Why and How to Fix Photos Disappeared from iPhone/iPad [2025 Updated]

Losing photos on your iPhone or iPad, especially when there are no backups in iCloud or iTunes, can be really upsetting. One moment they're there, the next they're gone. There are many reasons for this photo loss. Maybe you just updated iOS, accidentally hit "Delete", ran out of storage space, or had an iCloud sync glitch. Even a factory reset or a minor system issue could be the cause.

If you open the Photos app and find that some or all of your photos are disappeared on iPhone, don't panic. In this guide, we'll break down the most common reasons for iPhone/iPad photo loss and, more importantly, how to fix this problem and recover lost photos.

Part 1: Why do Photos Disappear from My iPhone/iPad?

"Why all my pictures disappeared from my iPhone?" Before getting back lost iPhone photos, it's essential to know the reason why photos missing from iPhone or iPad. Now, let's check the main causes first:

• Photos disappeared from iPhone after update to iOS 18/17/16/15.
• Hidden photos by you or others causing disappearance.
• Unintentional deletion of your cherished photos.
• Inactive or disabled Photo Stream functionality.
• Logging into an alternate iCloud account or disabling iCloud Photo Sync.
• iPhone restoration from an unfamiliar backup leading to missing photos.
• Photo syncing issues due to low storage, software glitches, and more.

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Part 2: How to Fix the Photos Disappeared from iPhone/iPad Issue

If your pictures on iPhone or iPad disappeared, it's essential to identify the potential cause before seeking a viable solution. The preceding section outlines potential reasons for this issue. Presented here are the most effective photo recovery solutions we've gathered to assist you in resolving the problem.

Fix 1: Check Recently Deleted Album

If your iPhone photos disappeared from camera roll, investigate whether accidental deletion is the culprit. Deleted photos are temporarily stored in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days. To retrieve them:

• Open the Photos app and locate the "Albums" option on your screen.
• Navigate to the "Recently Deleted" folder under "Utilities" to check if your missing photos are present.
• If your photos are found, select them by tapping "Select" and then choose "Recover" to restore them.

Fix 2: Restart your iPhone or iPad

If your photos are not found in the "Recently Deleted" folder, consider trying alternative methods. Firstly, we recommend restarting your device, as this often resolves various iPhone issues. The process may differ slightly based on your iPhone model.

Restart Steps:

• Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the slider appears.
• Drag the slider to power off your device.
• Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.

If your iOS device is unresponsive, consider a force restart:

• For iPhone 7/iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons for at least ten seconds until the Apple Logo appears.
• For iPhone 6s/other iPhone models: Press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons for at least ten seconds until the Apple Logo appears.

Fix 3: Unhide iPhone Photos

It's possible that you might have hidden your iPhone photos previously. Verify if there are any hidden photos on your iPhone using the following steps:

• Open the "Photos" app, and scroll down to locate 'Hidden' under "Utilities."
• Examine if any photos are present. If you discover the disappeared photos here, tap "Select," choose the photos, press the share button, and select "Unhide." This action will return all photos to their original album.

Fix 4: Turn on iCloud Photo Library

If none of the above tips works, just check whether you've turned on the iCloud Photos Library switch from Settings menu. This feature enables you to sync Camera Roll pictures to iCloud storage for backup. Assume the switch is switched off, then go right to enable it.

• Go to "Settings" > [your name] > "iCloud" to find "iCloud Photo Library". Then move the switch to the right side. After a while, back to the "Photos" app to see if the images are there.

Fix 5: Log in to your iCloud account again

By default, iPhone photos are stored in iCloud, but during an iOS update, you might be automatically logged out. To rectify this, follow these steps:

• Open the iPhone Settings app and select "Sign in to your iPhone."
• Enter your Apple ID email address and password. If two-factor authentication is active, provide the verification code.

After a brief period, your photos will be downloaded to your iPhone.

Part 3: How to Recover Disappeared Photos on iPhone/iPad [No Data Loss]

For photos that have been lost, if you want to recover them, you might consider using MobiKin Doctor for iOS, which is an excellent iOS data recovery solution that can not only recover deleted contacts and messages directly from iPhone and iPad devices, but also retrieve any iOS data from iTunes or iCloud backups without erasing and overwriting data or resetting the device. Doctor for iOS has a user-friendly interface and guarantees zero data loss, providing a safe and efficient way to recover lost iPhone photos.

Brief Overview of Doctor for iOS:

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

If you have a previous iPhone backup on iTunes or iCloud, then it's a good idea to retrieve them from iTunes or iCloud backup by using Doctor for iOS. This program allows you to recover lost pictures on iPhone selectively without erasing any data on your device.

Recover disappeared photos in iPhone/iPad from iTunes backup

Step 1: Download and install the software before launching it on computer. Select the "Recover from iTunes Backup File" mode. Then the tool will scan your computer and displayed all the iTunes backup files.

Step 2: Select the iTunes backup that would contained your disappeared photos and click "Start Scan". After a while, all files in the iTunes backup will be scanned out. Choose "Camera Roll" and "Photos" and click "Start Scan" again.

Step 3: All photos in the iTunes backup will be scanned out. Opt for the needed stuff for restore, and click "Recover to Computer" to save them on computer.

#2. Recover disappeared iPhone/iPad photos from iCloud backup

Step 1: Choose "Recover from iCloud" on the left sidebar of the recovery modes. In the ensuing window, input your iCloud credentials to log in.

Step 2: Upon successful iCloud login, all synced files will be showcased. Opt for the "Photos" category and click "Next." Subsequently, the download of your iCloud synced files will commence.

Step 3: Once the iCloud sync file download is complete, preview and select the desired photos. Click "Recover to Computer" to effortlessly save them on your computer with a single click.

Video Guide:

Part 4: FAQs on iPhone/iPad Pictures Disappeared

Q1: What to do if Google Photos disappeared from iPhone?

If your photos went missing from your iPhone and you utilize Google Photos, ensure that the signed-in Google account matches the one used for photo backups. To recover photos from Google Photos on iPhone:

• Launch the Google Photos app and navigate to Library.
• Examine the Trash icon.
• Choose the desired photo or video, then click Restore to retrieve it.

Q2: What to do if Photos App Disappeared from iPhone?

Users have encountered cases where the Photos icon disappears from iPhones. To restore the Photos app to the Home screen, consider the following:

• Search in App Library: Swipe left to access the App Library page > Enter "Photos" in the search bar > Drag and drop it onto the home screen or select "Add to Home Screen."
• Re-download from App Store: Open the App Store, go to the Search tab > Enter "Photos" in the search bar > Tap the Download icon to reinstall it on your Home screen.

Words in the End

To sum up, the issue of photos disappeared from iPhone or iPad can be effectively resolved with the comprehensive solutions outlined. Proven methods, featured in tutorials and the reliability of MobiKin Doctor for iOS, offer users a trustworthy avenue for data recovery. Beyond addressing potential causes, the article emphasizes the importance of regular iPhone backups to minimize the risk of data loss.

These insights serve as a valuable resource for individuals facing similar challenges. If you find this article helpful, consider sharing it on your social platforms to assist others in need.

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