Recover iCloud Photos Deleted More Than 30 Days Ago
Photos deleted from iCloud Photos go to Recently Deleted for 30 days. After that they are permanently removed from iCloud. But there are still recovery paths — particularly if iPhone or Mac backups exist.
Step-by-Step Guide
- First — check Recently Deleted in Photos (within 30 days) — Open Photos → Albums → Recently Deleted. If still within the 30-day window, select photos → Recover. This restores to your iCloud Photos library across all devices.
- Restore from an iPhone or iPad backup (best option beyond 30 days) — If an iCloud or iTunes/Finder backup was made before the photos were deleted, SafeRestore can extract the photo library from that backup. The backup contains every photo in your library at the time it was made.
- Check other devices for local copies — Did you have the photos on another iPhone, iPad, or Mac? If iCloud Photos was not enabled on that device, or if that device has not synced since the deletion, local copies of the photos may still be present.
- Check for downloaded or exported copies — Look in Downloads folders, email attachments, shared albums, or third-party services (Google Photos, Dropbox, Amazon Photos) where photos may have been backed up or shared before deletion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Apple recover iCloud photos deleted more than 30 days ago?
Generally no. Apple permanently deletes photos from iCloud servers after the 30-day Recently Deleted window. Apple Support confirms that recovery is not possible after this window. The only option is a local backup made before deletion.
Related Guides
Download SafeRestore — Free Scan