Camera roll gone in Ios 18 on Iphone 16 ProMax

Question

Level 1

60 points

Camera roll gone in Ios 18 on Iphone 16 ProMax

One month ago, I switched from an iPhone 12 Pro Max to an iPhone 16 Pro Max, IOS 18.

Since then, I haven’t had any photos appear in the Camera Roll—the small thumbnail in the lower-left corner of the Camera app—just a blank black space or in the ‘All Photos' choice top right.

This is an essential and primary way to view all photos in a timeline, which is very important.

I’ve seen in previous threads that many people are experiencing the same issue, with a lot of irrelevant advice suggesting the use of the Photos app, Cloud storage and downloading to computers. However, this is not what we want. We want immediate access to all photos without having to switch apps or navigate through countless Apple-generated albums, or opening another device.

Please restore thumbnail access in the Camera App !

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Posted on Jan 10, 2025 9:24 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Feb 9, 2025 8:42 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Perhaps it wasn't called Camera Roll anymore but up until IOS 18 came out, we can see a folder that was only loaded with photos taken on the phone (aka a camera roll) but now all photos I take are intermingled with tons of photos I have taken and loaded onto my phone from my computer.

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 10, 2025 11:50 AM in response to Solvej

The small thumbnail is just a link to the Photos app that opens with the image most recently taken, and that it is all it has ever been. Apple stopped calling it a “camera roll” several years ago.

I just tried what you described, and the result what it has always been; I can swipe through my recently taken photos IN THE PHOTOS APP after tapping that thumbnail.

But note that it is not now, and never has been, a “camera roll”, it has always been recent photos in the Photos app. The confusion may be that at one time Apple called the photo library the “camera roll”, but this is just a change in name, and not in the implementation.

Reply

Answer 3

Solvej Author

Level 1

60 points

Jan 10, 2025 11:36 AM in response to Jeff Donald

I have now done that and also looked at the official Iphone IOS 18 userguide that says:

View your photos

Open Camera on your iPhone.
Tap the thumbnail image in the lower-left corner.
Swipe left or right to see the photos you’ve taken recently.
Tap the screen to show or hide the controls.
Tap All Photos to see all your photos and videos saved in Photos.

Exactly this is what's not working and what I understand many have experienced.

Reply

Answer 4

Feb 9, 2025 7:54 AM in response to glenn00000

glenn00000 wrote:

APPLE.... hear what people are saying... bring back CAMERA ROLL !

Where have you been? The Camera Roll went away 5 years ago. And it isn’t coming back. The current Photos app is much more advanced, useful, and customizable (if you take the 5 minutes to learn how to use it) than the stupid camera roll ever was.

Reply

Answer 5

Jeff Donald

Level 8

41,682 points

Jan 10, 2025 11:12 AM in response to Solvej

Apple Support Community is a public discussion forum for fellow Apple users to assist each other and share tips and solutions. Apple hosts the community, but is not a participant and will never read your comment. If you would like to leave feedback for Apple please use the link below.

Product Feedback - Apple

Reply

Answer 6

Feb 9, 2025 7:42 AM in response to Solvej

APPLE.... hear what people are saying... bring back CAMERA ROLL !

Reply

Answer 7

Jeff Donald

Level 8

41,682 points

Jan 10, 2025 11:34 AM in response to Solvej

My Camera app has an image in it and my All Photos has 17,000+ photos. I don’t understand your comment that your thumbnail and All Photos are empty. Are you saying the thumbnail is black and never displays the most recent photo? Likewise, All Photos is empty and all your images are lost/missing?

Reply

Answer 8

Solvej Author

Level 1

60 points

Jan 10, 2025 12:12 PM in response to Jeff Donald

Yes, in the Camera app, the thumbnail shows no photos—only a black screen with the text “No Photos or Videos.”

The same issue occurs when accessing the “All Photos” option.

I’ve just updated to iOS 18.2.1 and tried again. Now, a photo just taken briefly appears in the thumbnail, and selecting “All Photos” successfully shows all recent photos.

However, when returning to the Camera app, the thumbnail is empty again.

Reply

Answer 9

AlWeir

Level 5

4,108 points

Jan 10, 2025 11:07 AM in response to Solvej

In iOS there is no more Camera Roll in Photos.

Reply

Answer 10

Solvej Author

Level 1

60 points

Jan 10, 2025 11:24 AM in response to AlWeir

Whatever you call it; the thumbnail is still there, but empty, the 'All Photos' is still there, but likevise empty and that's what we want back....a full timeline of photos at hand.

Reply

Camera roll gone in Ios 18 on Iphone 16 ProMax

Similar questions