Apple Clarifies Mystery of Reappearing Deleted Photos on iPhones

Many iPhone users recently experienced a spooky phenomenon: deleted photos, some dating back years, mysteriously reappeared on their devices. Apple has finally shed light on this unsettling glitch, and it's not what some initially suspected.

Corrupted Database, Not iCloud Photos

Initially, Apple attributed the issue to "database corruption" in iOS 17.5.1 update notes. Now, in a response to 9to5Mac, they've now clarified that the problem lies with corrupted entries within the device's file system, not iCloud Photos as some users suspected.

Deleted Photos Never Fully Gone?

These seemingly "deleted" photos were never fully removed from the device. The glitch caused them to reappear during certain processes like:

• Restoring from backups
• Transferring data between iPhones
• Restoring from iCloud Backups (if iCloud Photos wasn't enabled)

Glitch Fixed, Data Privacy Concerns Addressed

Apple has addressed a viral Reddit claim about deleted photos reappearing on a sold iPad after an update. The company assures users that a proper device wipe (using the designated settings menu option) permanently removes all content, including photos. This clarification aims to alleviate concerns about data privacy and the effectiveness of file deletion on Apple devices.

No Privacy Invasion, Just a Storage Glitch

YouTuber Brandon Butch further clarifies that this glitch only affects photos stored directly on the device, not those backed up to iCloud. As long as an iPhone or iPad is properly wiped, there's no risk of previously deleted photos or videos returning unexpectedly.

Via