It’s going to be easier to find pictures in Apple's Photos app with iOS 18 — here’s why

How to turn off Live Photos in iPhone Photos app
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Apple is set to introduce new categories to the Photos app in iOS 18 that'll make it easier for users to find different types of images. 

In fact, iOS 18 is looking to make some major changes to the Photos app overall. But the one change that seemingly fell by the wayside is an overhauled Utilities section that makes it easier to find different types of images. 

The list, originally reported by MacRumors, is considerably more extensive than the current options. 

Utilities exists in the Albums tab in Photos and, currently, iOS 17 only offers the following options: Imports, Duplicates, Hidden and Recently Deleted. However, it seems iOS 18 is adding several new categories, including:

  • Hidden
  • Recently Deleted
  • Receipts
  • Handwriting
  • Illustrations 
  • QR codes
  • Recently Saved
  • Recently viewed
  • Recently Edited
  • Documents
  • Imports 
  • Maps

There will also be some changes to the Media Types section — found just above Utilities in the Albums tab — which will now include an “animated” category. 

Both the Animated and Illustrations categories will likely be aimed at the new image generation features that come with iOS 18 as part of Apple Intelligence. However, it's unclear what they will do on any device incapable of using Apple’s new AI.

WWDC 2024

(Image credit: Apple)

During the recent WWDC Apple showed off some of the new image generation features coming for iOS 18. According to the presentation, users can generate new images in three different styles using a series of prompts and can place them in messages with a few taps of the screen. It will also be possible to generate your own emojis with AI and use your friend's memoji to create personalized emojis (pictured above).

These new categories will go a long way in helping users find the pictures they want to send, no matter when they were taken. 

This is great news, especially when we want to show off the images taken with the stellar iPhone 15 Pro Max camera. If you want more information on the new features shared by Apple then you can check out our WWDC blog which recaps all the main announcements from the event itself.  

More from Tom's Guide

Category
Arrow
Arrow
Back to Mobile Cell Phones
Storage Size
Arrow
Colour
Arrow
Condition
Arrow
Price
Arrow
Any Price
Showing 10 of 143 deals
Filters
Arrow
Our Review
1
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB
Verizon
Our Review
2
Apple iPhone 14 Plus - 256GB...
AT&T Mobility
(Blue)
Our Review
3
Apple iPhone 15 Pro 128 GB in...
Visible
(256GB Blue)
Our Review
4
iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB (with...
Straight Talk
(128GB)
Our Review
5
iPhone 14 Plus Prepaid 128GB...
Total Wireless
Our Review
6
iPhone 15 128GB Blue
Apple
Our Review
7
Apple iPhone 15 128 GB in...
Verizon
Our Review
8
Apple iPhone 15 Plus 128GB
Verizon
Our Review
9
Apple iPhone 15 Pro 128GB
Verizon
Our Review
10
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB
Verizon
Show more
TOPICS
Josh Render
Staff Writer

Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer. 

Read more
iOS Photos app
iOS 18.4 Photos update makes it easier to sort, hide and delete your photos on iPhone — here’s what you can do
iOS 18 logo next to iOS 18 Photos app screenshot on iPhone
iOS 18.2 brings huge upgrades to Photos — here's all the new features
iOS 18 logo show on iPhone.
11 iOS 18.2 features to try on your iPhone first — that aren't Apple Intelligence
A man staring at a phone with the Google Photos logo on it
Google Photos will soon make clearing your pictures way easier — here’s how
iOS 18 Notes
iOS 18.3 beta just arrived — here's what's changed
iOS 19 logo on an iPhone
iOS 19 — all the biggest rumors so far
Latest in iPhones
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air could be just 5.5mm thick — but 9.5mm when you throw in the camera bump
iPhone 16
Hoping for a new iPhone 16 color? Here's why that's looking unlikely
iOS Photos app
iOS 18.4 Photos update makes it easier to sort, hide and delete your photos on iPhone — here’s what you can do
The iPhone 17 Air next to an iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Air could be this thin — new photo vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
iOS 18.4 has dropped — 5 new iPhone features to try first
iOS 19 logo on an iPhone
iOS 19 just tipped for 'most dramatic overhaul' in Apple's history
Latest in News
Sonos logo on a smart speaker
Sonos halts work on rumored super streaming device — what's next?
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Thursday, March 13 (#641)
HomePod with display concept render
Apple HomePod with display now rumored for late 2025 launch
The Apple Watch Series 10 on display at the device's launch in September 2024
Apple Watch sales plummet 19% as smartwatch market declines for first time
Google's Project Astra working on prototype smartglasses in an advertisement
Google just acquired this eye tracking company — hinting at the return of Google glasses
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air could be just 5.5mm thick — but 9.5mm when you throw in the camera bump