4 Proven Fixes for iPad/iPhone Recently Deleted Photos Not Showing

When you delete photos or videos on your iPhone, they aren't gone right away. Instead, they go into a folder called "Recently Deleted", where they stay for 30 days before being permanently erased.

If you change your mind and want to bring those photos back, it's usually very easy. Just open the Photos app, tap "Albums" at the bottom of the screen, scroll down to find "Recently Deleted", tap it, select the pictures you want, and then tap "Recover".

But sometimes, things don't go as planned. After updating to iOS 18 or 26, you might notice that the recently deleted photos not showing on iPad or iPhone. If that happens, don't worry. Keep reading to find some helpful tips to fix the problem.

Part 1: Why is Recently Deleted Photos Album Missing on iPad/iPhone?

If you can't find the Recently Deleted album in the Photos app, the reason might be simple - the album won't show up if there's nothing in it. Once you delete a photo or video from your Camera Roll, the album will show up again automatically.

The Recently Deleted album only appears when there are deleted items from the past 30 days. After that time, deleted photos and videos are permanently removed, and the album disappears on its own. If you manually delete everything inside the Recently Deleted folder, it will also disappear.

On newer iPhones with updated iOS versions, the Recently Deleted album usually stays visible even when it's empty. In that case, you'll just see a message that says "No Photos or Videos" when you open it.

If the Recently Deleted album is still missing and doesn't return, try restarting your iPhone. That can help clear out minor software glitches that may be causing the issue.

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Part 2: How to Fix Recently Deleted Photos Not Showing on iPad/iPhone

Here are four simple ways you can try if your Recently Deleted album or photos are missing on your iPhone. You can recover lost photos by checking iCloud, restoring from an iTunes backup, or using a reliable iOS data recovery tool.

Fix 1: Force Restart Your Device

If your deleted photos are less than 30 days old but you don't see them in the Recently Deleted album, your iPhone might just be glitching. A simple force restart can help refresh your device and clear out any temporary issues that may be preventing things from showing up properly.

Here's how to force restart your iPhone based on the model you have:

• For iPhone 8 and newer (including models with Face ID):

Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button. After that, press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.

• For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus:

Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button together. Keep holding until the Apple logo shows up on the screen.

• For iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation), and older models with a Home button:

Hold down both the Home button and the Power button at the same time. Let go when the Apple logo appears.

Fix 2: Recover Deleted Photos from iCloud

Recovering deleted files using iCloud is a popular and convenient option for iPhone and iPad users. Since iCloud backs up your data automatically, there's a good chance you can get back your lost photos or videos with just a few simple steps. Here's how to do it:

• Open a browser and go to iCloud.com, then log in using your Apple ID.
• From the iCloud homepage, click on the "Photos" icon.
• On the left side, find and click the "Recently Deleted" folder.
• You'll see any photos or videos that were removed within the last 30 days.
• Select the ones you want to restore and click the "Recover" button in the upper corner.

Fix 3: Recover Lost Photos from iTunes

If you don't want to spend money recovering your photos through iCloud, using iTunes can be a practical option. While most people think of iTunes as just a music or podcast player, it can actually help you bring back old photo albums—those you thought were gone for good. Keep in mind, though, that iTunes can only restore the entire backup. You won't be able to recover just specific photos or albums.

Here's how to use iTunes to restore deleted photos on your iPhone:

• Connect your iPhone to your computer using a reliable USB cable. Make sure this is a computer that has synced with your iPhone before.
• Open iTunes on your computer. Wait for it to detect your iPhone.
• Once your iPhone appears in iTunes, click on its icon. Then go to the "Summary" section.
• In the "Manually Back Up and Restore" area, choose "Restore Backup."
• A new window will pop up. From the list, pick the backup you want to use. Click "Restore" to begin the recovery process.

This will replace all the current data on your iPhone with the data from the backup, including the deleted photos if they were part of that backup.

Fix 4: Recover Recently Deleted Photos via Doctor for iOS

As you can see, restoring photos using iTunes or iCloud will overwrite the existing data on your device, which will inevitably lead to new data loss. If you want to selectively recover lost photos from a backup without overwriting the data on your device, then you should definitely try MobiKin Doctor for iOS.

This iOS data recovery program can easily recover deleted photos, messages, contacts, and more. You can recover data directly from your device or extract it from an iTunes or iCloud backup without resetting your iPhone or erasing any existing files. It is a safe, efficient, and user-friendly way to recover lost content.

Brief Overview of Doctor for iOS:

• Recover missing photos from iTunes or iCloud backup without data overwritten or device reset.
• Three recovery modes: Recover from iOS devices, restore from iTunes Backup and restore from iCloud.
• Be able to recover photos, videos, messages, contacts, call history, notes, calendar, reminders, voice memos, etc.
• Enable you to preview and select the files before recovery.
• It never interferes with privacy of its users.
• Work well on overall iOS devices, containing iPad 10/9/8/Air/Pro/mini/4/3/2, iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X/8/7/6, and etc.

Recover disappeared photos in iPad/iPhone from iTunes backup

Step 1: Install the recovery tool on your computer and open it. Choose the option that says "Recover from iTunes Backup File." The software will automatically scan your computer and show a list of available iTunes backups.

Step 2: Pick the backup you think contains the missing photos, then click "Start Scan." After scanning, all the data from that backup will be listed. Select "Camera Roll" and "Photos," then click "Start Scan" again to narrow down the results.

Step 3: Once the scan is complete, you'll see all the photos saved in the iTunes backup. Select the ones you want to get back, and click "Recover to Computer" to save them on your computer.

Recover Missing Photos from iPhone/iPad Using iCloud Backup

Step 1: From the recovery options on the left side, select "Recover from iCloud." When prompted, sign in using your iCloud account.

Step 2: After logging in, the program will display your synced iCloud files. Choose "Albums" and click "Next" to start downloading your photo data from iCloud.

Step 3: When the download is finished, browse through the photos. Select the ones you want, and click "Recover to Computer" to save them quickly and easily.

Video Guide:

Part 3: How to Prevent Photo Loss from Recently Deleted Folder

There are several smart ways to protect your data and avoid losing important files, especially when updating your device. Try these tips to keep everything safe:

1. Stay away from third-party cleaning apps

Some cleaning tools can actually do more harm than good. They might delete system folders or temporary files that are still needed. To avoid this risk, it's best not to use these apps at all.

2. Back up your device often with iCloud or iTunes

Regular backups are the best way to keep your data safe. Make it a habit to back up your iPhone/iPad to computer, iCloud or iTunes so you'll have a copy of everything if something goes wrong.

3. Check the Recently Deleted folder now and then

When you delete a file, it doesn't disappear right away. It goes to the Recently Deleted folder. But if you don't recover it in time, it will be removed permanently. That's why it's a good idea to check this folder every so often in case you accidentally deleted something important.

Words in the End

If the "Recently Deleted Photos" album disappears from your iPhone, it can feel pretty upsetting. But don't worry — there are reliable ways to get those photos back. You can restore them using an iCloud or iTunes backup, or turn to a tool like MobiKin Doctor for iOS if you want to recover specific photos. The most important thing is to act quickly and avoid saving new data, which might overwrite what you're trying to recover.

To stay protected in the future, make it a habit to back up your iPhone regularly. With the right steps, it's possible to bring back your lost memories and keep them safe.

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