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How can I recover my lost photos from Icloud

I recently upgraded my phone from a 6s plus to a IPhone XR and I’m trying to recover my photos from iCloud . I seem to find nothing that works as yet. Please I need help

iPhone XR, iOS 12

Posted on Mar 18, 2019 3:39 PM

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I don’t know what “back up all my photos on the iCloud” means.


Maybe someone else knows. Or maybe you could be more precise with your words.


You might mean:

  • I back up my iPhone to iCloud
  • I store my photos in iCloud Photo Library and assume they’re backed up.
  • I use iCloud Drive and explicitly store my photos there.
  • Something else

Posted on Mar 18, 2019 5:22 PM

5 replies
Question marked as Best answer

Mar 18, 2019 5:22 PM in response to ebony264

I don’t know what “back up all my photos on the iCloud” means.


Maybe someone else knows. Or maybe you could be more precise with your words.


You might mean:

  • I back up my iPhone to iCloud
  • I store my photos in iCloud Photo Library and assume they’re backed up.
  • I use iCloud Drive and explicitly store my photos there.
  • Something else

Mar 18, 2019 5:59 PM in response to ebony264

I usually back up all my photos on the iCloud that’s why I’m assuming they’re on the iCloud

It is confusing, but iCloud doesn't necessarily backup your photos. It primarily comes down to using iCloud Photos or not (an optional feature of iCloud, formerly referred to as iCloud Photo Library). This feature is optional because it uses your iCloud storage for photos, which add up quickly.


If you are using iCloud Photo Library (Settings/ Photos/ iCloud Photos/ ON) then:

  • Your device backup does not contain your photos.
    • Your backup only points to where your photos are stored, in iCloud.
  • If you install your backup on a new iPhone and sign into the same iCloud account, then your photos (or links to them) are downloaded onto your iPhone from iCloud Photos, not your backup.


So if you are using iCloud Photos, your new iPhone should inherit this setting from your backup, and download your photos (or links to them) from iCloud.



If you're NOT using iCloud Photo Library (Settings/ Photos/ iCloud Photos/ OFF) then:

  • Photos are stored on your iPhone in Camera Roll.
  • Your Camera Roll is part of your backup (but can become quite large due to photo content).
    • Keep in mind that if you transfer photos from your Camera Roll to your computer, then delete the photos from your Camera Roll, they are no longer part of your backup.
  • If you're not using iCloud Photos, you have the option of using My Photo Stream.
    • My Photo Stream is in iCloud, but only contains the last 30 days' photos (in iCloud).
    • On your device, My Photo Stream will accrue photos beyond 30 days, but any over 30 days old are not in iCloud.
    • My Photo Stream is not in your backup, but your backup will re-link to the iCloud version of My Photo Stream, thus recovering only the last 30 days' worth of photos.
    • This means that if you delete a photo from your Camera Roll, you may still have it in My Photo Stream, but it will not be in iCloud if it is older than 30 days.


So if you are not using iCloud Photos, your new iPhone can recover your photos from your backup, but it will only contain what was in your Camera Roll, plus a link to your last 30 days' photos in My Photo Stream from iCloud (if you're using My Photo Stream).


For those not using iCloud Photos, I've seen people delete photos from Camera Roll to save space on their iPhone, and they think that they're still safe in My Photo Stream (or iCloud), but that's not the case -- only the last 30 days' photos are recovered if you load your backup on a new iPhone, or restore your iPhone and reinstall your backup. This may be what you did?

How can I recover my lost photos from Icloud

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