Apple has introduced significant updates to the Photos app with iOS 18. Thankfully, users have various customization options available to tailor the app to their preferences. Personally, there was one change I made right away that resolved my main issue with the major redesign of Photos in iOS 18.
Addressing missing photos by adjusting the default sorting method
The redesign of Apple’s Photos app featured several alterations that sparked debate among users.
One particular change did not sit well with me from the beginning.
In iOS 18, the default sorting method for your Photos library is ‘Date Captured.’
This means that every photo and video is organized chronologically based on the date they were captured, regardless of when they were added to your library.
If your library exclusively contains photos taken on that device, this might not be an issue.
However, I often save images from friends, the internet, and other sources, which I need to locate easily. When I first updated to iOS 18, the Photos app became somewhat frustrating for me.
Why? Because I struggled to locate photos that I knew were already there.
This was due to the new sorting method by ‘Date Captured,’ which jumbled my previously organized photos among thousands of others instead of keeping them in their original order.
Thankfully, there’s a simple solution: switch to sorting by ‘Recently Added.’
Adjusting the Photos app sorting in iOS 18
Here’s how to change the sorting method:
- Open the Photos app, then swipe down on the photo grid to reveal your library.
- Tap on the icon in the bottom-left corner that displays up and down arrows.
- Select ‘Sort by Recently Added.’
After implementing this adjustment, it will remain permanent. Your photographs and videos will consistently be sorted by the date they were added to your library.
I also made several other tweaks to my Photos app in iOS 18, but altering the sorting method was the simplest and most crucial adjustment for me.
Do you prefer to sort your Photos by Date Captured or Recently Added? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
