Apple is bringing back a tabbed interface to the Photos app in iOS 26, marking a notable shift from its design approach in iOS 18.
Highlights
- Tabbed Interface Returns: iOS 26 brings back the familiar Library and Collections tabs in the Photos app, enhancing navigation and usability.
- Reversal of iOS 18 Design: The simplified single-page layout from iOS 18 faced criticism; Apple responded by reverting to the previous structure based on user feedback.
- Community Feedback Drove Change: Developers and users voiced strong disapproval of the iOS 18 design—some even turned to paid third-party apps to regain lost functionality.
- Spatial Photos Introduced: Users can now convert 2D images into 3D-style spatial photos, viewable in Apple Vision Pro, with Lock Screen access as well.
- Camera App Revamped: Simplified controls, faster access to photo/video modes, and new swipe gestures improve usability across the board.
- “Liquid Glass” Visual Overhaul: iOS 26 adopts a translucent, glossy design language across core apps, tying into Apple’s visionOS aesthetic direction.
- User-Centric Redesign: Apple avoided directly admitting fault but clearly responded to real-world user complaints in the new interface decisions.
The update was confirmed during the WWDC 2025 keynote, where Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, acknowledged user requests for the return of tabs—a feature many considered fundamental to intuitive photo browsing.
Photos App Restores Familiar Navigation
With iOS 26, the Photos app reintroduces two primary navigation tabs,
- Library – Allows users to scroll through their most recent photos with ease, aligning with the traditional interface users were accustomed to.
- Collections – Consolidates albums, favorites, and search features, offering improved photo organization and discoverability.
This adjustment reverses the single-page layout introduced in iOS 18, which was intended to simplify navigation but drew criticism for being unintuitive and cluttered.
The decision to revert appears driven by substantial community feedback, including responses from developers and users who found the prior changes disruptive to everyday use.
Third-Party Alternatives Emerged Post-iOS 18
Following the iOS 18 redesign, some third-party developers began offering photo apps that mimicked the earlier tabbed layout.
In certain cases, users paid for these alternatives just to regain functionality they previously had, underscoring the practical demand for Apple’s earlier navigation model.
iOS 26 Introduces 3D “Spatial Photos”
Alongside interface changes, Apple is also integrating spatial photo capabilities into the Photos app. Users can convert 2D photos into 3D-like images with added depth, optimized for viewing on Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
The feature is also accessible from the iPhone Lock Screen, aligning with Apple’s broader push into spatial computing.
Camera App Gets a Usability Refresh
iOS 26 also includes a redesigned Camera app, emphasizing simplicity and speed:
- Photo and Video modes are now front and center for quicker access.
- Other options, such as Portrait or Cinematic mode, are accessible through swipe gestures.
- Users can switch between resolutions like HD and 4K, or adjust frame rates, with a single tap.
- Additional controls—like aperture, flash, and timer—are accessible via a swipe-up interface.
According to Apple, the redesign prioritizes commonly used functions, reducing the number of taps required for typical camera operations.
“Liquid Glass” UI Redefines System Aesthetics
iOS 26 introduces a new visual design language known as “Liquid Glass”, which brings transparent and glossy interface elements across core apps like Photos, Camera, and Control Center.
Inspired by visionOS, this aesthetic ties iOS more closely to Apple’s emerging spatial platforms, such as the Vision Pro.
Grounded in User Feedback
Public reaction to iOS 18’s Photos app changes was notably critical. On platforms like Reddit and Apple Support, users expressed frustration over losing easy access to recent photos.
Some described being “lost” while trying to navigate large libraries without the previous structure. Apple’s decision to restore tabs in iOS 26 reflects a response to this real-world feedback, even if the company avoided explicitly framing it as a reversal.
