Apple's latest operating system update, iOS 18, introduces a new feature to the Photos app: a 'Recovered' album. This album appears in the Utilities section of the Photos app and contains any photos or videos that are not part of your main library. The reason for this new addition? To help users recover lost or damaged content.
Photos and videos can become lost due to various reasons, such as database corruption issues, incorrect saving to the Photos library, or third-party apps that manage your Photos library. With the Recovered album, you'll have an easier time locating these missing files and deciding whether to restore them or permanently delete them.
The emergence of this feature might be a response to a database corruption issue in iOS 17.5, which caused previously deleted photos to resurface for some users. By having these images appear in the Recovered album instead of your main library, you can ensure that deleted photos stay gone and avoid any confusion.
To access the Recovered album, open the Photos app and scroll down to find Utilities. Tap on 'Recovered' and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. From there, you can choose to permanently delete or restore any images or videos that appear in the album.
This new feature is available with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It's important to note that the Recovered album will only show up if there are lost or damaged photos on your device. If you don't have any missing content, the album won't appear.
In conclusion, iOS 18's new 'Recovered' album is a valuable addition to the Photos app that helps users recover lost or damaged photos and videos with ease. By providing an organized way to locate and manage these files, Apple ensures that you have access to all your content while maintaining control over what stays in your library.