How to Recover Deleted Photos from iPad?

By Nathan E. Malpass, Last updated: May 26, 2025

Our iPads have become more than just a device; they're a repository of cherished memories captured through photos and videos. However, accidental deletions or unforeseen mishaps can result in the loss of these precious moments, leaving you with a sense of despair. If you've ever found yourself in a situation where you've deleted photos from your iPad and thought they were gone forever, we're here to tell you that there's hope.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to on how to recover deleted photos from iPad, ensuring that those invaluable memories are not lost in the digital abyss. Whether you've accidentally hit the delete button, encountered a software issue, or suffered data loss due to a factory reset, we've got you covered.

In the following sections, we'll explore various methods and tools that can help you retrieve your deleted photos efficiently. From using built-in features to third-party software solutions, we'll provide you with a range of options to suit your needs and technical proficiency. So, let's get started on the journey to recover those precious images and relive the moments that matter most to you.

Part 1. Basic Methods to Recover Deleted Photos from iPad Part 2. Best Method to Recover Deleted Photos from iPad Completely Part 3. Summary

Part 1. Basic Methods to Recover Deleted Photos from iPad

Method 01. Using Recently Deleted Album

How to recover deleted photos from iPad? When you've accidentally deleted photos from your iPad, your first line of defense is the "Recently Deleted" album. This built-in feature in iOS allows you to recover photos that you might have removed by mistake. Here's how to use it:

Step 1: Unlock Your iPad

Ensure your iPad is unlocked and on the home screen.

Step 2: Open the Photos App

Tap on the "Photos" app icon on your home screen. It looks like a multicolored flower.

Step 3: Access the Recently Deleted Album

Inside the Photos app, scroll down the list of albums on the left-hand side until you find "Recently Deleted." Tap on it to access the album.

Access the Recently Deleted Album

Step 4: View Deleted Photos

You'll now see a list of photos that were deleted within the last 30 days. These images are not permanently deleted but are in a "limbo" state. Select the photo or photos you want to recover by tapping on them.

Step 5: Recover the Deleted Photos

After selecting the photos you wish to retrieve, tap the "Recover" button at the bottom right corner of the screen. This action will restore the selected photos to their original album.

Step 6: Check Your Photo Library

Go back to your Photo Library, and you should find the recovered photos in their respective albums or the "Recents" folder.

You can also recover the deleted photos on iPhone using this method. It's important to note that photos remain in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days before they are permanently removed from your device. If you don't act within this timeframe, you may lose your deleted photos forever.

The Recently Deleted album is a handy and straightforward way to recover accidentally deleted photos from your iPad. However, if you've exceeded the 30-day window or the photos are not in this album for some reason, don't worry; we have more advanced methods to explore in the next sections.

Method 02. By Restoring iCloud Backup

How to recover deleted photos from iPad? If you've accidentally deleted photos from your iPad and can't find them in the "Recently Deleted" album, don't lose hope. You may still be able to recover them through an iCloud backup. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Check Your iCloud Backup

First, ensure that you have an iCloud backup that includes the photos you want to recover. To do this:

Open the "Settings" app on your iPad.
Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the settings menu.
Select "iCloud."
Scroll down and tap on "Manage Storage" or "Storage."
Choose "Backups."
Select your iPad from the list of devices.

Check the date of the last backup to confirm that it contains the photos you want to recover.

Step 2: Reset Your iPad (Optional)

If the photos you want to recover were deleted after the last backup, you may need to reset your iPad to a previous state. To do this:

Go to "Settings" > "General" > "Reset."
Choose "Erase All Content and Settings."
Follow the on-screen instructions to erase your iPad.

Erase All Content and Settings

Step 3: Restore from iCloud Backup

Now, you can restore your iPad from the iCloud backup that contains the deleted photos:

Turn on your iPad.
Follow the setup instructions until you reach the "Apps & Data" screen.
Select "Restore from iCloud Backup."
Sign in to your iCloud account with your Apple ID and password.
Choose the relevant backup from the list (the one that includes the deleted photos).
Wait for the restoration process to complete. This may take some time, depending on the size of the backup and your internet connection.

