How To Recover Deleted Voice Memos on iPhone: A Comprehensive Guide

Accidentally deleted a crucial voice memo from your iPhone? Don’t panic! Recovering deleted voice memos is often possible, even if they seem lost forever. The process hinges on where the memo was deleted from and how long ago it vanished. Here’s the direct answer: You can recover deleted voice memos from the “Recently Deleted” folder within the Voice Memos app (for up to 30 days). If they’re not there, or if the 30-day window has passed, you can attempt recovery from an iCloud backup or, as a last resort, explore third-party data recovery software. We will dive into each of these methods, offering practical advice to maximize your chances of getting those precious recordings back.

Understanding Voice Memo Deletion and Recovery

Before we jump into the how-to, let’s understand what happens when you delete a voice memo.

• Soft Delete (Recently Deleted): When you delete a voice memo within the Voice Memos app, it typically goes to the “Recently Deleted” folder. Think of this as the Recycle Bin for your audio recordings. This provides a temporary grace period for retrieval. The duration is usually 30 days.
• Permanent Delete: After 30 days in the “Recently Deleted” folder, or if you manually delete them from this folder, the memos are permanently deleted from your iPhone. While seemingly gone, the data might still exist on your device until overwritten by new data.
• iCloud Backup: If you have iCloud Backup enabled, your voice memos might be backed up along with other iPhone data. Restoring from an iCloud backup can recover deleted memos, but it will also revert your iPhone to the state it was in when the backup was created.
• Third-Party Software: Specialist data recovery software can scan your iPhone for remnants of deleted files, including voice memos. These tools aren’t guaranteed to work, but they are worth considering as a final effort.

Methods to Recover Deleted Voice Memos

Now, let’s explore the practical steps to recover those vanished voice memos.

Method 1: Recovering from the “Recently Deleted” Folder

This is your first port of call. It’s the easiest and fastest method.

1. Open the Voice Memos App: Locate and open the Voice Memos app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to “Recently Deleted”: Look for a folder labeled “Recently Deleted” at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select the Memos: Tap on “Recently Deleted” to view the memos within.
4. Recover the Memos: Tap the memo(s) you want to recover.
5. Tap “Recover”: Tap on the “Recover” button located at the bottom right corner.

The selected memos will be restored to your main Voice Memos list. If the memos aren’t in this folder, proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Restoring from an iCloud Backup

If you have iCloud Backup enabled, your voice memos might be part of a previous backup.

Important Note: Restoring from an iCloud backup will erase all current data on your iPhone and replace it with the data from the backup. Therefore, make sure to back up your current iPhone data before proceeding.

1. Back Up Current iPhone Data: Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, and tap “Back Up Now.”
2. Erase All Content and Settings: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the on-screen prompts to erase your iPhone.
3. Restore from iCloud Backup: During the setup process, when you reach the “Apps & Data” screen, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup.”
4. Sign in to iCloud: Sign in to your iCloud account with your Apple ID and password.
5. Choose a Backup: Select the backup you want to restore from the list of available backups. Choose a backup that was created before you deleted the voice memos.
6. Wait for Restoration: Wait for the restoration process to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of the backup.

Once the restoration is complete, check the Voice Memos app to see if your deleted memos have been restored.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Data Recovery Software

If the above methods fail, third-party data recovery software might be able to retrieve the deleted memos. However, success is not guaranteed, and these programs often come with a cost.

Important Note: The sooner you use data recovery software after deleting the memos, the higher the chance of success. This is because deleted data can be overwritten by new data.

1. Choose a Reputable Software: Research and choose a reputable iOS data recovery software. Some popular options include iMobie PhoneRescue, Wondershare Dr.Fone, and Tenorshare UltData.
2. Install the Software: Download and install the software on your computer.
3. Connect Your iPhone: Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
4. Trust the Computer: If prompted on your iPhone, tap “Trust” to allow the computer to access your device.
5. Scan Your iPhone: Launch the data recovery software and follow the on-screen instructions to scan your iPhone for deleted data.
6. Preview and Recover: After the scan is complete, preview the recoverable data. Look for the deleted voice memos.
7. Recover the Memos: Select the memos you want to recover and choose a location on your computer to save them.

The recovered voice memos will be saved to your computer, and you can then transfer them back to your iPhone.

FAQs: Recovering Deleted Voice Memos on iPhone

Here are 12 frequently asked questions to further clarify the process and provide additional insights.

1. Are deleted voice memos permanently gone from my iPhone?

Not necessarily. If the voice memos are still within the “Recently Deleted” folder, they can be easily recovered. Even if they’re not in that folder, data recovery software might be able to retrieve them, although success isn’t guaranteed, especially if the data has been overwritten.

2. How long do voice memos stay in the “Recently Deleted” folder?

Voice memos typically stay in the “Recently Deleted” folder for 30 days. After that, they are automatically and permanently deleted.

3. Can I recover voice memos from iCloud if I don’t have iCloud Backup enabled?

No. To recover voice memos from iCloud, you must have iCloud Backup enabled before the memos were deleted. If iCloud Backup was not enabled, your voice memos are not stored in iCloud.

4. Is it possible to recover voice memos from an iTunes/Finder backup instead of iCloud?

Yes, you can also recover voice memos from an iTunes (or Finder in macOS Catalina and later) backup. The process is similar to restoring from iCloud, but you’ll be restoring from a backup stored on your computer.

5. Will restoring from an iCloud backup delete my current data?

Yes. Restoring from an iCloud backup will erase all current data on your iPhone and replace it with the data from the backup. Therefore, always back up your current data before restoring.

6. What’s the best third-party data recovery software for iPhones?

Some popular and reputable options include iMobie PhoneRescue, Wondershare Dr.Fone, and Tenorshare UltData. However, effectiveness can vary, and it’s recommended to research and compare features and pricing before choosing one.

7. Is it safe to use third-party data recovery software?

Using third-party data recovery software carries some risk. Choose reputable software from well-known companies and read reviews before downloading. Be cautious about software that asks for excessive permissions or seems suspicious.

8. How can I prevent accidental deletion of voice memos in the future?

Consider enabling iCloud Backup to regularly back up your iPhone data, including voice memos. Also, be mindful when deleting files and double-check before confirming deletion.

9. I accidentally deleted voice memos from the “Recently Deleted” folder. Can I still recover them?

Recovering voice memos deleted from the “Recently Deleted” folder is significantly more challenging. You’ll need to rely on third-party data recovery software, and the chances of success are lower.

10. Do voice memos take up a lot of iCloud storage space?

Voice memos can take up a significant amount of iCloud storage space, especially if you record long or numerous recordings. Consider managing your iCloud storage by deleting unnecessary backups or upgrading your iCloud storage plan.

11. Can I recover only specific voice memos from an iCloud backup, or do I have to restore the entire backup?

Unfortunately, you cannot selectively restore specific voice memos from an iCloud backup. You have to restore the entire backup, which will replace all the data on your iPhone.

12. Is jailbreaking my iPhone necessary to recover deleted voice memos?

No. Jailbreaking your iPhone is not necessary to recover deleted voice memos using the methods described above. Jailbreaking can void your warranty and introduce security risks.

Conclusion

Recovering deleted voice memos on your iPhone can be a delicate process. By understanding the methods available, from checking the “Recently Deleted” folder to exploring iCloud backups and third-party software, you can increase your chances of retrieving those important recordings. Remember to act quickly, especially when using data recovery software, as the likelihood of success diminishes over time. Good luck!