How to recover deleted photos on iPhone
Most deleted photos can be recovered if you act within 30 days. Start with step 1; it solves the problem for almost everyone.
1. Recently Deleted (within 30 days)
- Open Photos → Utilities → Recently Deleted and unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
- Tap Select, choose the photos, then Recover.
Each item shows how many days are left before iOS removes it permanently.
2. iCloud.com
With iCloud Photos on, iCloud.com → Photos → Recently Deleted holds the same items. Useful if the iPhone is lost or broken.
3. Backups
- Computer backup: if you backed up to a Mac or PC before the deletion, restoring it brings the photos back, but also replaces everything newer on the phone. Copy new photos off first.
- iCloud Backup: only contains photos if iCloud Photos was off. Restoring requires erasing the iPhone.
4. Other copies
Photos you sent in Messages or WhatsApp, shared albums, Google Photos or another backup app, and old devices signed in with a different account often still have a copy.
What not to do
- Don't empty Recently Deleted to "free space" while you're unsure. After that, only backups help.
- Don't pay for recovery software that promises to find photos after 30 days on an iPhone without a backup. iOS encrypts storage, so deleted data can't be recovered that way.
Where Lumaroll helps
Lumaroll is built so mistakes are cheap: every swipe can be undone, nothing is deleted until you confirm, and deleted photos go to Recently Deleted like any other deletion.
- Nothing is deleted until you review the list and confirm; any decision can be undone.
- Deleted items go to Recently Deleted, so you have 30 days to change your mind.
- Everything happens on your device. No account, no uploads, no ads.
- The first 500 decisions are free; Lifetime is a one-time $9.99 purchase, not a subscription.