Apple has rolled out iOS 18.4, and while a lot of attention is on the usual bug fixes and security updates, the Photos app has received some sneaky but game-changing upgrades. From new filters to better sorting options, there are some good quality-of-life updates to improve the iOS experience.
First of all, Apple has made it easier than ever to find exactly what you’re looking for in your Photos app. When browsing your media, tap the filter icon (two vertical arrows in the lower-left corner), and you’ll find two new filtering options:
- Shared With You – Instantly see all photos and videos that others have shared with you.
- Not in an Album – A quick way to find stray photos that haven’t been added to any album yet.
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These new filters make sorting your camera roll way less of a headache, especially if you’re constantly receiving images from friends or need to clean up your collection.
Secondly, the Albums screen is also getting a handy sorting update. Alongside the usual “Sort by Name” and “Sort by Custom Order” options, there’s now a third choice:
- Sort by Date Modified – This prioritises albums you’ve recently changed, putting them at the top for easy access.
It’s a small tweak, but it’s nevertheless one that makes managing albums way more intuitive. Plus, Apple has renamed the Grid and List views to List View and Key Photo, though this change seems more cosmetic than functional.
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Privacy-conscious users will love this one. iOS 18.4 lets you disable certain albums that automatically track your activity:
- Recently Viewed – Shows the last images and videos you’ve checked out.
- Recently Shared – Keeps a record of your latest shared media.
If you’d rather keep these out of sight, go to Settings > Apps > Photos, then scroll down to toggle off ‘Show Recently Viewed & Shared’. This setting sits just below the toggle for the ‘Hidden’ album, making it easier than ever to keep your media private.
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One of the biggest frustrations with the Photos app has been the fixed order of collections inside Utilities and Media Types, but not anymore.
In iOS 18.4, you’ll find a new ‘Edit’ button that lets you rearrange these sections to match your preferences. Whether you want Selfies at the top or Duplicates pushed to the bottom, it’s all up to you.
Whilst Apple’s Photos app overhaul in iOS 18.4 may not be flashy, these tweaks bring day-to-day-day improvements that are definitely handy for when interacting with your photos.