With iOS 18, Apple "ruined" slideshow in Photos app

Apple’s new Photos app in iOS 18 has been on the receiving end of criticism from users ever since people first saw it during the beta testing phase. Apart from the big UI change, there are a few other issues users have started encountering with the Photos app. One such issue is with slideshows. Many users have expressed their thoughts on Apple’s decision to take away the option to adjust the duration of photos in slideshows in the Photos app.

For those who might not remember, here’s a video highlighting how we could select the duration of photos in slideshows on iOS 17:

It’s not just the missing slideshow speed options that have people frustrated—it’s the entire experience. As users have pointed out across forums, Apple didn’t just remove the ability to adjust photo duration; they’ve overhauled the whole slideshow experience, leaving many disappointed.

For starters, the number of photos you can include in a slideshow has been reduced to 500. While this might not sound like a big deal to casual users, those who create extensive slideshows—think vacation albums, family memories, or work presentations—are now constrained. On top of that, users are reporting that iOS 18 often throws multiple images on screen simultaneously, distorting the immersive one-picture-at-a-time flow that slideshows used to offer. As one user pointed out, they just want to see one uncropped picture at a time, like how it used to be. This is something that I’ve been bummed out about, too. Who wants to see extremely cropped images in a slideshow?

The removal of customization options—like adjusting the speed and transitions—seems particularly baffling. iOS 17 allowed for granular control over how photos were displayed. Now, everything is automatic. Photos change every couple of seconds with no way to slow them down, and this rigid format has become a sticking point. Many users enjoyed the ability to tweak these settings to match the mood of the slideshow, but now they’re stuck with a one-size-fits-all approach.

Music is another major point of contention. Users can no longer choose songs from their personal music libraries to accompany slideshows. Instead, they’re limited to Apple Music selections, and some have noted that the available choices don’t always suit the tone of their slideshows. While there’s an option to change the music, finding it isn’t intuitive, and it seems that personal music collections are off-limits in this update.

In true Apple fashion, the company hasn’t said much about the changes. While support staff have allegedly acknowledged that these features were removed, there’s no official word on when—or if—they will be reinstated. Some have speculated that Apple might reintroduce these options in a future update, but there’s no concrete timeline.

For now, users are left seeking alternatives. Some have suggested using third-party apps for slideshows, though finding one that matches the simplicity and quality of the old Photos app experience seems like a challenge. And as one frustrated commenter noted, “It’s amazing that when Apple tries to do anything remotely different from a basic feature, it’s just non-intuitive trash.”

Whether Apple will address this backlash remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: iOS 18’s Photos app slideshow update has left many users missing the simplicity and customization they once enjoyed.