How do I recover photos accidentally deleted from a new iPhone?
Answer
Open the Photos app, go to Utilities or Albums, then Recently Deleted, and recover the photos within the retention window—often about 30 days. If they are not there, check iCloud.com Photos while signed into the same Apple ID.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Items removed from Recently Deleted, or left past the retention period, usually cannot be recovered from Photos alone.
Follow these steps
Open Recently Deleted in Photos
Open the Photos app. Tap Albums or Library navigation, then open Recently Deleted (often under Utilities). Look for the missing photos and videos there.
You should see: You see Recently Deleted items, or the album is empty.
Recover the deleted items
Tap Select, choose the photos you want, then tap Recover. Wait for them to return to the main library or their original album.
You should see: The selected photos leave Recently Deleted and reappear in Photos.
Check iCloud Photos on the web
If the photos are not on the iPhone, open iCloud.com in a browser on another device, sign in with the same Apple ID, open Photos, and check the library and Recently Deleted there.
You should see: You find the photos in iCloud Photos or confirm they are not in that Apple ID library.
Confirm iCloud Photos sync on the iPhone
On the iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and confirm iCloud Photos is on if you expect cloud sync. Stay on Wi‑Fi and give the library time to update after recovering items.
You should see: iCloud Photos settings match what you expect, and recovered items finish syncing.
Check another device signed into the same Apple ID
If you also use Photos on a Mac or another iPhone with the same Apple ID and iCloud Photos, open Photos there and look in Recently Deleted as well.
You should see: You recover the photos from another synced device, or you confirm they are gone from every Recently Deleted location.
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Extra tips
What to look for: A Recently Deleted album in Photos, and whether Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos shows iCloud Photos turned on.
Before you change anything: Use the same Apple ID that was signed into the iPhone when the photos were taken. Do not empty Recently Deleted until you recover what you need. Confirm whether iCloud Photos was enabled before the deletion. Avoid third-party “photo recovery” apps from unknown sources. Never share Apple ID passwords or codes with unexpected callers.