Apple Tweaks iOS 18 Photos App in Fifth Beta

[MacRumors]

With iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple is introducing a new design for the Photos app, which is designed to better surface high-quality images so that users are able to better relive their memories when browsing through the app. The Photos app changes have been in testing in the developer and public betas, and based on user feedback, Apple has decided to make some design updates.

To make for a simplified viewing experience, Apple removed the carousel. In earlier betas, there was an option to swipe left or right from the Photos view to see Collections, such as Featured images, videos, Favorites, and more, but these Collection elements are also available by scrolling down, so the carousel was a bit repetitive and could be confusing if you accidentally swiped and weren't sure how to get back to your main Library view.

All Photos has been revamped and it now displays more of the photos grid, and users who have multiple albums will see their albums higher up in the Photos app, eliminating the need to scroll almost to the bottom of the interface to get to the albums option.

Recently Saved content was tucked away in the Utilities album, but it is now integrated into the Recent Days collection.

Apple is keeping the unified Photos app redesign, but the updates should make it less confusing to navigate. The app will open to your grid view, where you can select to delete, edit, or share multiple images. There is a clear search interface for quickly finding photos, and you can view your Collections simply by scrolling down.

Apple creates default Collections such as Recent Days, People and Pets, Trips, Memories, Albums, Featured Photos, and Wallpaper suggestions, among others, but customizable collections are available. You can create a Collection from any of your albums, trips, or memories, or select a specific media type like videos or a specific person or pet.

There are also options to remove Collections and organize Collections in your preferred arrangement so what you want to see first is up at the top of the app.

The refreshed Photos app is available in the fifth developer betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, and the new look will also come to the next public betas.

Article Link: Apple Tweaks iOS 18 Photos App in Fifth Beta

 

[breenmask]

Or...you can just stop trying to redesign Photos for the twentieth time. I get you're trying to make "memories"/slideshows happen but people just want to use Photos in the simplest way.

 

[SteveJobsOfficial]

"All Photos has been revamped and it now displays more of the photos grid, and users who have multiple albums will see their albums higher up in the Photos app, eliminating the need to scroll almost to the bottom of the interface to get to the albums option."

You know you can rearrange the categories right?

 

[TwoBytes]

But do you still get a video that minimises into a smaller screen so you can't see anything?

 

[DICK_CHENEY]

Thank Christ. At least a small step in the right direction.

The new Photos app is a usability nightmare.

 

[swiftapplefan]

With iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple is introducing a new design for the Photos app

But Photos hasn't been redesigned on Mac.

 

[antnythr]

The new photos app is horrible. Just give us the ability to create folders and let us manage files ourselves.

 

[ChromeAce]

…and still no support for Keywords or Smart Albums in iOS or iPadOS.

Wow. Those features must be so intense that not even custom Apple Silicon can handle them on a mobile device.

 

[eatrains]

Any screenshots?

 

[RevTEG]

The iOS/PadOS redesign has me feeling like my parents and new tech…. 🫤 I even sound like them complaining about the changes. 😂

 

[mansplains]

I still wish Photos would support multiple libraries like it does on macOS. I would prefer keeping all the memes entirely separate from my other images, albums are not enough.

 

[reubs]

Can I still not search by date taken?

 

[sergekills]

Can I still not search by date taken?

why not? can't see a reason to remove it but will tell later, cause the beta haven't showed up yet on my iPhone

 

[ghostface147]

I don't want the grid seen everywhere. The photo app was fine in iOS 17. I had a button that said library, which is all of my pictures. It was hidden away from my view unless I wanted to see it. I had another button that said Albums that included my sync'd pics from my Mac and a section that said recent, which had my pics I took on my phone for later viewing or adding to my albums on my Mac. Totally separate and easier on the eyes. This redesign sucks.

 

[Reeneman]

Still an awful redesign

 

[DeepWebinar]

can you imagine what a nightmare this is going to be when it hits the general public? i put the beta on my ipad and i get whiplash any time i open the photos app forgetting what an unusable mess it’s become.

 

[krspkbl]

Truly one of the worst changes Apple has ever made! I hate the new Photo app.

Good to see they are making changes so it’s not so awful.

 

[zach-coleman]

I’m still hoping that they’ll put the days view back in alongside Years and Months, but I should probably stop holding my breath. The “recent days” section is not a replacement in any meaningful way to me.

Albums also look horrible but that might just be me, and I think the interface is still completely unoptimized for an iPad Pro 11” held in portrait. (Especially the albums “widget” which truncates album titles after like, 9 characters.)

 

[d5aqoëp]

Changes for the sake of changes to show upper managers that you are doing some work to prevent them from firing you. Photos app is “Pure unadulterated garbage” I hope someone from Apple reads my comment and understands that it is universally hated.

 

[lehrblogger]

I still wish Photos would support multiple libraries like it does on macOS. I would prefer keeping all the memes entirely separate from my other images, albums are not enough.

I would like support for multiple libraries too. I've experimented a little with using another photo app entirely (e.g. Google Photos or Adobe Lightroom), but it's too inconvenient. At some point I'll try using the new-ish iCloud Shared Library feature for this, which my family isn't otherwise using.

 

[ForkHandles]

…and still no support for Keywords or Smart Albums in iOS or iPadOS.

Wow. Those features must be so intense that not even custom Apple Silicon can handle them on a mobile device.

I use the caption option on photos (Swept up on photo), it does help, but it would be nice to batch edit certain pictures for keywords.

 

[thatJohann]

Any screenshots?

Here you go. Now it opens to this without the carousel in the top photo library part.

 

[MegaBlue]

Here you go. Now it opens to this without the carousel in the top photo library part.

View attachment 2403186

I find this so much worse. I like the previous 18.0 photos app. I loved using the Carousel - I had my pets pinned up there for immediate access.

At the minimum I wish they wouldn't make the photos drop down so far. I find this to be worse than what we already had, but I also really enjoyed what we already had in the previous betas. Thank you for the screenshot at least.

 

[MrRom92]

I feel partially responsible for this

 

[thatJohann]

I find this so much worse. I like the previous 18.0 photos app. I loved using the Carousel - I had my pets pinned up there for immediate access.

At the minimum I wish they wouldn't make the photos drop down so far. I find this to be worse than what we already had, but I also really enjoyed what we already had in the previous betas. Thank you for the screenshot at least.

Me too. I had stuff pinned there in the carousel too for easy access. This is a downgrade.

I had to pin them to the Pinned Collections section now as a workaround since you can also pin specific albums there.