When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
The recently released iOS 17.5 update may have introduced a bug that unearthed deleted iPhone photos, and possibly voicemails as well.
Users on Reddit and elsewhere reported that their recently updated iPhone software revived photos deleted years ago, showing them as the most recently taken pictures. Some iPad users also said they experienced the problem.
Others on X (formerly Twitter) said they saw dozens or even hundreds of old voicemails appear in the phone app, forcing them to delete or listen to each one to clear things out.
It’s not certain what the cause is, or how widespread the problem may be. We’ve asked Apple for comment and will let you know if we hear back.
After upgrading to iOS 17.5 on my Xr, voicemails that I had already listened to or deleted reappeared. Before the update, I had only one unheard voicemail, but now I have 26. pic.twitter.com/eqx1buJIx0
— Stacey (@ssmithdev) May 15, 2024
The voicemail issue is mostly a hassle as it makes it harder to see when you have a genuinely new message. The deleted photos, however, could be particularly troublesome to iPhone owners. The images might contain sensitive material, or bring back unpleasant memories.
It’s not uncommon for mobile devices to temporarily store deleted media, and for online services like iCloud and Google Photos to store content that isn’t present on your device. However, it’s very unusual for years-old items to return and present as new.
Provided this is a bug, it won’t be surprising if Apple releases a fix soon. In the meantime, though, you may want to postpone installing the iOS 17.5 if you haven’t already.
