Where is "Favorite" in iPhone Photos app in iOS 18?

yogi131 wrote:

Solution = Customise & reorder = Pinned collections =modify = add favourites and videos

Excellent; that’s one of several solutions.

Also Customize & Reorder, then move Utilities to the top of the list just below the photo library. (Favorites is at the top of the Utilities folder).

Or, from the Home screen, hold your finger on the Photos icon and choose Favorites from the floating menu that appears.

Foxfire64 wrote:

I have been resistant to update to IOS 18 because of alleged and posted Photos issues. I finally took the plunge yesterday, (Jan 28th/2025) and it transitioned perfectly on my iPhone 15 Pro. All of my folders, and over 300 albums were exactly how they appeared before. I used the Customize and Reorder button at the bottom and removed most options except for Albums, Media Types, Utilities, and Featured Photos. Because I refer to my albums a great deal they are at the top, followed by Media Types and Utilities. I won't make use of the 'Trips' option since I already organize all of my trips into albums, as I do for special events like weddings, fire calls, and each month for 'normal' every day activities. For those looking for 'Favourites' album, without me doing anything they are at the top of the Utilities section. (That also applied to when my wife updated her iPhone 11 Pro. So didn't have to do anything to the 'Favourites' album.). Now that it is set up it is very similar to the IOS 17 set up but more flexible. Some people forget that Camera Roll is long gone so now it is 'Recents' which is no different. You can customize 'Recents' if you want a different order, but I like it as before, simply seeing any photos you took or downloaded to appear at the bottom, or the end. There are videos online to teach you about the new Photos App so relax and view a couple. I am now a believer in the new Photos App., as it is better!

Thank you for an informative and useful report.

I will add one thing that you might or might not have known; if you hold your finger on the Photos icon on the Home screen you can open to Favorites directly from the floating menu.

WeiCT wrote:

You can find it in pinned collections now. What a bad UX design!

You can also find it in Utilities, and you can move it using the NEW FEATURE that lets you rearrange the screen to put things where you want them→Customize the Photos app on iPhone - Apple Support. I put Favorites so it is the first thing I see when I open the photos app. See my post in this thread→Where is "Favorite" in iPhone Photos app … - Apple Community

aazir259 wrote:

Please bring our old photos app back or a setting to change the photos app to previous version style

The old photos app looks smoother ar arranged

its irritating to open the gallery now

It’s not going to happen. You will just have to learn how to customize the highly customizable Photos app in iOS 18.

As the subject of this thread specifically is the Favorites album, you could move it to where you want it using the Customization feature in the iOS 18 photo app. Or hold the Photos icon on the Home Screen and tap on Favorites in the floating menu.

You can also find it in Utilities, and you can move it using the NEW FEATURE that lets you rearrange the screen to put things where you want them→Customize the Photos app on iPhone - Apple Support. I put Favorites so it is the first thing I see when I open the photos app. See my post in this thread→Where is "Favorite" in iPhone Photos app … - Apple Community

Hate this update, but found the solution!

Here’s the fix:

1. Scroll down to Customize & Reorder.
2. Ensure Pinned Collections is checked.
3. Reorder the Pinned Collections row (tap on the three horizontal bars) and drag to the very top.

It will then show directly under your main photos album.

You can even modify your Pinned Collections further. But make sure to keep Favorites as the first album.

You could also scroll to the bottom of the Photos app, tap Customize & Reorder, and put Favorites (and anything else you want to move) to wherever you want it. For Favorites move the Utilities folder, which has it. I moved it to just below the photo library, so it is the first thing I see when I open the app.

"Favorites" is now located under "Pinned Collections."

This is a major booboo. Now when using third party apps, which recognize albums, "Pinned Collections" are not options.

So you a left to scroooooolllllllll...

Create a new "Album."

Or wait for Apple to consider this blunder and fix it.

authentica wrote:

"Favorites" is now located under "Pinned Collections."

This is a major booboo. Now when using third party apps, which recognize albums, "Pinned Collections" are not options.

So you a left to scroooooolllllllll...

