[Fixed] iOS 17.5 fix for disappearing photos may have triggered a bug that restores old deleted memories

Update 22/05/24 02:25 pm (IST): Apple has rolled out a fix for the bug that results in “deleted” photos reappearing for some users. The fix comes with the iOS 17.5.1 update. Here’s what the changelog reads:

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

A Redditor claimed that they “may not know somebody who is a Private Contractor at Apple” who explained the situation to them. Here’s the gist of it.

The glitch affecting “deleted” photos reappearing after updating to iOS 17.5 is caused by photos being deleted from the Photos app but not the Files app, where identical copies may exist. During the update re-indexing process, a bug attempts to re-save all files from Files into Photos, causing the “deleted” photos from Files to resurface in Photos, though they were on the device all along.

The official Apple statement cites “database corruption” occurring when the OS mistakenly re-saved files from Files to Photos during re-indexing, explaining some cases of lower quality or renamed files. However, this does not indicate photos being permanently stored remotely or security breaches – it’s just a software bug causing local file management issues during updates.

Original article published on May 15, 2024 follows:

Apple’s iOS updates have consistently brought forth new features and enhancements. However, with iOS 17, the journey has been anything but smooth for iPhone users. This update, particularly recent iterations, has been marred by a series of perplexing issues, primarily centered around the cherished photo libraries that hold our precious memories.

The saga began with the release of iOS 17.3, which, unbeknownst to users, introduced a syncing glitch that would soon become a source of widespread frustration. After updating their devices, users started noticing a peculiar phenomenon where photos would mysteriously vanish from their iCloud accounts following a simple phone restart. This wasn’t a minor inconvenience; for many, it meant losing irreplaceable memories captured during special moments.

As more and more users shared similar experiences, it became evident that this wasn’t an isolated incident. Forums overflowed with reports detailing the same frustrating pattern: a seemingly innocuous phone restart leading to the disappearance of recent photos and videos, particularly on devices running iOS 17.3 and newer at the time. The culprit appeared to be a syncing issue. Photos and videos failed to synchronize with iCloud before the restart, and upon rebooting, they were wiped from the device’s local storage without a trace.

Apple, for its part, remained conspicuously silent on the matter. No official acknowledgment of the issue was forthcoming. But the official support page was updated on March 26, 2024 with generic troubleshooting steps, suggesting Apple was likely aware of the missing photos issue after iOS 17.3 and iOS 17.4 updates. The release of iOS 17.5 brought a wave of optimism. While Apple remained tight-lipped about the syncing issue, user reports indicated that it had been resolved in iOS 17.5 beta and stable versions. Photos were no longer disappearing after restarts, and users rejoiced at the return of their cherished memories.

However, the celebration was short-lived. As users eagerly updated to iOS 17.5, a new and even more unsettling issue emerged — one that could be described as the digital equivalent of ghosts from the past returning to haunt the present. Photos that users had deleted long ago, sometimes years in the past, began mysteriously reappearing in their photo libraries.

One user was shocked to find NSFW material from years past suddenly resurfacing in their gallery after the update. Another user discovered several old RAW photos from 2020 in their Recents folder, duplicated and timestamped with the day of the update. These occurrences can easily send chills down the spines of anyone, and it raises profound concerns about Apple’s privacy and data security claims.

Speculation has been rampant as users try to make sense of this eerie phenomenon. One popular theory is that in their efforts to fix the syncing issue, Apple may have inadvertently triggered a bug that not only retrieved photos that disappeared after the updates to iOS 17.3 and iOS 17.4, but also previously deleted photos from iCloud backups. Another theory is that the update may have forced a re-index of the photo library, unearthing files that had been deleted but not entirely erased from storage.

Regardless of the technical explanation, the reappearance of deleted photos has cast a long shadow over Apple’s reputation for safeguarding user privacy. This incident has raised questions about the true permanence of deleted data and the potential vulnerabilities of cloud storage. It’s a particularly sensitive issue given Apple’s recent initiatives to scan user photos for CSAM, which have already sparked debates about privacy and surveillance.

For Apple users who have long trusted the company’s commitment to privacy, these events have been deeply unsettling. The notion that deleted photos can resurface years later, even after being intentionally erased, raises profound questions about the control users have over their own data. As of now, Apple has yet to issue an official statement addressing the reappearance of deleted photos. While the disappearing photos issue appears to have been resolved with the update to iOS 17.5, the ghostly reappearance of deleted content has shaken user confidence in Apple’s ability to protect their privacy.

For iPhone users, it’s a lesson in the importance of backing up photos and videos on multiple platforms and remaining vigilant about the potential risks associated with cloud storage. While the convenience of iCloud is undeniable, even the most secure systems can have vulnerabilities.

iOS 17.5 has just arrived, so it remains to be seen how Apple will address the reappearance of deleted photos and reassure users that their data is truly secure. Until then, iPhone users will be grappling with the unsettling reality that their digital memories may not be as private or permanent as they once believed.