Unable to change the color of the text while editing photos after iOS 18 update

Same happening to me on my new 16 Pro, and checking on reddit, many people having the same problem.

I think Apple should quickly look into this. It is a shame that they have bugs like this on a $1000 plus phone…

It seems that the issue with photo editing is quite common. I recently updated my iPhone 12 Pro to iOS 18.0.1, but unfortunately, the problem still persists. As someone who relies on this photo editing feature almost daily for work in construction, it has been very frustrating. I have also purchased the new iPhone 16 Pro, which is currently awaiting use once I finish my current project, but I am concerned that this issue may exist on the new device as well.

“Apple”, could you please advise on any potential solutions or updates that may address this problem? Your assistance in resolving this matter as soon as possible would be greatly appreciated.

Do the programmers at Apple think users enjoy ferreting out issues when they do a system upgrade?

Just updated to iOS on iPhone 12 ProMax.

First problem, I went into ‘all photos’ seeking an album to search for a particular picture. No longer available. FINALLY found my albums through Photo App. Did I enjoy spending time learning how to ‘rethread the needle?’

Then the NEXT surprise. Cannot insert text into important pictures and change the COLOR of the text. Same situation as previously described. When you FINALLY find the text editing box and touch it, it IMMEDIATELY closes with no changes allowed.

There is an old saying in the south…. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Same here and use it for work.

No ability to change the color or font, only the size, and only on the first attempt. Any further attempts produce the appearing/disappearing edit box. This is beyond frustrating! Do they even test these things before shoving it on us!? I have a 13 Pro Max and was considering an upgrade, but now I am thinking Samsung.

I found this comment under another post and it works this way, but it's more difficult.

Still existing problem after 18.1.1 update

The update to 18.1 (iPhone 15 Pro Max) is useless. Did not fix the “adding text to photos and editing it” problem

at all. It’s useless. I’m very surprised that Apple hasn’t fixed this yet. It’s a tremendous bug because it renders the photo editing USELESS.

The font works there but if you go to the format function, you can +- the font size and it never changes. If you select a color then exit back to the text, the color doesn’t change.

In markup, after adding text, I select a color and when I exit the box. It just disappears and doesn’t change the color.

I have managed to get 3 photos to work correctly while playing around with the steps but only worked those 3 steps that I didn’t document.

I’m an old dinosaur programmer from IBM days, so I understand bugs and empathize a little bit but, they need to get it fixed. Thank God, I only had to deal with 3,000 users.

I had the same issue, browsing reddit, I found this work-around solution, it worked for me (iPhone 15 Pro Max: 18.1.1), hope it works for you as well:

MANipulatorHeff • 1m • edited 1 m ago •

I HAVE A SOLUTION!!!! ... do ALL of the "normal steps" you would to add text to a photo ** BUT FIRST ** click on the editing icons and PICK THE ERASER - touch the pic ANYWHERE with the eraser (I touched the center on my test) - THEN click the text option to add your text and you can type and change the color wheel of the text to anything you want and works like it always has!! Hope this helps/works for you. <I updated to 18.1 just now prior to testing this to see if that would solve the issue - it didn't>. But using the eraser FIRST, THEN adding text like normal worked 4 times in a row on two different photos. (iPhone 12 Pro Max: 18.1)

Yes!!! After I updated to 18, (15 Pro max)when I try to add text to a photo, I can’t change the font, color or anything. It’s just multiple other issues as well when I try to edit a photo! It’s SOOOO frustrating! It was happening when I updated to 17 as well. I’ve reached out to support multiple times and nothing… I really hope they fix this ASAP!!

They have sort of fixed it with 18.2, but this is by NO means a real fix. It should not be this complicated to do something we could do before with three steps. This was working for some people after 18.1, but not for me until 18.2 I am using a 13 Pro Max.

1. Select Edit, Markup, Add Text as normal.
2. When the text bubble pops up, touch to add text as normal, then select your text again twice. You will now see a pop up with "cut, copy, paste, select, and a side arrow.
3. Choose the side arrow and then select "Format"
4. Choose the side arrow again and select "More"
5. The Format Box will now be at the bottom. Select the color wheel and then click out of it because it will not change the color, but you still have to select it and then get out.
6. Select the Text bubble again and you will get another pop up bubble - choose the Text (Aa) option and you will see a format bubble with a color wheel above the Text. Click the wheel and it will FINALLY change the color and allow other format options.

Like you, not only can’t I change the text colour like I used to, but when I click on “Done” my text is no longer cantered… it’s off kilter🤪 If I try to go back in to correct it, it looks exactly as I want it to until it click on “Done” again🤷‍♀️ Used to LOVE modifying my pictures before updating my iPhone ☹️

I am unable to change the color of text that is added to a photo or screenshot since the IOS 18 update. This is interfering and troublesome with daily use of my iPhone 13 Pro Max. Apple, please correct this problem as soon as possible. Surely other Apple users are experiencing this same issue. As expensive as an iPhone is, this problem should not have been allowed to continue for this length of time. Get busy Apple…get this fixed.

Thankyou dvillas & MANipulatorHeff your eraser solution worked for me🙏Really appreciate being able to use the text function again and change text colour once more; Just use the eraser tool first, then the text functions miraculously work again on my iPhone 13 - such a weird work around- but solves the problem🎉

I had a work around but that’s not working now either. I could enter the text, tap the text then select all, then scroll over to format which brought up a box to change the color, etc. Now, it still brings up the format box but it’s overlaid with the keyboard. Really getting on my last nerve