iOS 17.5.1 now out to keep embarrassing photos from reappearing on iPhone

Apple has finally acknowledged a major bug in the last iOS release where old photos reappeared on iPhone years after they were deleted. Several users said they landed in hot water after many of their already-deleted embarrassing photos reappeared on their iPhones after updating to iOS 17.5. The iPhone maker has rolled out iOS 17.5.1, bringing a fix for that bug. Eligible iPhone models include the ones eligible for iOS 17, such as the new iPhone 15 and the old iPhone XR.

iOS 17.5.1 update now rolling out

Users facing the bug that allowed old and deleted photos to re-emerge on iPhone can immediately download and install the iOS 17.5.1 update. It is an over-the-air update, meaning you can download it on your iPhone using a Wi-Fi or cellular network. To download, go to your Settings, head to General, and then tap Software Update. An update of about 314MB should be available, although the size may vary depending on your iPhone model.

According to Apple’s release notes, the update fixes the issue that caused images to show up in the Photos library even though they were deleted years ago. “This update provides important bug fixes and addresses a rare issue where photos that experienced database corruption reappear in the Photos library even if they were deleted,” said Apple.

The scary iOS 17.5 bug

Several users who installed the iOS 17.5 update, released a few weeks back, complained that their Photos app suddenly started showing old, deleted photos. These images, according to them, were deleted as far back as 2010 and included NSFW material, causing embarrassment in certain situations. Even after so many reports, Apple did not issue an acknowledgement, leading to confusion among the users. However, the new update should fix the problem so impacted people can return to using their iPhones normally.

Alongside the iPhone, the eligible iPad models have also received the iPadOS 17.5.1 update to fix the same problem. You can follow the same steps to download the latest updates as the ones for your iPhone. Ensure your data is backed up and your iPad is adequately charged before the update process starts.