A creepy iPhone glitch is causing photos deleted YEARS ago to resurface – and affected users say they’re ‘totally freaking out’

  • The problem appears to be related to the iOS 17.5 update, which was released on Monday
  • Several users have reported that photos deleted years ago are resurfacing

iPhone users are in ‘complete panic’ after a bizarre iPhone malfunction this week.

Several users have reported that photos deleted years ago are reappearing on their devices.

The problem appears to be related to the iOS 17.5 update, which was released on Monday.

On Reddit, a user revealed how ‘nsfw material’ had reappeared on his iPhone after the update.

“The latest iOS update brought back some photos I deleted in 2021. Um, so yeah. Very scary. Completely panicking,” they posted.

iPhone users are ‘completely panicking’ after a bizarre iPhone glitch this week (stock image)

On Reddit, a user revealed how 'nsfw material' had reappeared on his iPhone after the update.  “The latest iOS update brought back some photos I deleted in 2021.  Um, so yeah.  Very scary.  Completely panicking,” they posted

On Reddit, a user revealed how ‘nsfw material’ had reappeared on his iPhone after the update. “The latest iOS update brought back some photos I deleted in 2021. Um, so yeah. Very scary. Completely panicking,” they posted

iOS 17.5 was released on Monday and introduced more word games to Apple News+, as well as robust security improvements to Apple’s Maps, Notes, and Find My apps.

After its release, many iPhone users rushed to download it.

However, some seem to be regretting their decision as they noticed a bizarre glitch related to the update.

By default, Apple’s Photos app has a Recently Deleted folder, which keeps your deleted images and videos for 30 days.

However, that doesn’t seem to be what’s going on here, as reports of images and videos that were deleted months or even years ago are reappearing.

One user wrote on Reddit: 'I have four photos from 2010 that keep showing up as the latest photos uploaded to iCloud.  I deleted them repeatedly

One user wrote on Reddit: ‘I have four photos from 2010 that keep showing up as the latest photos uploaded to iCloud. I deleted them repeatedly

Several users have expressed concerns about the privacy of their content on their iPhone

Several users have expressed concerns about the privacy of their content on their iPhone

One user wrote on Reddit: ‘I have four photos from 2010 that keep showing up as the latest photos uploaded to iCloud. I deleted them repeatedly.”

Another added: ‘One photo from June 2023 reappeared in my iPhone photo library. I know for sure because in April 2024 I transferred all my photos/videos to a computer and then cleaned out all photos/videos from iPhone (including trash). I don’t use iCloud Photos.’

And someone said, “Some photos from a few years ago have come back to me. It’s really shocking. They’re in the recent footage, that’s what worries me.’

Several users have expressed concerns about the privacy of the content on their iPhone.

‘Isn’t it very bad? I mean, Apple is all about privacy, but if deleted files aren’t really deleted after so many years. How can we trust it?’ one user wondered.

Meanwhile, another added: ‘This looks really bad for Apple. They will definitely have to explain to themselves why they keep deleted photos for years.”

MailOnline has contacted Apple for comment.