# Upgrades in iOS 18.4: An In-Depth Examination of the Photos App
As Apple enhances its iOS ecosystem, the forthcoming iOS 18.4 is presently in beta testing and is set to introduce a myriad of innovative features and enhancements. Notably, the Photos app has undergone substantial improvements, giving users enhanced flexibility and usability. Here’s an in-depth look at the new features within the Photos app in iOS 18.4.
## 1. Enhanced Filtering Features
A prominent feature in the revamped Photos app is the addition of new filtering functionalities. While looking through a collection of images or videos, users will spot an icon in the bottom-left corner featuring two vertical arrows. Clicking this icon unveils a menu with various sorting, filtering, and viewing selections.
In the iOS 18.4 update, two additional filters have been included:
– **Shared With You**: This filter provides users quick access to photos and videos shared with them by others.
– **Not in an Album**: This feature assists users in discovering photos and videos that have not been organized into an album yet.
These filtering options simplify the process of finding specific media, thereby improving the overall user experience. Furthermore, by selecting the Albums button followed by the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner, users will access new filtering choices to display only Albums or solely Folders.
## 2. New Sorting Method for Albums
The Albums interface has also received enhancements in iOS 18.4. Users can now organize their albums using a new method, alongside the existing choices of sorting by Name and Custom Order. The newly available sorting method is:
– **Sort by Date Modified**: This feature rearranges albums and folders to highlight those that have been recently updated, facilitating easier access to fresh content.
Additionally, the labels “Grid” and “List” have been changed to “List View” and “Key Photo,” respectively. Although this adjustment does not impact functionality, it might confuse users familiar with the old terminology.
## 3. Disabling Albums for Enhanced Privacy
As privacy concerns grow among users, iOS 18.4 tackles this issue by enabling users to disable certain default albums that could disclose sensitive information. The albums affected include:
– **Recently Viewed**: Accumulates photos and videos that have been accessed recently.
– **Recently Shared**: Contains media shared with others.
For users wishing to conceal these albums, iOS 18.4 presents a toggle within the Settings menu. To turn off these albums, users can navigate to Settings > Apps > Photos and scroll down to locate the ‘Show Recently Viewed & Shared’ option, situated just beneath the toggle for the ‘Hidden’ album.
## 4. Bulk Recovery or Deletion of Photos
Another noteworthy enhancement in iOS 18.4 is the capacity to recover or delete photos in bulk. Users can now efficiently manage their Recently Deleted album with two new options:
– **Delete All**: This feature allows users to permanently erase all items within the Recently Deleted album in one go.
– **Recover All**: On the contrary, users can promptly restore all deleted items back into their Photos library.
This functionality simplifies the management of deleted media, making it easier for users to organize their photo collections.
## Conclusion
The new features in the Photos app of iOS 18.4 enrich the user experience by offering enhanced flexibility, better privacy controls, and more effective photo management capabilities. From the ability to filter shared content to sorting albums by modification date and managing privacy settings, these updates aim to create a more user-friendly Photos app.
As iOS 18.4 approaches its official launch, users are invited to explore these enhancements and share their feedback regarding any additional changes they wish to see. The progression of the Photos app underscores Apple’s commitment to refining user experience and adjusting to the needs of its user base.
