IOS 18.2 Update: How to Fix common Photos App Issues and Customize Your Gallery for a Smoother Experience

iOS 18 Photos App: New Features and Design Updates

Unified Design

In iOS 18, the Photos app has undergone a significant redesign, moving away from the multiple tabs of the previous version. Now, everything is consolidated into a single, unified screen. When you open the Photos app, you see your Photo Library as the main view. To access more photos, you swipe down to reveal a full grid of your library, where you can view photos by year and month using a toolbar at the bottom[1][3][4].

Collections and Carousel

Below the main Photo Library, there is a section called Collections, which includes photos organized by time and topic. You can swipe right from your library to view a Carousel featuring your best content, highlighted in a poster-like view. This Carousel updates daily and can be customized to show your preferred images[1][3].

Customization

The new Photos app is highly customizable. You can scroll down to find the "Customize & Reorder" option, allowing you to rearrange or remove sections such as Albums, Media Types, and Utilities. This feature helps simplify the interface for those who find the new design too cluttered[4][5].

Filtering and Organization

You can filter your Photo Library to show specific types of images, such as photos, videos, and favorites. There is also an option to remove screenshots and other unwanted images for a cleaner view. The app includes organizational options like Recent Days, Albums, People and Pets, and Memories[1][3][4].

Video Player Updates

In the latest iOS 18.2 beta, Apple has changed the video player to play videos in full screen by default, eliminating the white borders that were introduced in iOS 18. This change addresses user complaints and returns the video playback to a more familiar format.

Apple Intelligence Features

The Photos app now includes Apple Intelligence features such as the Clean Up tool, which allows you to remove background objects from your photos with a tap. Additionally, the Image Playground integration will enable generating images featuring your friends and family, although these features are scheduled for later release[1][3].

Editing and Sharing

The editing interface has seen minor updates, with the editing button now represented by an icon of three slider bars. The Share Sheet, Delete, and Favorite icons remain in the same spots. You can still identify objects within images using the info button[3].

Overall, the iOS 18 Photos app offers a new, unified design with enhanced customization options, improved organization, and upcoming Apple Intelligence features, although some users may need time to adjust to the changes.