Apple iOS 17.5 Major iPhone Software Release: Should You Upgrade?
The latest iPhone software update, iOS 17.5, was released on Monday, May 13. Normally, I’d have shared an analysis of the update’s reception sooner, but there’s been an unexpected issue: some users have reported seeing long-deleted photos reappearing.
Please note, I’ll update this post on Thursday, May 23, with a final recommendation on whether you should upgrade.
The issue, which has been dubbed the “zombie photo” problem, is growing more complex. It concerns photos that users had deleted, which are suddenly reappearing in their photo streams. MacRumors has reported similar issues for iPad users as well as iPhone users. One Reddit user shared a notable example: they wiped their iPad in September 2023 and sold it to a friend. After updating to iPadOS 17.5, the friend started seeing old photos reappear. Fortunately, the buyer was a friend, or the seller might never have known about the issue.
So, what’s going on? Apple hasn’t commented yet, so we don’t have a definitive answer. However, we know that when you delete a file, photo, or other item, the data is often not overwritten immediately. Instead, the connection to the data is cut. As storage fills up, it will eventually overwrite that section when needed.
It’s likely that the reappearing photos were not overwritten, and the new software, possibly through an indexing process, has revived them.
What’s particularly concerning is that photos belonging to one user are now appearing on a device that belongs to someone else, with a different Apple ID.
Despite this, my interim verdict is still to upgrade (with final comments to follow on May 23). At best, you’ll see no evidence of this issue, and it’s not yet clear that it’s widespread. At worst, you may see photos you don’t want and have to delete them again. If you bought your iPhone or iPad second-hand, be on the lookout for unexpected images, but again, the chances seem slim at this stage.
Who Is It For And How Do You Get It?
As with other iOS 17 releases, iOS 17.5 is compatible with all iPhones launched in 2018 or later, including the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and all models of the iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, and the latest iPhone 15 series. It also supports the iPhone SE second and third-generation phones. If you have automatic updates turned on, it will arrive eventually, but you can get it sooner by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
What’s New?
This update includes new features. For users in the European Union, it now allows downloading apps from the web. For all users, Apple has added improvements to tracking notifications. If someone puts a compatible Bluetooth tracker in your bag without your knowledge, you’ll be notified. Previously, this applied only to hidden AirTags. There are also new offline features for News+, including games, though these are not available everywhere yet.
Apple iOS 17.5 Security
There are 15 security vulnerabilities fixed in this update, varying in seriousness. As explained by Forbes contributor Kate O’Flaherty, these include an issue with the iPhone OS kernel and a vulnerability in Voice Control.
Initial Reactions
Initial reactions to this update were positive, with one user stating, “all in all, fantastic performance from iOS 17.5.” However, many users have reported issues with battery life, and then reports of reappearing photos emerged. It’s not yet clear why this is happening, but it could be related to an earlier bug that didn’t properly delete photos, now exposed by a re-indexing process in the new update.
Apple iOS 17.5 Initial Verdict: Upgrade
The security fixes are the main reason to recommend upgrading immediately. True, there’s the curious bug of reappearing photos, but it’s not clear that it’s widespread. It’s definitely worth keeping an eye on, but no valuable photos are being deleted. Despite this, the severity of the security vulnerabilities makes this an urgent fix.
By Andrej Kovacevic
Updated on 19th May 2024