Photos deleted not showing up in recently deleted folder

I connected my iphone11 to my windows PC over a USB cable. Windows10 started the Photos application and imported the photos. I selected some photos and clicked Delete thinking they will only be deleted from the PC, but they also got deleted from my iphone and icloud.com. The strange thing is, the photo deleted is not in the Recently deleted folder on either my iphone or from icloud.com. They are just gone. I understand with icloud backup of photos, deleting the photo on one device will also delete the photo from all devices connected to icloud, but i would still expect to see the deleted photos in Recently deleted folder so I can recover if I want to. The only difference is that, this time I'm not deleting it from my photos app on my phone, but rather from my computer's Photos app that has my iphone connected to it as a drive. Any idea if I can still recover such deleted photos?

iPhone 6s, iOS 14

Posted on Sep 13, 2023 7:46 PM

Reply
6 replies

Sep 14, 2023 5:28 PM in response to wenz106

Hi wenz106,


We'd like to make sure we're on the same page. On your Apple devices you have iCloud Photos enabled? See how to check here: Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support


"Turn on iCloud Photos


Make sure that you set up iCloud and sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices. 

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Go to Settings > [your name].
  2. Tap iCloud.
  3. Tap Photos, then tap the switch next to Sync this [device].


On your Mac

  1. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings or choose Apple menu  > System Preferences.
  2. Click Apple ID. 
  3. Click iCloud in the sidebar, then select Photos. 
  4. Click the switch next to Sync this Mac. "


If so, do you also use iCloud for Windows on your PC? Generally, if iCloud Photos is enabled across all your devices, they just update wirelessly. The option to import via cable on PC is disabled in iTunes if iCloud is enabled.


If you are accustomed to importing your photos, what app are you using to do so? If it's a Windows app and not iTunes, the options for deleting or recovering deleted photos may be different or not exist.


Let us know if that helps.


Cheers!

Sep 14, 2023 6:04 PM in response to DerekM87

Hi DerekM87:


Thanks for your reply. Yes icloud for photo is enabled on the iphone, and I can see all the photos on icloud.com. The windows machine does not have iCloud for Windows. Once the phone is connected to the PC via USB, the app that gets opened is the Windows Photos app by Microsoft, and it treats the iphone as a photo storage. It's with the Photos app on the PC that I deleted some pictures, and now these pictures are no longer on the phone or iCloud.


Thanks again!


Sep 15, 2023 9:52 AM in response to wenz106

Hey wenz106,


Thanks for providing those additional details.


Just to clarify, did you delete the photos in the Photos app before they were imported to your PC or after?


If after, do you by chance recall if the Windows Photos app had an option to remove the photos from your iPhone after importing? If so, then this would cause the photos to be removed from your device and iCloud. If those photos were then removed from your PC, have you had a chance to check the Recycling Bin on your PC to see if the photos appear there?


If still unable to find the photos, we'd recommend reaching out to Apple Support for additional help at this link here: Get Support - Apple


Take care.

Sep 15, 2023 11:13 AM in response to wenz106

When you delete a photo from your iCloud Photos Library they will usually be saved in Recently Deleted, but there is one exception: If you have used up all your iCloud storage, the photos will be deleted without moving them to Recently Deleted, to help you to free your cloud storage instantly. Could it be that you have been using up all iCloud storage?

Sep 17, 2023 8:06 AM in response to Chris_V89

Hi,


It happened before the photos were actually imported into the PC, the Photos app were showing the photos as thumbnails on the iphone (as a drive on the PC) when I deleted them. After I disconnected the USB cable, I don't see any imported photos on the PC. I then looked under the recycle bin, and there were not there either. I'll get a support case opened.


Thanks!

Photos deleted not showing up in recently deleted folder

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.