Gbyte Recovery
Free scan and selective preview of 25+ data types like messages, photos, and WhatsApp. No data overwritten — recover only what you need.
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Losing photos from your iPhone—especially irreplaceable ones like baby’s first steps or a family trip—can feel devastating. But here’s the critical detail most users miss: even if you’ve emptied the “Recently Deleted” album or never backed up your device, your photos may still exist in Cloud’s hidden sync layers for weeks or even months.
However, every day you wait increases the risk of permanent overwrite—especially if you take new photos, update iOS, or sync with a new device. In our tests, users who acted within 72 hours recovered 3.2× more photos than those who waited over a week.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best software to recover deleted photos from iPhone covering both temporary and permanently deleted images. We’ve tested and reviewed each tool based on recovery performance, ease of use, and compatibility with the latest iOS versions.
Not sure where to start? Here's a quick breakdown based on your situation:
📸 Deleted in the last 30 days?
→ Check Recently Deleted in your Photos app first. It’s free, instant, and Apple’s official safety net.
💾 Have an iCloud or iTunes backup?
→ Try restoring via iCloud.com first. If that misses photos, Dr.Fone or PhoneRescue can extract them from your backup—no device reset needed.
📱 Permanently deleted + no backup?
→ Most tools won’t work. Gbyte Recovery is the only one we tested that recovers photos by scanning hidden iCloud sync data—no cable, no backup, no guesswork. Free scan shows exactly what’s recoverable.
💻 Mac user with recent loss?
→ Disk Drill works for quick, local recoveries—but not for permanently deleted or older photos.
Let’s take a closer look at the full list.
If you’re looking for a reliable and efficient software to retrieve deleted photos from iPhone without relying on iTunes or iCloud backups, Gbyte Recovery is one of the top choices in 2026. It stands out as one of the few apps to recover permanently deleted photos from iPhone without a backup—using a cloud-based deep scan engine that accesses iCloud sync data even after you’ve emptied the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder.
Unlike many traditional iPhone picture recovery software, Gbyte Recovery doesn’t require you to plug in your device or depend on a local backup. Once you install the software on your computer, you simply log in to your Apple account and let the scan begin. It searches deeply through synced iCloud photo data—whether your photos were stored in the Photos app, sent through iMessage, or shared via apps like WhatsApp or LINE.
Recovers permanently deleted photos without backup on iPhone
No physical connection needed—works entirely through iCloud
Supports iPhone 12/13/14/15/16/17 and earlier
Recover photos from third-party apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, WA Business, etc.
✅ Best for: Users who didn’t back up their iPhone but still need to recover lost or deleted pictures.
No USB or physical connection required
Free scan and free preview the recoverable photos selectively before you recover
You can only recover the deleted photos that you want; no overwriting of your existing data
Works even without a local or iTunes backup
Currently available on desktop and mobile
Clean, intuitive interface
Requires Apple ID login (2FA required)
Deep scan may take time if the iPhone's photo data volume is large
Dr.Fone by Wondershare is a well-known name in the data recovery space. If you have a backup (either iCloud or iTunes), it can help extract your deleted photos from those backups without overwriting current data.
Dr.Fone allows you to scan your device or backup selectively—so you don’t have to restore your entire iPhone just to get a few photos back. It supports photo previews before recovery, which helps you pick exactly what you want to recover.
Works with both deleted and existing iPhone images
Allows previewing before full recovery
Available for both Mac and Windows
⚠️ Note: The free version has limited functionality—you’ll need the premium license to complete recovery.
Full recovery requires paid version
Doesn’t perform well without an existing backup
Some users report inconsistent recovery success rates
iMobile PhoneRescue specializes in iPhone image recovery software with a strong reputation for handling complex recovery situations like iOS crashes or forgotten passwords.
Its photo recovery feature is clean and beginner-friendly. You can retrieve images from the device itself, from iCloud, or from an iTunes backup. It also offers a "Smart Recovery" mode that automatically chooses the best method based on your situation.
Supports permanently deleted photos from system failures
Offers three recovery modes
Fast scanning with minimal system load
🎯 Best for: Users dealing with severe data loss due to system crashes or update failures.
Multiple recovery modes (from device, iCloud, iTunes)
Designed to handle iOS crashes and boot issues
Offers step-by-step recovery guidance
Can repair iOS system during recovery
Interface can be a bit overwhelming for new users
Some features locked behind premium version
Recovery accuracy varies based on data condition
If you're looking for an iPhone photo recovery app that balances usability with powerful scanning, UltData by Tenorshare is a good pick. It works on both Windows and Mac, and it allows for direct device scanning, backup extraction, or iCloud recovery.
Restore photos, videos, and other media without a backup
Simple UI ideal for non-tech-savvy users
Supports third-party app data (e.g., WhatsApp images)
Its iCloud login option helps in retrieving synced photo data, though it does require two-factor authentication setup.
Allows recovery without backup
Compatible with the latest iOS versions
Supports third-party app photo recovery
Clean and beginner-friendly UI
Slower deep scan on older devices
iCloud recovery requires Apple ID login
Free version only shows recoverable files—not actual recovery
Originally known for hard drive recovery, Disk Drill also offers iPhone photo recovery features—especially for Mac users. While its iOS recovery isn’t as robust as Gbyte Recovery or Dr.Fone, it still performs well if your photos were recently deleted and not overwritten.
Deep scan support
Mac-first interface
Supports photo previews
Limited features on Windows for iPhone recovery
Not as specialized in iOS recovery compared to desktop file recovery
May not detect older, overwritten photo data
💡 Keep in mind: It struggles with older backups or large-scale deletions, so it's better for recent photo loss.
iMyFone D-Back focuses on a wide variety of iOS recovery situations: water damage, jailbreak failures, accidental deletion, etc. It’s often used by support teams for its advanced scanning algorithm.
Recovers from device, iCloud, and iTunes
Allows selective export of deleted photos
Good success rate with corrupted or failed devices
Its ability to retrieve deleted iPhone photos even after months of deletion makes it a strong contender.
Yes, tools like Gbyte Recovery and iMyFone D-Back can recover even permanently deleted photos using deep scan methods on synced iCloud data.
Yes, apps like Photo Recovery – Rescue Deleted let you recover photos directly on your iPhone, but they work best for recent deletions and may not find permanently lost images.
Not always. Tools like Gbyte Recovery and UltData can recover photos even if you don’t have a backup.
Most reputable tools like Gbyte Recovery, Dr.Fone, and PhoneRescue are secure and do not harm your device or data. Always download from official websites.
Gbyte Recovery
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The installation wizard will automatically start after downloading.
After registration, the recovery process can be managed through the web interface.
You get it all with your purchase - no locked features, no hidden limitations.
