Some photos now show blank previews, and videos appear but will not load after an iCloud storage payment lapse. Is there anything else worth checking to recover them?
Can photos come back after an iCloud payment lapse?
Asked by
+Moth_31
Answers
First, avoid deleting or changing anything while you check. Make sure the device is online and signed in to the same Apple Account, then check Photos on iCloud.com and Recently Deleted on both the device and the website. Also check any other devices that may still have full-resolution copies.
Reply to this answer
A blank preview does not by itself prove the original file is gone. If the photos were stored only in iCloud and the device has a placeholder, the originals may not be available to load. Check that iCloud Photos is enabled and let the device stay on Wi-Fi and power for a while, but do not count on syncing to restore files that were removed.
Reply to this answer
Look beyond the Photos app: old phone or tablet backups, a computer import, an external drive, or another photo service could have copies. Keep in mind that an iCloud device backup generally is not a separate archive of photos when iCloud Photos was enabled, so check what was actually included in any backup.
Reply to this answer
If nothing shows on iCloud.com or another device, contact Apple Support and ask whether the account or sync history can be checked. Recovery is not guaranteed, especially after a long time, but it is a reasonable last check before assuming the originals are unavailable.
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
+Moth_31:
I checked Recently Deleted already, but I will look from another device too.