The photos app in iOS 26 gets a number of striking innovations and partly returns to a more familiar layout that will appreciate many users. This way you can now use tabs instead of one long page.
In addition, visual searching (visual lookup) is available for the first time in Dutch, you can use spatial scenes and the Liquid Glass Design should provide the necessary rest. We list all the changes and new possibilities for you.
Liquid Glass Interface for Photos
The app gets the new Liquid Glass design, which ensures a more modern, semi-transparent look. This design is more subtle than in some other apps, because the photos and videos remain central. In particular, the buttons and tabs are equipped with the new effect.
Returning tabs
After the controversial change in iOS 18 where the tabbeam disappeared and Apple merged the photos app into one long page, iOS 26 brings the tabs back at the bottom of the app. You can now find three tabs: library, collections and searching. This makes navigation between your photo library and albums much more clear and especially more user -friendly.
In addition, the tabs move automatically during scrolling in your photo library and can display this relevant information. For example, you can immediately adjust the display to specific years or months.
Adaptation options for collections
The collection tab offers more options with regard to displaying certain parts. You can do individual collections together, you can do this by tapping the V-symbol. In addition, you have the option to adjust the display size and temporarily hide certain sections. To do this, tap the three balls at the top of the ‘collections’ tab and choose a display or tap ‘Adjust’. This way you can organize your photos app even better
Search results with video infringes
When searching in the photos app, relevant video clips can now also be shown that fit your search term. This way you can find content more easily in photos and videos.
Spatial scenes in photos
New in iOS 26 and iPados 26 is the possibility to give regular 2D photos a 3D effect. With spatial scenes (spatial scenes) the image gets depth and you can tilt your iPhone or iPad to view different dimensions. This creates a parallax effect, which means that the photo comes to life with subtle movements. This works for all photos in your library, even if they are not made with an iPhone.
Activate 3D effect on photos
- Open an image in the photos app
- If necessary, tap the photo again to show the buttons
- Tap at the top right of the spatial scenes symbol (hexagon with mountain landscape)
- The spatial scene is activated
The photo is immediately converted to a 3D view that you can experience by tilting your device. Swipe to the left or right on the screen to view multiple photos with this 3D effect.
Also on access screen
You can also automatically set spatial scenes as a background for the access screen, then you always see the depth effect on the photo. When setting a photo on the access screen, tap the spatial scenes symbol (hexagon with mountain landscape) to activate the 3D effect.
Spatial scenes operation
For spatial scenes, the iPhone or iPad analyzes the image with artificial intelligence and automatically recognizes the subject in the foreground and the background. Based on this analysis, a virtual depth card is made, making it look like you can really look in the photo. You do not need dual cameras or special depth data; It works on every iPhone or iPad that supports iOS 26 or iPados 26.
Look up visually
We had to wait for years, but finally visually looked up in Dutch. The function has been available in other languages for quite some time, but from iOS 26, iPados 26 and MacOS Tahoe you can also use this in Dutch.
Visual Lookup automatically recognizes what is on your photos, such as animals, plants, artworks, buildings, books, sculptures, food and even dishes. You do not have to install extra apps for this; Everything works directly from the photos app.
When you open a photo with a recognizable object, an info icon with an asterisk appears. This indicates that visual searching is available for this image. By tapping the info icon, your iPhone, iPad or Mac analyzes the image and you will immediately receive information about the recognized subject. In animals, for example, a leg print appears, a leaf for plants, and with art a painter’s list as an extra visual indication of the information symbol.
With visual searching you can, for example, read which dog breed you have photographed, which plant species you saw on vacation, or discover more about a work of art or building that you have recorded. If there is food in the photo, you will get suggestions for similar recipes. Visual Lookup works in photos, but also in Safari and fast display.