Apple has issued a critical update for iPhone users to address a troubling bug that causes previously deleted photos to reappear in the device’s photo library. The iOS 17.5.1 update, released late Monday, resolves this issue, which has left many users concerned about their privacy.
Several iPhone and iPad users reported experiencing the glitch after installing the recent iOS 17.5 update. They found that photos they had deleted long ago, sometimes years back, were resurfacing in the Photos app, marked as newly taken and uploaded to iCloud. This unexpected return of old images has caused significant confusion and concern among users.
One user shared a particularly distressing experience after updating their iPhone to iOS 17.5. They discovered old NSFW photos, taken with a partner during the Covid lockdowns, appearing in their library as recently uploaded, despite being deleted in 2021. Other users reported similar incidents, with one Redditor noting, “I have four pics from 2010 that keep reappearing as the latest pics uploaded to iCloud. I have deleted them repeatedly.”
The cause of this issue remained unclear until the release of iOS 17.5.1. Apple’s release notes for the update state that it addresses “a rare issue where photos that experienced database corruption could reappear in the Photos library even if they were deleted.”
To protect your privacy and ensure your deleted photos remain deleted, it is crucial to update your device to iOS 17.5.1. You can do this by navigating to Settings, selecting General, and then Software Update, where you’ll find the option to download and install the latest software.
Ensure your iPhone is up-to-date to avoid this unsettling bug and maintain control over your photo library.