Earlier this week, Apple launched iOS 17.5.1 to deal with a uncommon downside the place deleted pictures would reappear on a consumer’s gadget after putting in iOS 17.5. Within the launch notes, Apple stated this was brought on by “database corruption.” The corporate has now confirmed a number of extra particulars to 9to5Mac to additional make clear the scenario.
iCloud’s involvement
One query many individuals had is how photographs from dates way back to 2010 resurfaced due to this downside. In any case, most individuals aren’t nonetheless utilizing the identical gadgets now as they have been in 2010. Apple confirmed to me that iCloud Photographs is to not be blamed for this. As a substitute, all of it boils to the corrupt database entry that existed on the gadget’s file system itself.
Based on Apple, the pictures that didn’t totally delete from a consumer’s gadget weren’t synced to iCloud Photographs. These information have been solely on the gadget itself. Nevertheless, the information may have persevered from one gadget 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 Photographs.
Photographs reappearing on offered gadgets? Nope.
In a now-deleted submit, a Reddit consumer final week alleged that their pictures reappeared on an iPad they offered 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 under, all information and content material are completely deleted.
- Open “Settings”
- Select “Basic”
- Select “Switch or Reset”
- Select “Erase All Content material and Settings”
Following these steps, all the things is completely deleted from the consumer’s gadget and there’s no likelihood of outdated pictures resurfacing down the road. Within the Reddit consumer’s scenario, they probably didn’t observe the proper steps when resetting their gadget earlier than promoting it … or they fabricated the scenario hoping to earn some Reddit karma.
A uncommon downside
Apple repeatedly emphasizes that this downside was uncommon and affected a small variety of customers and a small variety of pictures. The corporate didn’t and doesn’t have entry to a consumer’s pictures or video.
That is nonetheless a disconcerting problem, however there may be consolation to be taken in the truth that the pictures in query weren’t saved in iCloud and couldn’t have resurfaced on a tool after it was correctly erased and offered.
A part of this additionally stems from how NAND storage works generally. Recordsdata on NAND storage aren’t really deleted once you problem a delete command; as a substitute, the house they occupy is marked as accessible for future use. The precise knowledge stays intact till new knowledge is written over it, which is why specialised software program can typically get well “deleted” information.
Additionally to notice: iOS 17.5.1 doesn’t routinely re-delete pictures that reappeared after updating to iOS 17.5. In case you have been affected by this downside, you’ll have to go to the Photographs app and manually delete these photographs. The pictures will then be moved to the “Just lately Deleted” album within the Photographs app, the place they’ll stay for 30 days. You possibly can select to instantly delete these photographs by selecting “Delete from All Gadgets” within the “Just lately Deleted” album.
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