We’ve all been there—you accidentally delete an important photo, message, or file from your iPhone, and panic sets in. But before you rush to download expensive data recovery software, did you know there are manual ways to recover deleted data? Yes, you can! While data recovery software can be helpful, it’s not always necessary. Apple has designed iOS with several built-in features that allow you to recover deleted data, provided you act quickly. However, keep in mind that these methods work best if you attempt recovery soon after deletion. The longer you wait, the higher the chance that the data will be overwritten and lost forever.
When you delete a photo or video on your iPhone, it isn’t immediately erased. Instead, it’s moved to the “Recently Deleted” album, where it stays for 30 days before being permanently deleted. Open the Photos app >Albums >Recently Deleted > Select Photo > Recover
If you use iCloud Photos, your deleted photos might still be recoverable. Go to iCloud.com on a computer and log in with your Apple ID and go photo album and do the same steps.
If you’re running iOS 16 or later, deleted messages are moved to a “Recently Deleted” folder and stored for up to 30 days. Open the Messages app >Edit >Show Recently Deleted >Chose messages >Recover.
Restore from an iCloud Backup
If you’ve backed up your iPhone to iCloud before deleting the messages, you can restore them by reverting to that backup. Keep in mind that this will replace all current data on your iPhone with the data from the backup:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your iPhone.
- When prompted, choose Restore from iCloud Backup and select the relevant backup.
Recover Deleted Notes
Check the “Recently Deleted” Folder
Deleted notes are stored in a “Recently Deleted” folder for 30 days. Here’s how to recover them:
- Open the Notes app.
- Tap Folders in the top-left corner.
- Select Recently Deleted.
- Tap Edit, choose the notes you want to recover, and tap Move To to restore them to a folder.
Restore from iCloud
If you use iCloud to sync your notes, you can recover deleted notes from iCloud.com:
- Go to iCloud.com and log in with your Apple ID.
- Click on Notes.
- Select Recently Deleted from the sidebar.
- Choose the notes you want to recover and click Recover.
Recover Deleted Contacts
Restore from iCloud
If you’ve accidentally deleted a contact, you can restore it from iCloud:
- Go to iCloud.com and log in with your Apple ID.
- Click on Account Settings.
- Scroll down to the Advanced section and click Restore Contacts.
- Choose the backup date before the contacts were deleted and click Restore.
Check Other Accounts
If you sync contacts with multiple accounts (e.g., Google or Outlook), check those accounts to see if the deleted contacts are still there.
Recover Deleted Voice Memos
Check the “Recently Deleted” Folder
Deleted voice memos are stored in a “Recently Deleted” folder for 30 days. Here’s how to recover them:
- Open the Voice Memos app.
- Tap Recently Deleted.
- Select the voice memo you want to recover and tap Recover.
Recover Deleted Files from iCloud Drive
Check the “Recently Deleted” Folder
Deleted files in iCloud Drive are stored in a “Recently Deleted” folder for 30 days. Here’s how to recover them:
- Open the Files app.
- Tap Browse and select Recently Deleted.
- Tap Edit, choose the files you want to recover, and tap Recover.
Restore from iCloud.com
You can also recover deleted files from iCloud.com:
- Go to iCloud.com and log in with your Apple ID.
- Click on iCloud Drive.
- Select Recently Deleted from the sidebar.
- Choose the files you want to recover and click Recover.
Losing important data on your iPhone can be stressful, but with these manual recovery tricks, you can often retrieve deleted files without needing any software. Whether it’s photos, messages, notes, or contacts, acting quickly and using built-in iOS features can save the day. Remember, prevention is key—regular backups and cautious deletion habits can help you avoid data loss in the first place.
