Apple fixes problem of iPhone photos un-deleting themselves
Hey, didn't I delete this photo? If you've found yourself wondering about why photos have weirdly returned from the dead on your iPhone or iPad, then Apple's latest update should be able to solve a bug for you.
Apple has responded to numerous reports from users that previously deleted photos have been reappearing on their devices after they installed a recent update to iOS 17.5.
Some users on social media noted that the restored photos were of an unsavoury nature, and complained that they had deliberately deleted negative memories in the hope that they would stay gone.
Announcing the iOS 17.5.1 update, Apple now says: "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."
It remains unclear, however, whether this update only prevents the deleted photos from being displayed, or if these zombie photos are now indeed permanently deleted.
Photos on Apple devices are not immediately deleted when you delete them, but are first moved to a "Recently deleted" album. They remain there for 30 days in case you change your mind. If you don't want to wait that long, you can also delete them manually in this album in the Photos app.
Anyone who has activated automatic updates will automatically be offered iOS or iPadOS 17.5.1 for installation. All other users with the latest Apple devices can go to the settings under "General > Software update" and start the installation manually.
