Data Recovery

How To Recover Accidentally Deleted iCloud Files in 2024

February 22, 2024

Introduction

Losing important files stored in iCloud can be incredibly frustrating. As we become more reliant on cloud storage, accidental deletions are bound to happen from time to time. Thankfully, with the right steps, I can recover deleted iCloud files in 2024 even if I empty the trash or delete them from other devices synced to my iCloud account.

In this comprehensive guide, I will outline various methods and strategies to restore deleted iCloud documents, photos, contacts, calendars, and more. With the proper preparation and tools, recovering vanished iCloud data is possible.

Back Up iCloud Data

Before attempting to restore deleted iCloud files, it is crucial that I have a backup of my iCloud data on another device or service. This provides me with a copy of my iCloud files should recovery efforts fail.

Here are some ways I back up my iCloud data:

Sync iCloud With iTunes On My Computer

Connect my iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to my computer with a USB cable.
Open iTunes and select the device.
Go to the Summary section and tick “Sync with this {device}” under “Automatically sync when this {device} is connected”.
Select which data types (photos, contacts, calendars etc) to sync by checking boxes.
Sync the device to save a copy of iCloud data on my computer through iTunes.

Use iCloud On My Windows PC

Install iCloud for Windows on my PC.
Sign in using my Apple ID and start syncing iCloud data such as photos, emails, contacts etc.
iCloud files are saved in the iCloud Drive folder on my PC.

Backup To External Hard Drive

Connect an external hard drive with enough storage to my Mac or PC.
Find iCloud Drive folder, select all contents and copy them to external drive.
Eject and disconnect the drive once the backup is complete.

Restore Recently Deleted iCloud Files

If I accidentally delete iCloud files and empty the trash immediately, there is still hope for quick recovery. For up to 40 days after deletion, I can restore erased iCloud data from the Recently Deleted folder.

Here is how I recover recently deleted iCloud files:

On iPhone or iPad

Open the Files app and tap Browse.
Select iCloud Drive.
Tap the Recently Deleted folder.
Locate the deleted items and tap Recover to restore them to iCloud Drive.

On iCloud.com

Go to iCloud.com and sign in.
Click iCloud Drive icon.
Select Recently Deleted folder.
Choose the files to recover and click Recover.
I can only recover items if the Recently Deleted folder is not emptied. So avoid permanently deleting files from this folder.

Use iCloud Website Version History

I can access previous versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote documents stored on iCloud via the iCloud website. This allows me to restore an older version of a file if I have accidentally overwritten it.

To use version history:

Go to iCloud.com and open Pages, Numbers or Keynote app.
Locate the modified document.
Click the icon with three horizontal dots next to the document.
Choose Browse all versions from the drop down menu.
Select a previous version and click Restore to bring the old version back.

Restore from iTunes or Finder Backup

If I regularly sync my iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with iTunes on my computer, there is a chance I can retrieve deleted iCloud data from those backups.

Here’s how I can restore from an iTunes or Finder backup:

On Windows

Connect my iOS device to the computer via USB and open iTunes.
Select the device and go to Summary page.
Click Restore Backup and choose a backup that contains my deleted iCloud files.
iTunes will download iCloud data from that backup to my device.

On Mac

Connect my iOS device to my Mac using a cable and launch Finder.
Select the device icon in Finder sidebar and go to General tab.
Click Restore {device} and pick a backup to restore iCloud data from.
Restoring from backup will overwrite my device’s current data so I must use this method carefully.

Contact Apple Support

As a last resort, I can contact Apple Support and request assistance with recovering deleted iCloud files. Apple may be able to restore iCloud data from their server backups in certain cases.

To contact Apple Support:

Go to Apple’s Contact Support page and select my device or iCloud.
Choose Options to recover deleted data.
Fill in details about lost iCloud files and submit my request.
I should be prepared to verify my identity and provide proof of ownership of my Apple ID account during this process.

Enable iCloud File Recovery Software

Third party software solutions can scan my iCloud account and recover deleted files from it. They achieve this by logging in securely with my Apple ID and retrieving files marked for deletion but not yet overwritten.

Some top-rated iCloud recovery apps I can use are:

FoneDog Toolkit- iOS Data Recovery – Scans iCloud directly to find deleted files. Easy to use with clear interface.
iMyFone iBypasser – Advanced scanning and preview of deleted iOS files. Guaranteed full iCloud recovery.
iSkysoft iCloud Recovery – Wide file format support. Retrieves deleted data fast. 24/7 technical support.
I should only use reputable software from established companies to avoid security risks. Check reviews before downloading.

Conclusion

While accidentally deleting important iCloud data can be stressful, recovery is possible in many cases with the right approach. I now have several effective methods to restore missing documents, photos, contacts and more from iCloud using built-in tools or third party software. By regularly backing up iCloud, enabling recovery options and acting quickly after a deletion, I can avoid permanently losing precious iCloud files and memories. With the steps outlined in this guide, I am confident I can recover lost iCloud files, even in 2024 and beyond.