Apple’s upcoming iOS 18 update, showcased at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 on June 10, promises several new features for iPhone users. Among the highlights, the rollout of iOS 18 Developer Beta and the recent public beta have revealed additional functionalities, including a significant new feature in the Photos app. Reports suggest that iOS 18 will introduce a ‘Recovered’ album designed to help users retrieve photos and videos that were accidentally deleted and presumed lost.
Introducing the Recovered Album in iOS 18
According to a report by 9to5Mac, the Recovered album will appear in the Utilities section of the Photos app on iPhones with the iOS 18 update. Positioned next to the Recently Deleted tab, this feature aims to identify and catalog media that might not display correctly in the Photos app due to database issues or failure to save upon capture.
Unlike the Recently Deleted folder, which stores deleted media for up to 30 days, the Recovered album is expected to handle media with database corruption or other issues preventing proper storage. However, it remains unclear whether the photos and videos in the Recovered album will follow a similar auto-delete schedule or remain indefinitely in the iPhone library.
Addressing Past Issues
The introduction of the Recovered album may be a response to a bug found in the iOS 17.5 update, which caused supposedly permanently deleted media to reappear. Apple attributed this issue to “photos that experienced database corruption” and subsequently fixed it with the iOS 17.5.1 update released a few weeks ago.
Expanded Availability
The Recovered album feature will not be limited to iPhones. Reports indicate that it will also be included in the iPadOS 18 update for iPads and the macOS Sequoia update for Macs. This rollout aligns with the recent release of the iOS 18 Public Beta, following its initial developer introduction.
As Apple continues to refine iOS 18 through its beta phases, users can anticipate a more robust and user-friendly Photos app, equipped to handle accidental deletions with greater ease and reliability.
