Recover Deleted WhatsApp Photos on iPhone Without Backup in US

If you accidentally deleted WhatsApp photos on your iPhone and don’t have a backup, don’t worry — there are several effective ways to recover them. This guide explains step-by-step methods that work in the United States for devices running iOS 18.

Step 1: Check the Recently Deleted Album

Open the Photos app and scroll down to Recently Deleted under the Albums tab. If your WhatsApp images were recently removed, you can select and restore them within 30 days before permanent deletion.

Step 2: Search the Files App

Some WhatsApp photos might have been downloaded to the Files app. Open Files > Browse > On My iPhone or iCloud Drive, then search for “WhatsApp” or “IMG”. You may find older versions of deleted photos stored here.

Step 3: Check WhatsApp Media Folder

In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Storage and Data > Manage Storage. Look under Photos and Media to see if your deleted items are cached temporarily. You can sometimes re-download them if the message thread still exists.

Step 4: Restore Photos via iCloud Sync

If iCloud Photos was enabled, open Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos and ensure that Sync this iPhone is turned on. Wait a few minutes for missing images to reappear in the Photos app.

Step 5: Use Third-Party Recovery Tools

If no local or iCloud copies exist, consider using reputable recovery tools like iMobie PhoneRescue or Dr.Fone. These programs can scan your iPhone’s internal storage and recover deleted media files without requiring a full backup.

Step 6: Prevent Future Data Loss

To avoid similar issues, enable automatic cloud backup in WhatsApp under Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. You can also learn more about media storage best practices in our guide: Camera & Media Management.

For more helpful iPhone tutorials and recovery tips, visit the iPhone Hub.