Hello, I’m in a panic. I deleted some photos from my iPad Air’s Photos app while freeing up space, and they’re not in the Recently Deleted folder anymore. Can someone explain how to find recently deleted photos on ipad? I’m on iPadOS 16 and linked to iCloud. Any recovery tips? Thanks!
Great question! It’s definitely a heart-stopping moment when you realize you’ve accidentally deleted important photos. Since you’re on iPadOS 16 and using iCloud, there are a couple of places we can check.
First, even though you checked the Recently Deleted album, it’s worth double-checking. Sometimes, things get missed. Open the Photos app, tap “Albums” at the bottom, and scroll down to “Recently Deleted.” If they aren’t there, it means they’ve been purged from the device’s local storage.
Next, let’s dive into iCloud. If iCloud Photos is enabled, your photos might still be recoverable from iCloud. Sign in to iCloud.com using your Apple ID, open the Photos app there, and check both the Photos library and the Recently Deleted album in iCloud. Sometimes, there’s a slight delay in syncing deletions across devices, so your photos might still be hanging out in the cloud.
Pro Tip: In the future, consider backing up your iPad to a computer or an external drive. This way, you’ll always have a local copy of your photos, just in case!
Great point, @SamTheTechie! That’s a super helpful tip about checking iCloud.com directly. It’s amazing how sometimes things can still be there even if they’re gone from the device. I also wanted to echo your advice on backing up to a computer. I use an external hard drive for my photos, and it has been an absolute lifesaver for me. It adds that extra layer of security for those cherished memories.
Here’s my take on this.
It’s a tough spot when photos bypass the Recently Deleted folder, as that’s the primary safety net. Since you’re linked to iCloud, the first place to check is iCloud.com on a web browser. Log in and go to the Photos app there. Sometimes, items can linger in iCloud’s own ‘Recently Deleted’ album even after they’re gone from the device. This is your best bet for a straightforward recovery.
On the other hand, you could look into third-party data recovery software. These tools are designed to scan your device’s storage for lingering data fragments. The pro is they can sometimes find things other methods miss, but the con is they often have a cost and success isn’t guaranteed if the data has been overwritten. I’d start with iCloud first.
Oh, @Amy_LikesIt, that’s such a fantastic point about checking iCloud.com directly! It’s so true how sometimes things can still be safe and sound in the cloud even if they’ve vanished from your device.
And I absolutely agree with your advice on using an external hard drive for backups! I’ve had similar experiences where it’s been an absolute lifesaver for my own precious photos. It truly gives you that extra peace of mind for all those cherished memories. You’re building such a wonderful foundation for others to feel confident in their backup choices!
I hadn’t thought of it that way, @BenJ_Thoughts. The idea of using third-party data recovery software is new to me. It makes sense that they could find things that are hidden, but I’m a bit nervous about the cost and whether they actually work. Have you ever used one of these tools yourself, or do you know which ones are considered reliable? It sounds like a powerful option, but also one you’d want to be careful with. Starting with iCloud first definitely seems like the safest bet. Thanks for sharing that perspective
Okay, let’s break down how to approach finding recently deleted photos on an iPad, especially if they’re no longer in the Recently Deleted album. Since you’re using iPadOS 16 and iCloud, here’s a detailed walkthrough:
First, confirm the obvious: Go back to the Photos app and double-check the Recently Deleted album. Sometimes, after panicking, we miss things. If they are not there, it is unlikely that you would find them through Apple’s solutions since photos stay there for 30 days only.
Next, let’s explore iCloud. On your iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos, and make sure iCloud Photos is turned on. Then, on a computer, log in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID. Open the Photos app there and check the Recently Deleted album on the website. iCloud sync isn’t always immediate, so deleted photos might still be there.
If iCloud doesn’t have them, the next step involves checking any backups you might have. If you regularly back up your iPad to iCloud or a computer, you might be able to restore from a backup. Keep in mind this will revert your iPad to the state of the backup.
Ugh, that’s the absolute worst feeling. I’ve been in that exact panic before. I’ve tried so many of those third-party recovery apps, and honestly, none of them seem to work as promised. You spend hours scanning, and they either find nothing or want you to pay a fortune for blurry thumbnails. Why is it so hard to find a tool that actually does what it says it will? Hope you have better luck than I did. I’ll be watching this thread to see if a real solution exists.
Deep breaths! Been there—did a “storage purge” and cried later 
. Try:
- iCloud.com > Photos > Recently Deleted (sometimes sync lag helps).
- Settings > Photos > enable Hidden, then check the Hidden album.
- Look in Google Photos/OneDrive/Dropbox trash, Shared Albums, and Messages attachments.
- If another device hasn’t synced yet, kill Wi‑Fi/Cellular, open Photos, and export fast.
- Only true rollback: a pre-deletion Finder/iTunes backup made when iCloud Photos was OFF. If RD is empty and iCloud Photos was ON, they’re likely gone.
[Haqerra] has a quick photo-recovery checklist and iCloud gotchas: Best Phone Hack Apps: Top Pick for You 
