The Pictures app was redesigned in iOS 18, and in iOS 26, Apple has adjusted a few of these authentic design adjustments and replace the navigation. iOS 26 additionally consists of new 3D picture options and some different helpful updates.
Navigation
In iOS 18, Apple launched a unified Pictures app view that did away with tabs. The Tab bar is again in iOS 26, with buttons to swap between the newly separated Library and Collections sections within the Pictures app.
Apple additionally added a separate Search button that is on the backside of the Pictures app, relocating it from the highest.
The Library view gives an summary of all the photographs and screenshots that you have taken, very similar to the iOS 17 Pictures app. There’s a bigger Choose button on the high of the Pictures interface, together with a clearly seen button for accessing filters and think about choices for zooming in, zooming out, and excluding issues like screenshots and Shared With You photographs.
Filters had been out there in iOS 18, however the button was hidden until you began scrolling by way of the Pictures Library, which may very well be complicated. The brand new format makes it simpler to seek out the entire totally different choices within the Pictures app.
Scrolling within the Library View continues to convey up the choices to swap to Years and Months, with buttons for returning to the tab bar or launching a search.
Within the Collections tab, you will see the entire totally different viewing choices that was once included within the unified view. Latest Days is on the high of the app, together with devoted views like Folks and Pets, Pinned, Recollections, Journeys, Albums, and Featured Pictures.
The devoted view means you possibly can see extra of your Collections on one display screen. The Media Sorts and Utilities sections underneath Collections have bigger, extra distinct buttons that make it clearer you possibly can swipe or faucet to get to extra choices.
Liquid Glass Design
As with all iOS 26 apps, Pictures has a Liquid Glass redesign. It is one of many apps the place the Liquid Glass look is essentially the most noticeable.
The 2-button tab bar makes use of translucency to indicate the pictures which might be behind it, and when it expands into the bigger navigation bar that has choices for months and years, it stays clear. With the extra clear look, focus is on the pictures whereas buttons fade into the background.
The tab bar, the search button, the choose button, and different buttons within the Pictures app have the identical translucency, and use the extra rounded look that Apple adopted this 12 months.
Spatial Scenes
iOS 26 features a Spatial Scenes function that provides further depth and realism to any picture. It separates the topic from the background, introducing slight movement once you transfer your telephone backwards and forwards.
Spatial Scenes works with all pictures, even these which were in your Picture Library for years.
To make use of Spatial Scenes within the Pictures app, faucet into a picture and faucet on the small hexagon icon on the higher proper aspect of the show. As soon as enabled, should you transfer your telephone, you will note the depth impact.
Spatial Scenes makes use of generative AI so as to add depth to flat photographs, but it surely doesn’t require Apple Intelligence. The function is on the market on the iPhone 12 and newer.
Collections Customization
There is a extra noticeable Reorder button within the Collections part, making simpler to see which you can rearrange what you see. You may nonetheless seize and drag to reorder, however there isn’t a longer an choice to exclude sure sorts of collections.
Collections may be collapsed down till you faucet into them, which is a brand new interface possibility. When collapsed, you will solely see the title of the gathering fairly than a thumbnail preview of what it consists of.
There is a fast entry interface possibility on the high the place you possibly can collapse all collections, present all collections, reorder, or select a distinct view.
You may see collections in a view that makes the highest assortment thumbnails bigger than the others, a view with all bigger thumbnails, or a view with all smaller thumbnails.
Learn Extra
We’ve a devoted iOS 26 roundup that goes into element on the entire new options which might be out there within the replace.
