Apple elaborates on iOS 17.5 bug that resurfaced deleted photographs

Earlier this week, Apple launched iOS 17.5.1 to deal with a uncommon drawback the place deleted photographs would reappear on a person’s machine after putting in iOS 17.5. Within the launch notes, Apple mentioned this was attributable to “database corruption.” The corporate has now confirmed just a few further particulars to 9to5Mac to additional make clear the scenario.

iCloud’s involvement

One query many individuals had is how photos from dates way back to 2010 resurfaced due to this drawback. In spite of everything, most individuals aren’t nonetheless utilizing the identical units now as they have been in 2010. Apple confirmed to me that iCloud Images is to not be blamed for this. As a substitute, all of it boils to the corrupt database entry that existed on the machine’s file system itself.

In line with Apple, the photographs that didn’t totally delete from a person’s machine weren’t synced to iCloud Images. These recordsdata have been solely on the machine itself. Nonetheless, the recordsdata might have continued from one machine to a different when restoring from a backup, performing a device-to-device switch, or when restoring from an iCloud Backup however not utilizing iCloud Images.

Images reappearing on bought units? Nope.

In a now-deleted submit, a Reddit person final week alleged that their photographs reappeared on an iPad they bought to a buddy, regardless of them having erased the content material of that iPad previous to promoting it. Apple tells me that this declare was false.

The corporate says that after a tool has been fully erased utilizing the steps beneath, all recordsdata and content material are completely deleted.

1. Open “Settings”
2. Select “Common”
3. Select “Switch or Reset”
4. Select “Erase All Content material and Settings”

Following these steps, all the pieces is completely deleted from the person’s machine and there’s no likelihood of previous photographs resurfacing down the road. Within the Reddit person’s scenario, they seemingly didn’t comply with the right steps when resetting their machine earlier than promoting it … or they fabricated the scenario hoping to earn some Reddit karma.

A uncommon drawback

Apple repeatedly emphasizes that this drawback was uncommon and affected a small variety of customers and a small variety of photographs. The corporate didn’t and doesn’t have entry to a person’s photographs or video.

That is nonetheless a disconcerting difficulty, however there may be consolation to be taken in the truth that the photographs in query weren’t saved in iCloud and couldn’t have resurfaced on a tool after it was correctly erased and bought.

A part of this additionally stems from how NAND storage works generally. Information on NAND storage aren’t actually deleted while you difficulty a delete command; as a substitute, the house they occupy is marked as accessible for future use. The precise information stays intact till new information is written over it, which is why specialised software program can typically get better “deleted” recordsdata.

Additionally to notice: iOS 17.5.1 doesn’t robotically re-delete photographs that reappeared after updating to iOS 17.5. In case you have been affected by this drawback, you’ll must go to the Images app and manually delete these photos. The photographs will then be moved to the “Just lately Deleted” album within the Images app, the place they’ll stay for 30 days. You’ll be able to select to right away delete these photos by selecting “Delete from All Units” within the “Just lately Deleted” album.

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