How to do it
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Check that iCloud Photos is on
Go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, then tap Photos. Make sure Sync this iPhone is on, so deletes reach your other devices.
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Look in Recently Deleted
Open the Photos app, tap Collections, tap Recently Deleted under Utilities, and unlock it. Photos you delete stay here for 30 days.
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Delete again with sync on
Delete the photos once more, then delete them from Recently Deleted. Check your other devices signed in with the same Apple Account.
Why would a deleted photo come back?
CleverFiles says it’s because iCloud Photos is restoring them: if sync was off or interrupted when you deleted the photos, they were removed only locally, and iCloud downloaded them back the next time it connected (CleverFiles).
How should deletes work with iCloud Photos on?
Apple says that with iCloud Photos, when you delete photos and videos on one device, they’re deleted everywhere you use iCloud Photos (Apple). They go to Recently Deleted for 30 days first (Apple).
| Case | Likely result |
|---|---|
| Deleted with sync on | Deleted on your other devices too |
| Deleted with sync off or interrupted | Can return from iCloud (per CleverFiles) |
| Deleted from Recently Deleted | Permanently deleted |
What if the Trash button is gray?
If you added photos by syncing from a computer, you can’t delete them directly in Photos. Apple says you may need to stop syncing photos from your computer (Apple).
Can I get a photo back on purpose?
Yes, within 30 days from Recently Deleted. See recover deleted photos on iPhone.