Apple is changing the Photos app again in iOS 26, bringing back tabs after users complained about the redesign in iOS 18. The announcement was made during Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior VP of Software Engineering, confirmed that the new Photos app will feature two tabs: Library and Collections. The Library tab makes it easier to scroll through recent photos. The Collections tab includes favorites, albums, and a new way to search your entire photo library.
Federighi said, “Many of you missed using tabs in the Photos app,” which is a rare moment of Apple admitting it may have gone the wrong direction with the iOS 18 update.
The iOS 18 redesign had combined everything into one page, frustrating many users. Some developers even made third-party apps to bring back the old layout, charging users for the feature.
Besides the return of tabs, the Photos app in iOS 26 also gets a new feature: 2D photos can now turn into 3D spatial photos. This works with Apple’s Vision Pro headset and shows up on the iPhone’s updated Lock Screen.
Apple is clearly listening to user feedback, giving people both the design they want and new features powered by its latest tech.
