Apple elaborates on iOS 17.5 bug that resurfaced deleted images

Earlier this week, Apple launched iOS 17.5.1 to deal with a uncommon downside the place deleted images would reappear on a consumer’s gadget after putting in iOS 17.5. Within the launch notes, Apple stated this was attributable to “database corruption.” The corporate has now confirmed a couple of further particulars to 9to5Mac to additional make clear the scenario.

iCloud’s involvement

One query many individuals had is how photographs from dates way back to 2010 resurfaced due to this downside. In spite of everything, most individuals aren’t nonetheless utilizing the identical units now as they have been in 2010. Apple confirmed to me that iCloud Images is to not be blamed for this. As a substitute, all of it boils to the corrupt database entry that existed on the gadget’s file system itself.

In response to Apple, the images that didn’t totally delete from a consumer’s gadget weren’t synced to iCloud Images. These information have been solely on the gadget itself. Nevertheless, the information may have endured from one gadget to a different when restoring from a backup, performing a device-to-device switch, or when restoring from an iCloud Backup however not utilizing iCloud Images.

Images reappearing on bought units? Nope.

In a now-deleted put up, a Reddit consumer final week alleged that their images reappeared on an iPad they bought to a good friend, regardless of them having erased the content material of that iPad previous to promoting it. Apple tells me that this declare was false.

The corporate says that after a tool has been utterly erased utilizing the steps beneath, all information and content material are completely deleted.

1. Open “Settings”
2. Select “Basic”
3. Select “Switch or Reset”
4. Select “Erase All Content material and Settings”

Following these steps, all the pieces is completely deleted from the consumer’s gadget and there’s no likelihood of previous images resurfacing down the road. Within the Reddit consumer’s scenario, they possible didn’t observe the proper steps when resetting their gadget earlier than promoting it … or they fabricated the scenario hoping to earn some Reddit karma.

A uncommon downside

Apple repeatedly emphasizes that this downside was uncommon and affected a small variety of customers and a small variety of images. The corporate didn’t and doesn’t have entry to a consumer’s images or video.

That is nonetheless a disconcerting difficulty, however there’s consolation to be taken in the truth that the images in query weren’t saved in iCloud and couldn’t have resurfaced on a tool after it was correctly erased and bought.

Additionally to notice: iOS 17.5.1 doesn’t robotically re-delete images that reappeared after updating to iOS 17.5. In case you have been affected by this downside, you’ll must go to the Images app and manually delete these photographs. The pictures will then be moved to the “Lately Deleted” album within the Images app, the place they are going to stay for 30 days. You possibly can select to instantly delete these photographs by selecting “Delete from All Units” within the “Lately Deleted” album.

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