Step 1 of 3

Tips & Tricks

Beginner

2 min read 3 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

How to Recover Photos You Accidentally Deleted on iPhone

Deleted photos aren't gone immediately — your iPhone keeps them for 30 days. Here's how to recover them before they're permanently erased.

At a Glance

Open the Recently Deleted album

~20s

Open the Photos app. Tap "Albums" at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down to the "Utilities" section. Tap "Recently Deleted." This album shows all photos and videos you've deleted in the last 30 days.

Quick Tip

On any current iPhone, the Recently Deleted album is locked by default. You need to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID to open it.

Recover a photo

~15s

Tap a photo to select it. Tap "Recover" at the bottom right of the screen. Tap "Recover Photo" to confirm. The photo moves back to your main photo library right away and appears in the "Recents" album as well as its original location.

Recover multiple photos at once

~25s

In the Recently Deleted album, tap "Select" in the top right corner. Tap each photo you want to recover (a blue checkmark appears on each one). After selecting all the photos you want, tap "Recover" at the bottom right. Tap "Recover [number] Photos" to confirm all at once.

Quick Tip

If you want to recover ALL deleted photos, tap "Select" then "Recover All" at the bottom right — this restores everything from the Recently Deleted album in one step.

You Did It!

You've finished reading: How to Recover Photos You Accidentally Deleted on iPhone

How well did this guide stick with you?

Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

When you delete a photo on iPhone, it doesn't disappear right away. It moves to a 'Recently Deleted' album and stays there for 30 days. During that window, you can recover it completely. After 30 days, it's permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

Rate this guide

How helpful was this guide?

photos

recover deleted

iphone

recently deleted

restore

Official Resources

How-To Geek AARP Technology Tips Tom's Guide — Tips

Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

← Previous

How to Add Widgets to Your iPhone's Home Screen

How to Set Up a Medical Alert System for Seniors Living Alone

Still stuck? Let a pro handle it.

A real person can walk you through this over the phone, anywhere in the US. If we can't fix it, you don't pay.

Book a Verified Tech How It Works

Learn more from official sources

Related Guides

iPhone: Battery Saving Tips

Make your iPhone battery last longer with these proven tips and settings.

1 min read

iPhone: Safari Browser Tips

Get more out of Safari on iPhone with these hidden features and shortcuts.

1 min read

iPhone: iMessage and Texting Tips

Hidden iMessage features that make texting more fun and productive.

1 min read