo was deleted:
- A backup on your Mac or PC (Finder, or the Apple Devices app or iTunes on Windows).
- An iCloud Backup — but only if iCloud Photos was turned off, because photos synced with iCloud Photos aren't included in iCloud Backup.
- Other places the photo may live: shared albums, messaging apps, or other cloud photo services.
Restoring a device backup replaces what's currently on your device, so back up your current state first.
How Butterfly helps prevent mistakes
Butterfly is designed to make accidental deletion hard. Swiping up only marks a photo; you can review marked items and return any of them to the queue; and nothing is deleted until you confirm the batch. Even then, deleted items go to Recently Deleted, so you have 30 days to change your mind.