Photos have disappeared

Re: "Photos have disappeared : Why has this happened"

Wondering if your iPhone was rather short on storage space in which to do the update, so it was forced to made space by deleting files that can easily be downloaded again.

Eg: An iPhone generally needs around 8 Gb free at all times, in which to do what you expect it to. An update may also need some Gb's. You can check your iPhone storage:

See: How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support

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If you find you are short on storage space: It is wise to back up everything on your iPhone before making space available: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

You may then want to scroll to "Manage space on your iPhone in the article below for tips:

If you need more space for an update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Note: Storage space in iCloud, (if you have that), is quite different from having the space you need for your iPhone to operate smoothly.

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Re: "Photos have disappeared .... and is there any way of getting them back?"

Depending on your settings, you may have up to 30 days to get photos back from your Recently

Deleted album, When you recover photos and videos, they go back to your Library.

Your iPhone will need enough space free for recovering / storing the photos.

See Apple support's online article:

If you're missing photos or videos in the Photos app - Apple Support

Eg: says: "Check your Recently Deleted album

If you accidentally deleted your photo or video, it goes to the Recently Deleted album.

Go to Photos > Albums, and tap Recently Deleted in the Utilities section.

If you find your missing photos ok:

Eg: On your iPhone

1. In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or later, use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock your Recently Deleted album.
2. Tap a photo or video, then tap Recover. To recover multiple photos, tap Select, select your photos or videos, then tap Recover.
3. Confirm that you want to recover the photos or videos.

See the above article for more info. if needed.

For safe-keeping you might want to keep a copy of your photos: Eg: See how to:

Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC - Apple Support

or

You may want to use a computer to save your Photos to an external drive.

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Note: If you keep Photos synced in iCloud you may have the full-res versions in iCloud and low-res copies on iPhone to save space on iPhone.

It is wise to always: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

All the best :-)