Can I retrieve photos on iPhone 14 after resetting the phone without iCloud backup?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Can I retrieve photos on iPhone 14 after resetting the phone without iCloud backup?

Hi, I reset my iphone 14 (recommendation from apple support chat) without making a backup. I know it's stupid. I just followed the instructions.

When done I remembered there was new data (fotos of my son's birthday) that would be lost. I restarted the setup of the new phone to find out it had kept two of the about 25 photos - and very randomly so. So I do not give up hope that there might also be the couple of photos taken just before that somewhere.

The apple support chat was not of any help.

is there any way to find lost data with an app or a hack?

Thank you in advance for any promising bit.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Mar 23, 2025 10:04 AM

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Answer 1

muguy

Level 10

91,184 points

Mar 25, 2025 10:50 AM in response to mimi0815

No additional recovery is possible after resetting the device.

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Answer 2

Axel Foley

Level 10

150,972 points

Mar 23, 2025 1:44 PM in response to mimi0815

Recovering data after a factory reset without a backup can be extremely challenging and you may have already performed the following tasks that I have recommended below.

1. Check iCloud Photos: If you had iCloud Photos enabled, your photos might still be stored in the cloud. Log in to 👉 www.icloud.com with your Apple ID and check the Photos section.

2. Recently Deleted Folder: On your iPhone, open the Photos app and check the "Recently Deleted" album. Photos remain there for 30 days before being permanently deleted.

3. Check Other Devices: If you use iCloud Photos, your photos might still be accessible on other devices linked to your Apple ID, such as an iPad or Mac.

Axel F.

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Answer 3

mimi0815 Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 24, 2025 4:57 AM in response to Axel Foley

Dear Axel, thank you very much for your support and your quick reply. Unfortunately, I already did all this.

The problem is, the phone was new but the setup went wrong. Apple support couldn't figure out why and recommended to reset the new phone. Which I did, completely stressed out as I was. And then I remembered that I had already taken photos at my son's birthday party.

So I started the new phone again not using the old one as a reference - but since you need an Apple ID to get anything started with Apple, the iCloud took over right from the beginning again. The funny thing - iCloud says the last update was in november but there are Cloud photos on the new phone - and three of the missing photos. So there is the possibility that photos can reappear after a reset - but why not all of them? And how can I get to the lost ones. They must be somewhere in this phone. I guess if I hired a forensical IT expert and spet 700 bucks I'd have them within 24 hours but I was wondering if there are apps for this on the market that don't get you everything a person has ever done with this phone but just the basics and might be cheaper. I'm a private person and a mum who just wants to get back the birthday memories for her eleven year old and his friends (I promised to send them the photos).

Apple support couldn't help. They gave my deleted objects a push and some of the deleted photos came back - but only those which I had deleted on purpose from the Apple photo app, not those I accidentally deleted by resetting the phone to zero.

Anyone else who has an idea?

Thanks in advance!

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