iPhone users were left “completely scared” after a strange iPhone glitch this week.
Several users have reported that images that were deleted years ago have resurfaced on their devices.
The issue appears to be related to the iOS 17.5 update, which was released on Monday.
On Reddit, a user revealed how the ‘nsfw material’ had reappeared on their iPhone after the update.
‘The latest iOS update brought back some images I deleted in 2021. Erm, so yeah. Very spooky. Totally scared,’ they published.
iPhone users left ‘completely scared’ after strange iPhone glitch this week (file image)
On Reddit, a user revealed how the ‘nsfw material’ had reappeared on their iPhone after the update. ‘The latest iOS update brought back some images I deleted in 2021. Erm, so yeah. Very spooky. Totally scared,’ they published.
iOS 17.5 was released on Monday, introducing more word games to Apple News+, as well as robust security improvements to Apple’s Maps, Notes, and Search apps.
Upon its release, many iPhone users rushed to download it.
However, several seem to regret their decision, as they noticed a strange error related to the update.
By default, Apple’s Photos app has a “Recently Deleted” folder, which saves deleted images and videos for 30 days.
However, that doesn’t seem to be what’s happening here, as reports of images and videos deleted months or even years ago reappear.
On Reddit, one user wrote: ‘I have four photos from 2010 that keep reappearing as the last photos uploaded to iCloud. I have deleted them repeatedly
Several users have expressed concern about the privacy of their content on their iPhone
On Reddit, one user wrote: ‘I have four photos from 2010 that keep reappearing as the last photos uploaded to iCloud. I have removed them repeatedly.’
Another added: ‘A photo from June 2023 reappeared in my iPhone photo library. I’m sure, because in April 2024 I transferred all my photos and videos to a computer and then cleaned all the photos and videos on the iPhone (including the trash). I don’t use iCloud Photos.’
And one vented: ‘Some photos from a few years ago have returned to me. It’s really shocking. They’re actually in the recent images and that’s what worries me.’
Several users have expressed concern about the privacy of their iPhone content.
‘Isn’t that something really big? I mean, Apple is a privacy advocate, but if deleted files are not really deleted after so many years. How can we trust it? one user questioned.
Meanwhile, another added: “This looks very bad for Apple.” They absolutely need to come clean and explain why they are keeping deleted photos for years.
On X, formerly Twitter, several Apple users shared their experience with the problem. One commenter wrote that photos taken in 2020 had resurfaced.
Another commenter claims the issue caused “my girlfriend to bite my ear” after photos of an ex-partner came back on her phone.
Meanwhile, on X, formerly Twitter, other Apple users shared their own experiences with the problem.
One commenter wrote: “I thought this is not real and went to the gallery. The first thing I see is a photo of 20220.”
While another Apple user complained that my girlfriend had just ‘bitten her ear’ after the glitch brought her old photos of an ex-partner.
The commenter wrote: ‘I was looking for a photo we took last weekend on my phone and a photo of my ex comes up. No matter what I said, she didn’t believe me.
Other X users also reported a strange bug that seemed to fill their camera roll with unexplained blank images.
One commenter even said that a series of black photos had appeared on his phone and were apparently taken during a time when the phone was off.
Other users also reported that the update caused another strange bug that caused several unexplained blank photos to appear in their camera roll.
An X commenter shared a screenshot of several plain black ones, saying: “These just came out of nowhere.”
While another added: ‘I have a strange problem that suddenly appeared – a series of black “Live Photos” taken at the same time on a phone that is in a drawer turned off!’
Apple has been contacted for comment.
