iCloud data recovery: How to restore deleted files & photos

5 min read

iCloud data recovery might seem like a mystery, but it's not. We all accidentally delete stuff sometimes, and thankfully, Apple gives us some safety nets. Recently Deleted lives inside most web apps, and there is a Data Recovery area on icloud.com that restores contacts, calendars, and bookmarks. Accidental deletion is fixable, so here's what works in 2025.

Data recovery iCloud: Two methods that work

When it comes to iCloud data recovery on a Mac, you can't recover from an iCloud Backup like on an iPhone or iPad. I think this is where people get confused.

iCloud Backup is for iOS and iPadOS only. For Mac, I use two things:

iCloud account recovery on the web to bring back cloud items like iCloud Drive files, iCloud Photos, contacts, calendars, and bookmarks
Time Machine to restore Mac-stored copies or entire folders from my local backups

Data type on Mac	iCloud Backup (mobile feature)	iCloud account (web/app)	Mac backup alternative
iCloud Drive files	Not for Mac	Yes: Drive > Recently Deleted > Recover	Time Machine can restore local copies
Desktop & Documents (synced)	Not for Mac	Yes: they appear under iCloud Drive > Recently Deleted	Time Machine for local versions
Photos and videos with iCloud Photos	Not for Mac	Yes: Photos > Recently Deleted > Recover	Time Machine can roll back Photos Library
Photos library without iCloud Photos	Not for Mac	No	Yes: restore the Photos Library with Time Machine
Contacts	Not for Mac	Yes: icloud.com > Data Recovery > Restore Contacts	Yes, restore local Contacts data from Time Machine
Calendars	Not for Mac	Yes: icloud.com > Data Recovery > Restore Calendars	Yes, restore local Calendar data from Time Machine
Safari bookmarks	Not for Mac	Yes: icloud.com > Data Recovery > Restore Bookmarks	Yes, restore local Safari data from Time Machine

Method 1: Recover from Time Machine

I use Time Machine to recover lost files or to roll back an entire folder or library. If you haven't already, you can set up Time Machine in System Settings > General > Time Machine.

System Preferences - Time Machine

Plug in your external device and click the Time Machine icon in your main Menu bar.
Use the timeline on the right to jump to a previous date.
Select your file or folder, and click Restore.

Select your file or folder, and click Restore

Method 2: Recover from your iCloud account directly

For iCloud Drive files, including Desktop and Documents, if you sync them

In a browser, sign in to icloud.com.
Open iCloud Drive > Recently Deleted.
Select the file, click Recover.

Recover from your iCloud account directly for iCloud Drive files

For Photos and videos with iCloud Photos

On icloud.com, open Photos.
Go to Recently Deleted. Select, click Recover.
I can also open the Photos app on the Mac, Recently Deleted under Utilities, then Recover there.

Recover from your iCloud account directly for iCloud Photos

For Contacts, calendars, and bookmarks

On icloud.com, select the top More menu > Data Recovery.
Choose Restore Contacts, Restore Calendars, or Restore Bookmarks.
Pick a dated set. iCloud replaces the current set and emails me a confirmation.

Recover from your iCloud account directly for Contacts

For notes, Notes in iCloud

Open Notes on Mac or icloud.com, check Recently Deleted, and move the note back to a regular folder.

Bonus tip: Keeping your cloud data organized.

While this isn't a way to recover data from iCloud, when I need to manage cloud data and keep my Mac orderly, I use two features from CleanMyMac: Cloud Cleanup to remove safe local copies, stale iCloud caches, and partial downloads; and My Clutter to purge duplicates, test exports, and screenshots. Here's my five-step routine:

Open CleanMyMac — get your free trial here.
Run Cloud Cleanup > Scan, review, then remove items; originals stay in iCloud.
Open My Clutter > Scan. Browse through the categories.
Remove items you no longer need.

My Clutter module of CleanMyMac

What types of data can be recovered?

Data type	From Backup (Time Machine)	From Account (icloud.com)	Window
iCloud Drive files	Yes	Yes (Recently Deleted)	Web 30 days; Time Machine history
Desktop & Documents (synced)	Yes	Yes (Recently Deleted)	Web 30 days; Time Machine history
Photos with iCloud Photos	Yes (library restore)	Yes (Recently Deleted)	Web 30 days; Time Machine history
Photos library without iCloud Photos	Yes	No	Time Machine history
Contacts	Yes	Yes (Data Recovery)	iCloud dated sets. Time Machine history
Calendars	Yes	Yes (Data Recovery)	iCloud dated sets. Time Machine history
Safari bookmarks	Yes	Yes (Data Recovery)	iCloud dated sets. Time Machine history
Notes in iCloud	Possible (if backed up)	Yes (Recently Deleted)	Web 30 days; Time Machine history
Messages on Mac	Yes	No	Time Machine history

Using third-party iCloud data recovery software

I've seen a lot of threads online about iCloud data recovery software. In my personal experience, most tools, like iMyFone and similar, shine for iPhone or for scanning a local disk. On a Mac, they cannot reach Apple's servers. I only try them when a local file might be recoverable, and Time Machine was never set up. Even then, I set expectations low.

Data loss prevention on a Mac

While recovery works great, it is essential to take steps to prevent data loss so that you have options where to recover from. Here's my top list:

Turn on Time Machine and let it run daily.
Keep Desktop and Documents syncing to iCloud if you like cloud access, and learn where Recently Deleted lives.
Use two-factor authentication on your Apple Account.
Keep one clean Photos Library and store big project exports outside it.
Keep folders tidy. I use a simple year and project structure so I can spot what is missing quickly.

So, we've covered everything on iCloud data recovery. Let's wrap up with the most frequently asked questions.

FAQs: Data recovery iCloud

Can I restore my Mac from an iCloud Backup like an iPhone?

No. iCloud Backup is for iPhone and iPad. On a Mac, I recover cloud items at icloud.com, and I use Time Machine for my Mac's files and folders.

What if I use Desktop and Documents with iCloud Drive?

Those folders count as cloud items. I recover them from iCloud Drive's Recently Deleted. If I also back them up with Time Machine, I can pull older copies from my backup, too.

Where do deleted Photos go on a Mac if I use iCloud Photos?

Into Recently Deleted in the Photos app and on icloud.com. I have roughly 30 days to bring them back. If I keep a local Photos Library and backups, I can restore that entire library with Time Machine.