Step 4: Check Your Photo Library

Once the restoration is complete, your iPad will restart. Open the Photos app and check if the deleted photos are now back in your library.

Please note that using this method will replace the current content on your iPad with the content from the selected iCloud backup. Make sure you've backed up any new data you want to keep before proceeding.

Restoring from an iCloud backup is an effective way to recover deleted photos, especially if you have regular backups. However, it's essential to act quickly to prevent backups from being overwritten with newer data.

Method 03. By Restoring iTunes Backup

If you've deleted photos from your iPad and have an iTunes backup that contains them, you can restore your device to recover those lost pictures. Here's how to recover deleted photos from iPad using iTunes backup:

Step 1: Connect Your iPad to Your Computer

Use a USB cable to connect your iPad to a computer that has iTunes installed.

Step 2: Open iTunes

Launch iTunes on your computer if it doesn't open automatically upon connecting your iPad.

Step 3: Trust This Computer

If prompted on your iPad, tap "Trust This Computer" and enter your device passcode, if applicable.

Step 4: Select Your Device

In iTunes, click on the device icon (iPad icon) located in the upper-left corner of the iTunes window. This will take you to your iPad's summary page.

Step 5: Choose Restore Backup

On the summary page, locate the "Backups" section. Under "Manually Back Up and Restore," click "Restore Backup."

iTunes Manually Back Up

Step 6: Select the Relevant iTunes Backup

A pop-up window will appear with a list of available backups. Choose the iTunes backup that contains the deleted photos you want to recover. Pay attention to the date and size of the backup to select the correct one.

Step 7: Begin the Restoration

Click the "Restore" button to start the restoration process. iTunes will erase your iPad's current content and settings and replace them with the content from the selected backup.

Step 8: Wait for the Process to Complete

Allow some time for iTunes to complete the restoration. The time required will depend on the size of the backup and your computer's processing speed.

Step 9: Set Up Your iPad

After the restoration is finished, your iPad will restart. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your device.

Step 10: Check Your Photo Library

Open the Photos app on your iPad and check if the deleted photos have been successfully restored to your photo library.

It's important to note that using this method will replace the current data on your iPad with the data from the selected iTunes backup. Make sure you've backed up any new data you want to keep before proceeding.

Restoring from an iTunes backup can be a useful way to recover deleted photos if you regularly back up your device through iTunes and have a recent backup that contains the photos you want to retrieve.

Method 04. By Using Finder on Mac

How to recover deleted photos from iPad? If you're a Mac user, you can use Finder to recover deleted photos from your iPad, especially if you don't have access to iCloud or iTunes backups. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Connect Your iPad to Your Mac

Use a USB cable to connect your iPad to your Mac.

Step 2: Open Finder

On your Mac, open Finder. You can do this by clicking on the Finder icon in the dock (the blue smiley face icon).

Step 3: Select Your iPad

In the Finder sidebar, under the "Locations" section, you should see your iPad listed. Click on it to select it.

Step 4: Choose "Manage Files"

In the top menu bar, you'll find a button that says "Manage Files." Click on it to open the iPad management interface.

Step 5: Browse and Recover Deleted Photos

In the iPad management interface, you'll see various categories on the left sidebar, including Photos. Click on "Photos" to access your iPad's photo library.

Step 6: Restore Deleted Photos

Within the Photos section, look for the "Recently Deleted" album. Click on it to view the photos that have been deleted but are still recoverable.

Step 7: Select and Recover Photos

Select the photos you want to recover from the "Recently Deleted" album. You can do this by clicking on each photo.

Step 8: Click "Recover"

After selecting the photos, click the "Recover" button. This action will restore the selected photos to their original location in your photo library.

Step 9: Check Your Photo Library

Go back to your iPad's photo library, and you should find the recovered photos in their respective albums or the "Recents" folder.

