iOS 18 and macOS 15: Photos app collects broken and lost images

In the latest betas of iOS 18, macOS 15 and iPadOS 18, Apple has integrated a function into the Photos app with which photos and videos found on the device that the system cannot assign end up in their own folder. The new album is called “Recovered” in English and is located in the Utilities section of the Photos application, MacRumors has discovered. In addition to lost recordings, (partially) defective images and movies should also be classified here. This can be used to restore them or delete them completely if necessary.

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Scan after update

Apparently after an upgrade the operating system automatically scans the file system for relevant files, Macromers write. However, the album only appears in the Photos app if the faulty or lost recording is actually found. There are several reasons why the Photos app might lose recordings. These include database problems, memory issues when taking photos or videos, or metadata errors.

The new album makes it possible to permanently delete photos individually or as a package, or move them back to the regular photo library. This is intended to provide users with more security over the content stored on their device. Apple has not yet provided a more detailed explanation of why this function is now available – for example in the form of a support document.

iOS 18 beta: This is how you can test the new operating system

The problem with zombie photos

Apparently the “Recovered” album has something to do with a serious bug that caused recordings in iOS 17.5 that had already been deleted to suddenly reappear in the Photos app – including sensitive content for some users. Apple has fixed the bug with iOS 17.5.1.

This was a “rare issue” caused by a “corrupt database”. With the new function, such images now apparently find a home and can be found more quickly and, if necessary, deleted. With the bug, deleted content suddenly began to appear as new again. According to Apple, this was not a cloud issue, it only occurred locally on the iPhone.

(B.Sc.)