Is there a way to revert photos app after IOS 18

I didn’t want to do the update either and my last phone speaker crapped out so I was forced to get a new phone and automatically put the new update on it. I’m very disappointed. I feel like the photos are a mess and I agree I used to use recent all the time And everything is squashed into the screen rather than having larger photo images to choose from. I don’t like it at all.

A few days ago, because of the constant notifications to update my ipad software to ios 18.1 I made the

mistake to install the update. Now my photos are a mess! I do not want music playing when I look at a

family photo!! Can I safely revert to ios 17 ?

Why change the photo app that was fine to begin with?

I still haven't upgraded to IOS 18. Every time I get close to doing that when reading reassuring comments, I read a new comment where someone loses their current albums from IOS 17. So, I continue to wait, hoping that Apple will fix the issue. I have watched many training videos so I understand all of the customization possible in the new format, but want to ensure that my 300 plus albums transfer over in their current state.

I use my photos for work and ease of access to my photos is very important to me. The new photo upgrade is so disorganized and confusing. This is the first time that I am seriously considering changing phone brand. I have tried everything but failed to revert back to the old setup. There’s nothing good about this new setup. I couldn’t even find my recent pictures

tony.d. wrote:

These other Photo Library apps, would the edit apps have access to them. Or will this be like a duplicate library?

They access the same photos from your Library, but can choose to display them any way they wish. When you first launch one of those apps, if will ask for permission to access your Photo Library. Of course you would have to grant permission, otherwise you would not see the photos in your Library. If the app you choose allows editing, then you can perform those edits and save the photo back to your Library. No duplication of photos is necessary.

You are incorrect. Until the new update once you’d move a photo out of the camera roll it was no longer there. You had to go to your synced photo folder to access it as they no longer existed on the camera roll. Ive been doing it for 15 years until this recent update. Now when I move them, they remain on the main screen.

quick edit. You maybe referring to doing them through the app. I am not. I use the actual computer to move the photos into folder that are then synced through iTunes

I’ve not yet updated, I’m still on a much later version, 16 I think, my daughter has updated and is screaming on how it’s all changed, especially her photos, I don’t know why you are not just given the option to choose what it is you will allow to be changed, or atleast changed back if you don’t like it, I’m not updating, one or two apps are no longer working, but I don’t care, so I’ve deleted them, or thrown them into another spare folder, I avoid apple updates as much as I can, but I’m swaying towards android.

That’s odd, I guess I’ve been doing it wrong. I’ve always had to open the app I’m editing in (say, like PSE) and pick the photo from there. I’ve never been able to open a photo in the Photos App and then export it to whatever editing app I’m using. And all photos are saved to the Photos app regardless of what editing app you use.

I have "Update Anxiety". I am avoiding ios 18, but know that late some night I will make a mistake as it pesters me repeatedly and it will update, it always happens. The photos thing is so ominous that I just do not want to deal with that right now. Most updates require several days of configuring afterwards just to get back to normal. My life is fine right now, I need Nothing at all in ios18, NOTHING. But I suffer through the updates because the world moves on and we all have to move with it. After reading the comments here I am thinking that long term I need to go back to a separate camera and keep my phot life off of my phone. Like I used to. And not having photos in the cloud is probably a good thing.

But I do have a question, it is February 2025 and ios18.3 is being offered, is the photo app behaving itself yet ? Did some of the horror get rectified. Do those who posted here about the difficulties finally found a way to move through to some kind of comfort with this change ?

I am absolutely stunned by the number of web articles devoted to the photo update. So much drama.

Where are the benefits to the users ? As for every single "new" thing ios18 does, do not care.

Good Luck all.

Thank you Foxfire64, your answer makes me feel more confident. I am a senior citizen, using an iphone to better interface with my children. Spent 40 years in IT, still overwhelmed by these updates. Your advice is what I needed and will now move forward. Appreciate your reply.

Hello~ I would advise you to keep your devices updated for security reasons as this last update to iOS 18.3.1 was for security purposes. Change…which I am sure you are familiar with as your posts indicate are just part of life especially as far as technology goes. You are always welcomed to post here should an update change cause an issue…you are among friends here who are happy to assist you.

~Katana-San~

I totally agree, this is the worst update by far of the iOS,

we have 6 iPhones in my family, this update just misses the iPhone photo app to a point that it’s more annoying than usable ,

all of my kids want to switch from iPhone to the just because of that.. I just spent 8K$ on new iPhones and can’t see a way to fix this…

asi277 wrote:

I totally agree, this is the worst update by far of the iOS,

we have 6 iPhones in my family, this update just misses the iPhone photo app to a point that it’s more annoying than usable ,

all of my kids want to switch from iPhone to the just because of that.. I just spent 8K$ on new iPhones and can’t see a way to fix this…

Hi asi277,

Unfortunately, no one here is going to be able to help you FIX it. There is no FIX. However, if you read every post in this thread, you will get an idea of how some of the people have learned how to deal with the new iOS 18 Photos app. As you read, you will see that most people agree with you that the update is not Great. Keep in mind that there are millions of people that use the iPhone with iOS 18. These are only a select few.

It’s not really that difficult to learn how to customize it for youself, you simply have to look and listen. There are a number of good YouTube videos about how to deal with customizing it to your liking. It will not be the same as what it was, however, there are a number of new features that are definitely worth exploring.

Your $8K is not in vain…. You and your family will find that any platform you move to is going to have it’s changes/updates that some people will like and others will hate.

You can please, some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the times, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. I think Abraham Lincoln said that. I’ll let you be in my dream, if I can be in yours, I think Dylan said that.

Take a deep breathe. Sit down with your family and figure it out. Make it a family project. Enjoy Life and Change

That is not correct, the photo app order and display completely redesigned and not in a good way,

the customization doesn’t make it any better and still a mess, features that worked before like favorites just removed.

why do I need to go watch hours of vids on how to make it work again?

its not easier than just switching to a phone that already have a better design of the app.

With all the complaints online , If you guys still think this was a good update to this app, it’s ok your call..

Apply just lost me and my family as customers for all apple products that we have.

I work was a UX-designer and this update is like a really bad nightmare and confirms the total lack of user-centered approach/ methodologies at Apple. When opening an album to look for a specific video/photo, I’m met by a massive preview of random videos/photos looping non-stop on autoplay. My initial reaction is that I must stop the video. (Videoes I need to watch, I am able to start my self.) However!!

Clicking the video (in order to reveal the stop-button/control panel + turn off the video), turns out to be a shortcut to full screen view - of the auto started and very random looping videos - the screening I never asked for + never wanted!!

Will now read through comments, hopefully you guys found a way to revert to the old photo gallery app.