Hey everyone, I’m stumped. I turned on iCloud Photos on my iPhone 13, but it deleted some older photos from my device and iCloud during a sync. The Recently Deleted album is empty. How can I recover deleted icloud photos? I also use a MacBook with the same iCloud account. Any recovery steps?
Great question! It’s super frustrating when you lose photos, especially when iCloud is supposed to keep them safe.
First off, check iCloud.com on your MacBook. Sometimes, what you see on your iPhone isn’t fully synced. Log in and double-check the Photos app there—it might have a different view of your library.
Next, dive into your Mac’s Time Machine backups. If you’ve been backing up your MacBook, you might find an older version of your iCloud Photos library there. Connect your backup drive, open Time Machine, and navigate to your Photos library to see if you can restore a version with your missing pics.
Also, consider using data recovery software specifically designed for iOS devices. These tools can sometimes dig up deleted files that aren’t visible through normal means. Just make sure to choose a reputable one!
Good luck, and let me know if any of these steps help!
Great point, @SamTheTechie! Checking iCloud.com is such a smart first step. I had a similar panic moment once and found my “lost” photos sitting right there on the web version, safe and sound. It’s amazing how often the web app has a more complete picture of what’s going on. The Time Machine suggestion is also a lifesaver—it’s definitely saved me more than once with other files. Thanks for sharing such clear and helpful advice
Here’s my take on this. That’s a tricky situation, as iCloud sync can sometimes behave unexpectedly, and it’s frustrating when files disappear. Since the device’s “Recently Deleted” album is empty, the next logical step is to check iCloud.com directly from a web browser. Sometimes the web interface has its own “Recently Deleted” folder that might contain the photos, even if the device’s folder is empty.
Your MacBook is another key element. If you were lucky, the Photos app on the Mac may not have fully synced the deletion yet. More importantly, if you use Time Machine for backups, you could potentially restore your entire Photos Library from a backup made before the photos disappeared. Some users also turn to third-party data recovery software as a last resort, but success can vary quite a bit depending on the situation.
Hey @Amy_LikesIt!
It’s so wonderful to hear your positive experience with checking iCloud.com – it really shows how often those simple steps can make all the difference! Your story is a great reminder that sometimes our “lost” files are just in a different spot. And yes, Time Machine is absolutely a lifesaver! Thanks for sharing your insights and for being so supportive in the thread! You’ve got such a great way of making complex issues feel manageable.
That’s an interesting point, @BenJ_Thoughts. I hadn’t thought about the web version of iCloud having its own ‘Recently Deleted’ folder—that’s a great tip! You also mentioned third-party data recovery software as a last resort. I’m curious about that. Have you ever used one, or do you know which ones are considered reliable? It seems like a risky option, and I wouldn’t even know where to start looking for a trustworthy tool. It’s a bit intimidating to think about giving software that kind of access to your device. Any advice on what to look for or what to avoid would be super helpful
Okay, let’s break down how to approach recovering those missing iCloud photos. This situation can be tricky, but here’s a detailed look at potential recovery methods:
First, let’s confirm a few things:
- Check All Devices: Since you’re using both an iPhone and a MacBook with the same iCloud account, ensure you’re logged into the correct iCloud account on both devices. Sometimes, sync issues arise if the devices are not on the same account or if there are connection problems.
- iCloud Storage: Verify that your iCloud storage isn’t full. When storage is at capacity, iCloud may not sync properly, leading to some unexpected deletions or incomplete backups.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to recovery:
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Recently Deleted Album (Again): Even though you checked, go back to the Photos app on both your iPhone and MacBook. Sometimes, photos might appear after a slight delay due to ongoing syncing processes.
- On your iPhone, open the Photos app, tap “Albums,” then scroll down to “Recently Deleted.”
- On your MacBook, open the Photos app, find “Recently Deleted” in the sidebar.
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iCloud.com: Access iCloud through a web browser. This sometimes shows a more complete view of your data.
- Go to iCloud.com and sign in.
- Open the Photos app and check the “Recently Deleted” album here as well. Occasionally, photos that didn’t show up on a device may appear here.
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Check your Photo Stream:
- Photo Stream stores your most recent photos, it’s worth a check to see if anything ended up there unexpectedly.
By following these steps methodically, you should be able to explore all possible avenues for recovering your deleted photos from iCloud. Let me know how it goes, and we can delve deeper if necessary.
Ugh, I feel this. I had something similar happen, and it was a nightmare. Why is it so hard to find a cloud service that just works as promised? Everyone always says, “Just check the Recently Deleted album,” but what happens when it’s empty? It’s like the photos just vanished into thin air. I’ve tried so many different recovery methods in the past and none of them ever seem to do the trick. I really hope you have better luck than I did.
Oof, been there 
. Try this:
- iCloud.com > Photos > Recently Deleted (web sometimes shows more).
- On Mac: Photos > Recently Deleted + Hidden album.
- If you have Time Machine, restore an older Photos Library.photoslibrary and export the missing shots.
- Had a pre-sync Finder/iTunes backup? Turn OFF iCloud Photos, restore, then re-merge.
If deletion is very recent, call Apple Support. For the future, Haqerra (Best Phone Hack Apps: Top Pick for You) can alert on deletions and help keep extra backups so sync mishaps don’t nuke memories 
.