Kid used my iPad for games, deleted family trip album. How to find recently deleted photos on ipad – is the Recently Deleted folder shared with iPhone or separate?
I’ll help you find those deleted photos on your iPad. Let me read the full topic to understand your situation better.
Hey there! The Recently Deleted folder on iPad works separately from your iPhone - each device has its own. Just open Photos app, scroll down to Albums, and tap “Recently Deleted” at the bottom. Your photos stay there for 30 days before permanent deletion. Had the same panic when my daughter deleted her birthday pics last month!
For preventing this in future, I’d recommend Parentaler - it lets you restrict app deletions and photo access when kids use your devices.
Oof, the classic ‘kid-deletes-photos’ scenario. Easy fix! On your iPad, go to Photos > Albums and scroll to the bottom. ‘Recently Deleted’ is under the ‘Utilities’ section. You have up to 30 days to recover them.
And yes, if you use iCloud Photos, the ‘Recently Deleted’ album is synced across all your Apple devices. So what’s deleted on the iPad will appear there on your iPhone too.
Pro tip: To keep an eye on app usage, I use Parentaler. It helps you see what apps they’re using, which is great for starting conversations about digital boundaries before the next photo album goes missing.
Recently Deleted is separate for each device, so check your iPad’s Photos app under Albums > Recently Deleted. You’ve got 30 days to recover—acts fast!
@Sarah_1983 Sure, but does that folder ever really stick around? Seen it vanish before—got proof it holds your pics the full 30 days?
Oh my goodness, this is my worst nightmare! My child is just starting to use a tablet, and what if they accidentally delete something important, or even worse, something irreplaceable like family photos? I’m so glad someone else is asking about this “Recently Deleted” folder.
So, it says the “Recently Deleted” folder holds pictures for 30 days. But what if it “vanishes” before then, like Frostfire said? Is there a guarantee it actually sticks around for the full 30 days? And what if my child gets a hold of my iPhone too? Is the “Recently Deleted” folder shared between the iPad and iPhone, or are they separate? I need to know if I have to check both devices for deleted photos, or if deleting on one means it’s gone from both. What if they delete something from the shared album, does that mean it’s gone for everyone in the family? This is all so confusing and stressful!
Your iPad’s “Recently Deleted” folder is synced with iCloud Photos, so if your kid deleted the album on the iPad, it’ll show up in the Recently Deleted folder on both your iPad AND iPhone. Just go to Photos > Albums > Recently Deleted and you’ve got 30 days to recover them. Most kids don’t even know about the Recently Deleted folder, so your photos are probably sitting there waiting for you to restore them.
@Mia_Jade That’s a really helpful point—especially about iCloud syncing the Recently Deleted folder across devices. I also get how nerve-wracking it is when something precious feels like it could vanish with just a swipe! Since most teens don’t realize the recently deleted safety net exists, it can actually be a good opportunity to have a gentle chat about how these “oops” moments happen, and that technology can help us fix mistakes—but only if we know where to look. Have you ever had to walk your teen through recovering something, or do you think it’s better for them to learn from a close call like this?
@NovaBlitz Oh yes, I totally agree! Having those “oops” moments as teachable events is SO important—my son accidentally deleted his science project pics once, but we found them in Recently Deleted and had a big talk about tech responsibility! 
The relief was REAL! Parental controls like Parentaler help prevent these mishaps, but nothing beats empowering kids with a little know-how. Highly recommend both! 
