How To Restore Deleted Instagram Posts/Photos

Instagram added the Recently Deleted feature earlier this year. Users can now restore their recently deleted posts using this feature. The deleted posts remain in the folder for 30 days before they are permanently deleted.

Instagram released the ‘Recently Deleted’ feature earlier this year. This feature can help users restore posts containing photos, videos, reels, and IGTV videos as well as stories that they may have deleted knowingly or accidentally.

Before this feature was enabled, a deleted post could not be recovered.

All the deleted photos, videos, reels, IGTV videos, and stories are now moved to the ‘Recently Deleted folder. Deleted stories that are not in your archive will stay in the folder for up to 24 hours while other posts stay in the folder for 30 days before they are permanently deleted.

As per Instagram, the new feature also adds extra verifications to prevent hackers from permanently deleting posts or restoring deleted posts. The users will be asked to verify that they are the rightful account holders when permanently deleting or restoring content from the Recently Deleted folder.

Follow the steps below to restore your recently deleted posts on Instagram.

How To Restore Deleted Instagram Posts or Photos

Restoring Deleted Instagram Posts

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your Instagram Profile.
2. Tap the hamburger icon at the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
3. Tap on Account and look for ‘Recently deleted at the bottom of the menu. Here you can view all your recently deleted posts and stories including IGTV and Reels.
4. Select the post that you want to recover and then tap the three dots icon. Here you will get the two options — Delete and Restore — to either delete it permanently or restore the post.

After you select restore, you will first have to confirm that it’s you. You will get the option to receive a one-time password (OTP) on your phone number or email ID connected to the Instagram account.  After you select it, you will receive the OTP.

You will then be prompted to enter the OTP to restore the post. Once you complete the steps, your deleted post will show up on your profile.

For a story, if it was shared less than 24 hours ago, then it will show on your profile and others can view it, else you can find it in the Archive folder for stories.

Method One:

Checking the Recently Deleted Folder on the Mobile App

1. Open Instagram. This app icon looks like a camera icon over a rainbow background that you can find on your Home screen, in the app drawer, or by searching. Log in if prompted.
2. Tap your profile image or the silhouette icon. This is in the lower right corner of your screen. Your profile page will open.
3. Tap ☰. This three-line menu button is in the top right corner of your screen.
4. Tap Settings. It’s the first option in the menu next to a gear icon.
5. Tap Account. You’ll see this near the middle of the menu next to a silhouette icon.
6. Tap Recently Deleted. This is near the bottom of the menu (if you don’t see this option, you may not have the most recent version of the app, and should update).
7. Tap the thumbnail that you want to restore. You’ll be able to see all your photos, Stories, reels, IGTV videos, and video posts here. Tap Restore to restore it to your profile.

See Also: Easy Tips To Hack an Instagram Account

Method Two:

Checking the Instagram Archive Feature

1. Open Instagram. This app icon looks like a camera icon over a rainbow background that you can find on your Home screen, in the app drawer, or by searching. Since its introduction in 2017, the archive feature is the default action for removing/hiding posts instead of deleting them. You might be able to find your old content here. Log in if prompted.
2. Tap your profile image or the silhouette. This is in the lower right of your screen. Your profile page will open.
3. Tap ☰. A menu will slide out.
4. Tap Archive. A list of your archived Stories will appear.
5. Tap the Stories Archive drop-down. A menu will drop down and you can choose Stories Archive or Posts Archive.
6. Tap an image to view it. You’ll see a list of all the content you’ve archived, and tapping one will open it with more details and options. Your post and all its original comments will load.
7. Tap ⋮. You’ll see this at the top of the post.
8. Tap Show on Profile to unarchive the post. It will appear back in your Instagram timeline where it originally was.

See Also: Easy Tips To Hack an Instagram Account

Method Three:

Checking Your Phone Gallery on Android

1. Open My Files. This app icon looks like a folder, and you’ll most likely find this on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching. You’ll only find an Instagram album if you enabled the feature in Instagram to save your posts locally. You’ll only find the videos/photos you took with the Instagram app camera, not the entire post that you created. You also will not find pictures you uploaded from your default camera roll into Instagram here.
2. Tap Internal Storage. You’ll see this listed below “Recent files” and “Categories.”
3. Tap Pictures. You might have to scroll down to see this.
4. Tap Instagram. You’ll see all the pictures you took from the Instagram app.

See Also: How To Make Money With Facebook Reel

Method Four:

Checking Your Phone Gallery on iPhone and iPad

1. Open Photos. This app icon looks like a multicolored flower. You can find this app on your home screen or by searching. You’ll only find an Instagram album if you enabled the feature in Instagram to save your posts locally.
   You’ll only find the videos/photos you took with the Instagram app camera, not the entire post that you created. You also will not find pictures you uploaded from your default camera roll into Instagram here.
2. Tap the albums icon at the bottom of your screen. It’s usually the second from the right icon next to “Search.”
3. Tap the Instagram album. You’ll see all the pictures and videos you took from the Instagram app, but you won’t find a copy of the entire post.

Watch How To Recover / Restore Deleted Instagram Posts and Stories