Apple Sheds Extra Mild on iOS 17.5 Bug That Resurfaced Deleted Images

Final week, some iPhone customers reported that Apple’s iOS 17.5 replace had launched a bug that induced previous photographs that had been deleted to reappear within the Images app. Apple rapidly launched an iOS 17.5.1 replace to repair the problem, however for a lot of customers, its rationalization of “database corruption” within the launch notes was all too transient, and did little to allay considerations concerning the privateness of their information.

Apple has now supplied extra particulars on the issue and what induced it. Talking to 9to5Mac, Apple reportedly stated the problem had nothing to do with iCloud Images, and the corporate by no means had entry to the deleted photographs. Somewhat, a corrupted database entry on affected units was the reason for deleted photographs reappearing. In different phrases, the deleted photographs that had been restored resided domestically and by no means left these units.

Apple stated that in some uncommon instances iOS 17.5 had inadvertently restored recordsdata from the corrupted information and repopulated the Images app with the deleted photographs. Apple claimed the problem affected a small variety of customers and a small variety of photographs.

To elucidate experiences that some restored photographs had been very previous, Apple stated that in some instances the corrupted information could have been copied from one system to a different when restoring a neighborhood backup, performing a device-to-device switch, or restoring an iCloud system backup (i.e. not involving iCloud Images).

One declare that was posted on Reddit, which has since been deleted, alleged that the person’s photographs reappeared on an iPad that had been erased and offered to a pal. Apple stated that this might not have been the case if the person had wiped the system previous to sale utilizing the Erase All Content material and Settings choice present in Settings ➝ Basic ➝ Switch or Reset. Both the person had not carried out this obligatory step, or the declare was false.

Notably, Apple’s iOS 17.5.1 replace to rectify the problem doesn’t take away any beforehand deleted photographs that reappeared after updating to iOS 17.5. Affected customers will due to this fact must manually delete these photographs once more, and they are going to be moved to the Not too long ago Deleted album within the Images app, the place they’ll stay for 30 days. Not too long ago deleted photographs on this folder will also be instantly deleted by selecting Delete from All Units.