In recent days, several iPhone users noticed a bug in Apple’s iOS 17.5 update, which caused previously deleted photos to reappear in the Photos app. Apple promptly addressed the issue by releasing an iOS 17.5.1 update to resolve it. However, the explanation provided in the release notes about “database corruption” was brief, leaving many users still concerned about the privacy of their data.
Apple has provided further insights into the issue and its underlying causes. According to reports, Apple clarified that the problem was unrelated to iCloud Photos, affirming that the company never had access to the deleted photos. Instead, the re-emergence of deleted photos stemmed from a corrupted database entry on affected devices. Essentially, the restored images resided locally and were never transmitted beyond the device itself.
Apple explained that in rare instances, iOS 17.5 inadvertently restored files from corrupted data, repopulating the Photos app with deleted images. This issue, Apple noted, affected only a small fraction of users and a limited number of photos.
Regarding reports of very old photos being restored, Apple attributed this phenomenon to instances where corrupted data might have been transferred between devices during local backups, device-to-device transfers, or iCloud device backups, excluding iCloud Photos.
Addressing a Reddit claim that reappeared photos were seen on a wiped iPad sold to a friend, Apple refuted this scenario, asserting that proper erasure using the “Erase All Content and Settings” option in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset would prevent such occurrences. Apple suggested that either the user had not executed this step, or the claim was inaccurate.
Notably, the iOS 17.5.1 update issued by Apple to resolve the issue does not automatically delete previously restored photos. Affected users must manually remove these images, which will be relocated to the Recently Deleted album in the Photos app and remain there for 30 days. Users also have the option to promptly delete recently restored photos from all devices by selecting “Delete from All Devices.”