Apple brings back tabs to the Photos app in iOS 26

In response to user feedback regarding the Photos app redesign introduced in iOS 18, Apple has announced a significant update in its latest operating system, iOS 26. During the recent keynote at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 25), Apple executives revealed the return of a tabbed interface for the Photos app, a change welcomed by many users. Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, acknowledged the user sentiments, stating, "Many of you missed using tabs in the Photos app." This update brings back separate tabs for Library and Collections, enhancing the user experience by allowing easier navigation. The Collections tab will house favorites, albums, and a search function, while the Library tab simplifies scrolling through recent photos, catering to the preferences of many users. The previous redesign faced criticism for its centralized approach, which left users feeling confined to a single page for organizing and accessing their photos. In response, some developers seized the opportunity to create third-party applications that mimicked the old interface. iOS 26 also introduces exciting new capabilities to the Photos app, including the ability to convert 2D images into 3D spatial photos, drawing inspiration from Apple's Vision Pro spatial computing headset. This innovative feature will be accessible from the updated Lock Screen on iPhones. Additionally, the Camera app on iPhone and iPad has undergone improvements to streamline access to its features. The most commonly used capture modes, photo and video, are now prominently displayed on the main screen. Users can easily swipe left or right to access other modes such as Portrait and Cinematic modes. Other settings, including flash, timer, and aperture adjustments, can be accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, while format changes can be made with a simple tap, facilitating quick shifts between HD and 4K resolutions or video frame rates.