Pinch to zoom out, iPhone Photos app

I'm having the same problem since the update to 26.2.1

you're not imagining it

As we've pointed out, it's 26.2.1 for everyone:

Go ahead and let Apple know what you think at this site:

Feedback - Photos - Apple

In Library, in iOS 26, you can have 1 across, 3 across, 5 across, maybe 15 across (hard to count) or a zillion across, like this:

In the 15 across mode you see months. In the zillion across you see years. It lets you get to the year you want, and then you can expand to get the month, if you like, and then see the pictures. Of course, you can use the Years or Months views, but I don't really like those.

You didn't let us know what iOS you're using-- image is from iOS 26. Do you not get these views? What iOS are you on?

I have an iPhone 16 Pro & it is doing the same thing! I used to be able to zoom out and see the months and years and now I can’t zoom out to more than 5 across. It is driving me crazy.

With more than 25k photos, it is really annoying to not be able to zoom out and go by the year.

Just called the Apple

if more customers complain about this, they need to put the old Library organization back. This is so backwards and clumsy for most of us. My 8 yrs iPad version does more for me than this new 26.2.1. They really do not know, what they are doing. The pinch out was one of the better features, should have never been eliminated.

It’s really curious why Apple takes useful features away sometimes - I honestly can’t think why they do that.

Having these extra zoom options is really useful, Apple should most definitely restore them.

So are you manually tagging and filing every photo you take/save? Even if I possessed the unbridled discipline and devotion this would require I still couldn’t do it, as it’s virtually impossible to type three consecutive words without error on this keyboard (iphone17pm). It honestly feels like I’m fighting against a Japanese autocorrect. Took me close to 15 minutes to write this.

biesel_08 wrote: …are you manually tagging and filing every photo you take/save?

Well, yeah. That's what we do with our precious memories. I've been scanning my parent's old photo albums, and it's incredibly valuable when the pictures have a note on them telling who these people are and what's going on. Half the time I don't know exactly who wrote the note, so "Mom" doesn't tell me so much. But I'm grateful for anything that helps. Alas, most pictures aren't tagged or filed.

Took me close to 15 minutes to write this.

I totally get that--I try to avoid typing more than a few words (or emojis) on my phone's "keypad." There are options. I use my Mac, but you can write on any computer, and transfer the text if necessary. Or you can use an external keyboard-- I see something on Amazon for $13! And, while I find this a bit freaky, you can just talk into the phone.

However, putting pictures in an album is easy-- you just use the More (°°°) button:

You just need to create the albums ahead of time.

Could you please tell me, have they said anywhere that they’re definitely planning to bring this feature back?

I read on Reddit that it might return in version 26.2.3. Has there been any confirmation about that?

Me too. Beyond frustrating. I have about 77k photos and used that option all the time to view them. I have the iPhone 13 Pro and on 26.2.1. I hope Apple add that view feature back in.

They have to go back with this!! :( It was so useful!! Already gave my feedback!

I wasn’t able to pinch to zoom out. I thought it was a bug or something like that. Restarted the phone and nothing. I thought the problem was my device but apparently it isn’t :(

I have this issue / ‘feature’ too since upgrading to iOS 26.2.1. I hope they change it back in the future!