Apple has identified the root cause of the error that allowed users to view old images deleted from an iPhone after installing iOS 17.5. The issue was caused by a problem in the device’s database and not in the iCloud Photos service, as previously thought. This problem was discovered by users in the beta version of the OS, where deleted photos were being restored to the cloud storage service, some dating back months or even years.
To address this issue, Apple released an update, iOS 17.5.1, without providing a specific explanation for the occurrences. However, the company clarified that iCloud Photos was not linked to this problem and attributed the error to a corrupt entry in the device’s file system database. The files that resurfaced were not synchronized with iCloud Photos and may have been transferred between devices through various means, not involving the cloud service.
To permanently delete unwanted files, users need to access the Settings tab, select ‘General,’ and choose ‘Transfer or reset.’ From there, clicking on the ‘Delete all content and settings’ button will remove the desired files. Researchers at Synactiv analyzed the code of the iOS 17.5.1 update and found that Apple had modified a function responsible for scanning and reimporting photos from the file system. This alteration inadvertently caused old files to be reindexed and added back to users’ image galleries.
It is important for users to understand the root cause of this issue and take necessary actions to prevent its recurrence in future updates. By following these steps provided by Apple
