Apple has today released iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1 to the public with a fix to a critical bug that resurfaced deleted pictures in users’ libraries in the Photos app, even if they were deleted years ago.
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.
iOS 17.5.1 Release Notes
Users who wish to download and install iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1 can do so by navigating to Settings -> General -> Software Update on their iPhones and iPads. Beyond a fix for the deleted photos reappearance bug, the update is not expected to have any other changes.
Reports of the worrying bug began surfacing a few days after the release of iOS 17.5 to the public. Some users started reporting that images and videos they have deleted from their iPhones, in some cases many years ago, have somehow reappeared in the Photos app. The bug sparked controversy about how Apple devices handle deleted data and whether there are wider security and privacy concerns with iOS.
With the release notes of iOS 17.5.1, Apple is blaming the bug on a “rare issue” caused by an unspecified “database corruption problem.” It remains unclear if the data corruption affair occurred on-device or has something to do with iCloud, but we will update this article as more information becomes available.