Using Finder on your Mac is a convenient method to recover deleted photos from your iPad, especially if you don't have backups readily available. It allows you to access and manage your device's content directly from your computer.

Remember that the "Recently Deleted" album on your iPad typically holds deleted photos for 30 days before they are permanently removed. If you don't find your photos there, this method may not work for you, and you may need to consider more specialized data recovery tools or services.

Part 2. Best Method to Recover Deleted Photos from iPad Completely

How to recover deleted photos from iPad fully? When it comes to recovering deleted photos from your iPad, FoneDog iOS Data Recovery is a highly recommended and powerful iPhone 15 supported tool. FoneDog iOS Data Recovery is not limited to photos, it can recover a wide range of data types, including messages, contacts, videos, notes, and more. This versatility makes it a comprehensive solution for various data loss scenarios. Even iPhone contacts disappearing randomly, it can help you.

Key Features:

Comprehensive Data Recovery: FoneDog iOS Data Recovery supports the recovery of various data types, including photos, videos, contacts, messages, and more, making it a versatile solution for your data recovery needs.
Selective Recovery: You can selectively choose which photos to recover, giving you control over the retrieval process and preventing unnecessary clutter in your photo library.
Three Recovery Modes: The software offers three recovery modes: "Recover from iOS Device," "Recover from iTunes Backup," and "Recover from iCloud Backup," ensuring that you have multiple options for retrieving your deleted photos.
Preview Before Recovery: FoneDog iOS Data Recovery allows you to preview deleted photos before deciding which ones to recover, helping you ensure you're restoring the right images.
User-Friendly Interface: The software features an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for those with limited technical expertise.

iOS Data Recovery Recover photos, videos, contacts, messages, call logs, WhatsApp data, and more. Recover data from iPhone, iTunes and iCloud. Compatible with latest iPhone and iOS. Free Download Free Download FoneDog iOS Data Recovery

Steps to Recover Deleted Photos from iPad using FoneDog iOS Data Recovery:

Step 1: Download and Install FoneDog iOS Data Recovery

Visit the FoneDog official website and download the iOS Data Recovery software for your Mac or Windows computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.

Step 2: Launch FoneDog iOS Data Recovery

Launch the software on your computer.

Step 3: Connect Your iPad to Your Computer

Use a USB cable to connect your iPad to the computer. Ensure that you trust the computer on your iPad if prompted.

Step 4: Select Recovery Mode

In the FoneDog iOS Data Recovery interface, choose the appropriate recovery mode based on your situation:

"Recover from iOS Device" if you have no backups.
"Recover from iTunes Backup" if you have an iTunes backup.
"Recover from iCloud Backup" if you have an iCloud backup.

Recover Deleted Photos

Step 5: Scan Your iPad

Click the "Start Scan" button, and the software will begin scanning your iPad for deleted data, including photos.

Step 6: Preview and Select Deleted Photos

Once the scanning is complete, you'll see a list of recoverable data types. Select "Photos" from the list. You can preview the deleted photos to ensure they are the ones you want to recover.

Select Deleted Photos

Step 7: Recover Deleted Photos

After selecting the photos you want to retrieve, click the "Recover" button. Choose a location on your computer to save the recovered photos.

Step 8: Access Recovered Photos

Open the folder where you saved the recovered photos, and you should find your deleted photos there.

FoneDog iOS Data Recovery simplifies the process of recovering deleted photos from your iPad, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced users. Its versatility, user-friendly interface, and preview features make it a standout tool for iOS data recovery.

Part 3. Summary

At this point, with the help of these useful workarounds, you won't be in a great bustle for how to recover deleted photos from iPad. Whether you opt for built-in methods like the "Recently Deleted" album or rely on specialized software like FoneDog iOS Data Recovery, the good news is that recovering deleted photos from your iPad is entirely possible. The method you choose depends on your specific situation, and having a reliable tool like FoneDog iOS Data Recovery can provide an added layer of assurance when it comes to data retrieval. With these methods at your disposal, you can safeguard your precious memories and never have to worry about losing them again.

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