Apple releases iOS 17.5.1 to fix mysterious bug resurfacing deleted photos

How to add photos to shared albums on iPhone

Apple has just released iOS 17.5.1. This update comes a week after Cupertino made iOS 17.5 available to all users. Besides important bug fixes, the company says it "addresses a rare issue where photos that experience database corruption could reappear in the Photos library even if they were deleted."

As reported by BGR last week, iPhone users on Reddit were saying that people who updated to iOS 17.5 found deleted photos reappearing in their library without explanation.

The creator of the thread explained what happened: “Erm, so yeah. Very creepy. Thoroughly freaked out. I just completed the update. When in conversation with my partner, I went to send a picture and saw that the latest pictures were NSFW material we’d made years ago when we were living apart (COVID, etc.). But WTF. It was permanently deleted years ago, but magically, it’s back?? I checked my iPad, and it also has pictures (some artwork I did years ago). I feel so uncomfortable. Anyone else got this issue? I mean, with pictures coming back post update?”

Now, Apple has fixed this issue with iOS 17.5.1. The release notes say:

This update provides imporant bug fixes and addresses a rare issue where photos that experienced database corruption could reappear in the Photos library even if they were deleted.

Besides this major bug, now fixed with iOS 17.5.1, Apple added several new features with iOS 17.5, including:

Pride wallpapers: To celebrate Pride 2024, Apple brings “bold, symbolic color to Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad. Signaling hope, strength, and fellowship to LGBTQ+ communities, the beams of light glow against a dark background and stack on top of each other to represent the everlasting impact of LGBTQ+ activism and its role in illuminating the path to greater equality for future generations.”

Podcasts widget change: The Podcasts widget has a new dynamic color that changes depending on what you’re listening to.

Tracking Notifications: Cross-platform tracking detection delivers notifications to users if a compatible Bluetooth tracker they do not own is moving with them, regardless of what operating system the device is paired with.

Apple News+: For Apple News+ (or Apple One subscribers), users can have a new offline mode that gives access to the Today feed and News+ tab even when they don’t have an internet connection.