To restore Procreate drawings, you must have a pre-existing backup, because Procreate has no built-in recovery folder or undo option for deleted artwork. The only reliable way to restore Procreate drawings is to retrieve them from a backup you made yourself before the loss occurred.
Can you restore deleted Procreate drawings?
The hard truth is that Procreate has no "Recently Deleted" folder. When you delete an artwork from the Gallery, it is gone permanently within the app. There is no undo for deletion. If you delete the Procreate app from your iPad without backing up your work, all your drawings are lost. The only path to recovery is a backup you created beforehand, either a full device backup via iCloud or iTunes/Finder, or manually exported .procreate files saved to another location.
Restore Procreate drawings from an iCloud backup
If you had automatic iCloud backups enabled on your iPad and Procreate was included in those backups, you can restore your drawings by erasing your entire iPad and restoring it from a specific iCloud backup. Restoring from an iCloud Backup requires erasing your entire iPad and then restoring it from a chosen backup. This process restores the whole device to the state it was in at the time of that backup, meaning any artwork or data created after the backup will be lost. The process of restoring an iPad from an iCloud backup can take a significant amount of time, potentially hours, days, or even weeks, depending on the size of your Procreate library.
- Ensure automatic iCloud backups were activated on your iPad and that Procreate was included in the backup settings (Settings > your name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups > This iPad > Procreate toggle enabled).
- Erase your iPad completely (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content and Settings).
- Wait for the restore to finish. All Procreate drawings present at the time of that backup will be available in the Gallery.
Restore Procreate drawings from an iTunes or Finder backup
If you have a full, encrypted backup of your iPad on a computer, you can restore Procreate drawings by connecting your iPad and using iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later). To restore from an iTunes/Finder backup, connect your iPad to a computer, open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later), select your device, and choose "Restore Backup" from a full, encrypted backup that includes Procreate data. This method also wipes your iPad and replaces all current data with the backup.
- Connect your iPad to the computer you used to create the backup.
- Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later) and select your device.
- Wait for the restore to complete. Your Procreate drawings from the backup date will reappear in the Gallery.
Reimport manually exported .procreate files
If you previously exported your artwork as .procreate files to cloud storage (such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive) or an external drive, you can bring them back without erasing your iPad. Manually exported .procreate files can be reimported into Procreate by tapping "Import" in the Gallery. Exporting artwork in the .procreate format retains all layers, settings, and Time-lapse recordings, allowing you to continue working on the artwork after reimporting. If you have manually exported files to cloud services (like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive) or external drives, you can access and reimport them from those locations.
- Open Procreate and go to the Gallery view.
- Navigate to the location where your .procreate file is saved (iCloud Drive, cloud storage app, or external drive).
- Select the file. It will open in the Gallery as a new canvas, fully editable.
How to prevent permanent loss of Procreate artwork
Procreate does not automatically sync your canvases to iCloud Drive; manual export of files to iCloud Drive or other cloud services is required. The "Procreate" folder found in the iPad's Files app under "On My iPad" is not a safe long-term backup location, as its contents will be deleted if the Procreate app is uninstalled. To protect your work, it is highly recommended to regularly export copies of your artworks as .procreate files to multiple secure locations, such as cloud storage or external drives, in addition to full iPad backups. Combine this with full iPad backups via iCloud or iTunes/Finder for maximum safety. Manual export is the only reliable way to ensure you can restore Procreate drawings without losing newer work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a Procreate drawing if I only have a screenshot or a time-lapse video?
No. A screenshot or time-lapse video is a flattened image or video, not a working file. You cannot restore editable layers, Procreate tools, or canvas settings from these formats. Only a .procreate file or a full device backup preserves the complete artwork.
What happens if I restore from a backup that doesn't have the drawing I need?
You will lose all data created after that backup date, and the missing drawing will not appear. Always check the backup date and contents before restoring. If you are unsure, try reimporting any manually exported .procreate files first.
Does Procreate save drawings to iCloud automatically?
No. Procreate does not auto-sync canvases to iCloud Drive. You must manually export your artwork as .procreate files to iCloud Drive or another cloud service. iCloud backups only save your app data if you have full device backups enabled.
Can I recover a drawing if I deleted it and then created new work?
Only if you have a backup from before the deletion. There is no undo for deletion within Procreate. If you restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup made before the deletion, you will also lose any work created after that backup.
Will restoring from a backup affect my other apps and data?
Yes. Restoring your iPad from an iCloud or iTunes backup replaces all data on the device with the data from the backup. Any photos, messages, apps, or settings added after the backup date will be erased. Always back up your current data before attempting a full restore.
For the wider topic, see Procreate tools, layers and file management.
