Did Apple play hide-and-seek with your favorite photos in the iOS 18 update? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many iPhone users are scratching their heads wondering where their cherished memories went. The good news is, that your iOS 18 Favorites Photos are still there; Apple just moved them to a new spot. Let’s dive in and find them!
Where Did That Edit Button Go?! 🤯 (Missing Photo Editor in iOS 18)
Where Did “Favorites” Go?
Apple decided to revamp the Photos app in iOS 18, aiming for a cleaner look.1 Instead of a separate tab, your “Favorites” album is now tucked away within Pinned Collections. Think of it like a special section at the top of your photo library where you can quickly access your most treasured pictures.
How to Find Your “Favorites” in iOS 18: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Open the Photos app: It’s the one with the colorful flower icon.
- Scroll down: Keep scrolling past all your photos and albums until you see a “Pinned Collections” section.
- Look for “Favorites”: Your “Favorites” album should be there!
Still can’t find it? You might need to enable “Pinned Collections”:
- Go to “Albums”: Tap the “Albums” tab at the bottom right of your screen.
- Scroll to the bottom: Find the “Customize & Reorder” option.
- Enable “Pinned Collections”: Ensure the toggle is switched on (green).
- Reorder (optional): If you want “Favorites” to be the very first thing you see, tap the three horizontal lines next to “Pinned Collections” and drag it to the top.
For More about Lost Your Favorite Photos? Finding “Favorites” in iOS 18’s Photos App
Why the Change?
Apple’s goal with this change was likely to declutter the Photos app and give users more control over how they organize their photos. By grouping “Favorites” with other important albums in “Pinned Collections,” they aimed to create a more streamlined experience.2
Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits:
- Clean interface: The Photos app looks less cluttered.
- Customization: You can choose which albums appear in “Pinned Collections.”3
- Quick access: Easily access your favorite and most used albums.
Drawbacks:
- Initial confusion: It takes a little getting used to the new layout.
- Extra steps: Finding “Favorites” now requires scrolling.
This video, titled “How to Find Favorites In Photos On iPhone, is owned by Free Tech Guide on YouTube.
Making the Most of “Pinned Collections”
| Feature | Description |
| Customize & Reorder | Choose which albums appear in “Pinned Collections” and arrange their order. |
| Pinned Albums | Quickly access your most important albums, like “Favorites,” “Recents,” etc. |
| Decluttered Interface | Enjoy a cleaner look in the Photos app. |
Hopefully, this article helped you reunite with your “Favorites” in iOS 18. While change can be a bit jarring, with a little exploration, you’ll be navigating the new Photos app like a pro in no time!
FAQs about “Favorites” in iOS 18
No, your “Favorites” are safe! They’re just located in the “Pinned Collections” section now.
Absolutely! Tap the heart icon on any photo to add it to your “Favorites.”
Unfortunately, no. Apple removed the dedicated “Favorites” tab in iOS 18.
You can customize the order of albums in “Pinned Collections.” Just go to “Albums,” scroll down to “Customize & Reorder,” and drag “Favorites” to the top.
While the change can initially be frustrating, Apple likely aimed to simplify the Photos app and give users more organizational control.
