The iOS 18.4 update is now live, introducing several subtle enhancements to Apple’s Photos app that offer users increased flexibility and options. Here’s a closer look at the updates brought by iOS 18.4 for Photos.
#1: Fresh filtering options
When browsing through your collection of photos and videos, you might have noticed an icon at the bottom left featuring two vertical arrows in the Photos app.
This arrow icon reveals a range of sorting, filtering, and viewing options.
With the iOS 18.4 update, two new filter categories have been added to the Filter menu. You can now filter based on:
- Shared With You
- Not in an Album
These filtering options allow you to easily locate all photos or videos that meet specific criteria. For instance, you can choose to view only items that have been shared with you or those that have not yet been organized into an album.
Moreover, by tapping the Albums button followed by the three-dot icon in the top-right corner, you’ll uncover additional filtering options that let you display only Albums or just Folders.
#2: New sorting method for albums
In relation to the Albums interface, iOS 18.4 introduced a new sorting capability.
Alongside the existing options to Sort by Name and Sort by Custom Order, a new third method has been added for sorting your Albums view:
This new option will prioritize recently modified albums and folders, bringing the latest changes to the forefront.
Another notable change on the Albums screen is the rebranding of Grid and List to List View and Key Photo. This might lead to some confusion as it doesn’t alter functionality, but it does complicate terminology.
#3: Hiding albums for privacy considerations
The Photos app contains certain default albums that users may wish to keep hidden for privacy reasons.
I’m not referring to the ‘Hidden’ album, which has its own implications. I mean the following two albums:
- Recently Viewed
- Recently Shared
As their names suggest, these albums compile all the photos and videos you’ve recently accessed or shared with others.
For most users, leaving these albums visible will be just fine. However, for those concerned about privacy or other reasons, the iOS 18.4 update includes a new toggle in Settings to disable them.
To find this option, navigate to Settings ⇾ Apps ⇾ Photos, and scroll down to locate ‘Show Recently Viewed & Shared’ right underneath the option to hide the ‘Hidden’ album.
In the revamped Photos app, two primary sections available are Utilities and Media Types.
- Utilities features collections such as Favorites, Hidden, Duplicates, Map, Receipts, Imports, and more.
- Media Types includes Videos, Selfies, Live Photos, Portraits, Panoramas, and additional categories.
Previously, these collections were arranged in a fixed format that couldn’t be altered.
Now, with iOS 18.4, there’s a new ‘Edit’ button in each collection that enables users to rearrange items according to their preferences.
Were any of these features from iOS 18.4 Photos on your wishlist? What other modifications are you hoping for? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
