iOS 26 and beyond not searching for photos outside the recently saved folder

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iOS 26 and beyond not searching for photos outside the recently saved folder

I only have about 15 photos in my recently saved folder on my phone. All my other photos (about 12,000) are synced from my laptop to my iphone and in their appropriate folders so I can navigate and find pics easily. Since iOS 26 and beyond if I search in photos the only photos recognized are the ones in the recently saved folder. Prior to these updates I could type in “horse” and every pic that I had on my phone that included a horse would populate in the search results. Why is iOS no longer searching outside the recently saved photos instead of every photo on my iPhone?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Search feature in photos

iPhone 15 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Nov 14, 2025 1:14 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 18, 2025 3:21 AM in response to taa2z

It's not always the iOS update's fault! Many things can cause phone problems. If you tell people you think it's an iOS update, it might make it harder to fix or find a solution for the real issue.

Remember, the right question often leads to the solution!

Was/Is your device Jailbroken? If that's the situation, please be informed that attributing the issues to iOS updates may not be accurate.

iOS updates aim to enhance user experience, boost security, and fix bugs rather than disrupt core features. The majority of the issues after updates might stem from underlying, unmentioned factors. Updates won't typically alter personal data but may refine settings or features. Backup before major updates for safety. Review Apple's update details and backup advice for a smooth process.

Kindly consider checking your settings and addressing any device issues before attributing the issue to external factors. This could be a pure coincidence that the iOS update affected the iPhone functions.

Before initiating a standard iOS update, it's advisable to create a backup. Have you completed this step? If yes, proceed with the restoration from the backup.

See what each update does: OS — iOS 26, About iOS 18 Updates, About iOS 17 Updates, About iOS 16 Updates, About iOS 15 Updates, About iOS 14 Updates, About iOS 13 Updates, About iOS 12 Updates, and so on...

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Answer 2

Dec 18, 2025 3:24 AM in response to taa2z

iOS devices do not have folders similar to those on a Windows PC.

If you use Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows)

You can also sync photos manually:

You choose specific folders on your laptop to sync.
Each folder becomes an Album on your iPhone.
The album structure stays intact.

But there are limitations:

You can’t edit or delete those photos on the iPhone.
You must re‑sync from the laptop to make changes.
You can’t mix iCloud Photos with manual syncing.

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