Create a new "Album."

Or wait for Apple to consider this blunder and fix it.

Well, yes, Favorites was moved but the new Photos app is completely configurable and it will take about 10 seconds to move it to the top. Favorites is in Utilities, so just use the edit feature to move Utilities to the top, and there will be Favorites in all it’s glory.

As I already posted several times in the thread that you apparently did not read before adding to it, If you take a few minutes to learn about the significant improvements in the Photos app you might see that it is a change for the better→Customize the Photos app on iPhone - Apple Support. I certainly find it highly configurable, and much easier to use. It did take about 5 minutes to learn, however. After learning I made Favorites my top lists album with about 3 taps on the screen.

Awb123 wrote:

Why not put it as an option in the “customize and reorder” section so I can put it where it’s useful. This way I don’t have to go “digging” just to find it.

Apple seriously didn’t think this through.

The option to "customize and reorder” is there already. If you just read the threads you post to before adding to them you can save a lot of time. This link has been posted multiple times→Customize the Photos app on iPhone - Apple Support. You could also have found this out by reading the updated user guide, or searching the Apple Support site. OR by just fiddling around with the Photos app for a couple of minutes. If you scroll to the bottom in the app you can tap on Customize & Reorder. Once there move Utilities to the top, and Favorites will be the first thing you see.

So Apple DID seriously think this through.

no_heores wrote:

Why are developers making things so much harder to do the things we do often? Apple, Strava etc one click is now 4 clicks it’s as if they want us to be on the devices constantly! So frustrating.

Well, if you are the 1% of users who actually read release notes you would know that it is now EASIER to view Favorites in iOS 18. Just hold your finger on the Photos icon and choose “Favorites” from the menu.

You can also use the new, powerful customization feature of the iOS 18 Photos app to put Favorites (and other folders) wherever you want them to be.

The explanation for how to find favorites has been posted repeatedly in this forum; just scroll to the bottom and tap Customize & Reorder to put any folder (including Favorites) wherever you want it. But the easiest way is to hold your finger on the Photos icon on the Home screen and choose Favorites from the floating menu that appears.

Favorites are in Utilities, right at the top. So if you edit the screen and move utilities to the top of the list Favorites will be the first thing you see when you open Photos.

nimmoxx wrote:

Im moving to Android if this isnt fixed soon!

Great idea! I'm sure that an Android phone will be absolutely perfect, and you will never have any complaints with how its features are implemented! As this is a user-to-user forum, no one here cares how you throw your money around.

But it might be more effective to learn how to use the new Photos app, as hundreds of people who have posted in the thread you just added to have done.

There are many ways to put Favorites exactly where you want it using the Customize features in the new app. And here’s the best news: You can access Favorites from the HOME screen directly; hold your finger on the Photos icon and select Favorites from the floating menu that appears.

Look at the “pinned collection”

I have been resistant to update to IOS 18 because of alleged and posted Photos issues. I finally took the plunge yesterday, (Jan 28th/2025) and it transitioned perfectly on my iPhone 15 Pro. All of my folders, and over 300 albums were exactly how they appeared before. I used the Customize and Reorder button at the bottom and removed most options except for Albums, Media Types, Utilities, and Featured Photos. Because I refer to my albums a great deal they are at the top, followed by Media Types and Utilities. I won't make use of the 'Trips' option since I already organize all of my trips into albums, as I do for special events like weddings, fire calls, and each month for 'normal' every day activities. For those looking for 'Favourites' album, without me doing anything they are at the top of the Utilities section. (That also applied to when my wife updated her iPhone 11 Pro. So didn't have to do anything to the 'Favourites' album.). Now that it is set up it is very similar to the IOS 17 set up but more flexible. Some people forget that Camera Roll is long gone so now it is 'Recents' which is no different. You can customize 'Recents' if you want a different order, but I like it as before, simply seeing any photos you took or downloaded to appear at the bottom, or the end. There are videos online to teach you about the new Photos App so relax and view a couple. I am now a believer in the new Photos App., as it is better!