Apple’s latest iOS 17.5 update introduced a worrying bug that caused old deleted photos, some of which were several years old, to suddenly reappear in users’ photo libraries and iCloud accounts. The bug has raised significant privacy concerns, with some users reporting that sensitive NSFW images they deleted long ago are resurfacing without their consent.
Several users on Reddit and other online forums have talked about deleted photos, sometimes from 2010 and 2016, appearing in a recent album and iCloud as if they had just been uploaded.
One user claimed that around 300 old photos, including some “obvious ones”, had resurfaced on an iPad that he had deleted and sold to a friend. Another user reported that deleted voice messages came back on WhatsApp after updating to iOS 17.5, so the problem appears to be not just limited to the Photos app.
The exact cause and extent of the error are currently unknown. Theories range from an indexing or syncing issue between the device and iCloud, to a corrupted Photos library, to an unintended consequence of Apple’s efforts to fix various photo syncing bugs in iOS 17.3.
Some users running the iOS 17.5 beta have already reported similar issues, but it appears they were not resolved before the public release.
Apple has not yet publicly confirmed the bug or provided an explanation for how long-deleted photos can reappear. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Until more details are known, the main solution for users is to report issues through Apple’s feedback channels and wait for a resolution. Meanwhile, some people are taking measures like deleting pop-up images again or revoking app permissions.
For some this may be bad news, but for others it may be good news. This bug may or may not recover photos that someone accidentally deleted. However, no one has published examples of accidentally deleted photos resurfacing.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
