iOS 26 announced: Apple brings back tab navigation in Photos App
In a move that will undoubtedly be welcomed by many long-time iPhone users, Apple has announced the return of a familiar and highly requested feature to the Photos app in iOS 26: tabbed navigation. This design reversal, unveiled at WWDC 2025, directly addresses widespread user feedback regarding the Photos app’s interface changes introduced in iOS 18. The update reintroduces separate tabs for Library and Collections, making it easier for users to browse and organise their photos. Last year, the Photos app underwent a significant redesign in iOS 18, which notably removed the traditional tab bar in favour of a single-screen interface. While Apple touted it as a major overhaul, many users found the new layout less intuitive and cluttered, making it cumbersome to navigate through their media.During the WWDC 2025 keynote, Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, acknowledged the feedback, stating, “Many of you missed using tabs in the Photos app.” He then confirmed the reintroduction of separate tabs for “Library” and “Collections.”This means that with iOS 26, when users open the Photos app, they will be greeted with a cleaner interface, allowing the main “Library” to occupy the full screen for a more expansive view of their media. A dedicated “Collections” tab will house organized albums, memories, and other curated content, providing a clear distinction and easier access to different sections. A search icon will also be readily available alongside these tabs for quick content discovery.Alongside the tab bar return, iOS 26 introduces spatial photo transformations, allowing users to convert 2D images into 3D spatial photos, inspired by Apple Vision Pro.The iOS 26 beta is available now for developers, with a public beta launching next month. The final release is expected this fall.
