Why My iPhone 17 Keeps Analyzing Photos and Videos! How to Fix?

Apple’s Photos app uses on-device intelligence to scan your photo library for faces, scenes, locations, and objects. This enables features like Visual Look Up, Memories, and Enhanced Search.

However, since the iOS 26 update, users with large photo libraries (often over 100,000 items) have noticed that the photo analysis process never completes.

Common Symptoms Reported by iPhone Users

Photos app shows “Analyzing Photos and Videos” indefinitely.
Search and memory features are unavailable or incomplete.
Wallpaper suggestions and curated photo recommendations disappear.
Photos seem to re-analyze after small changes (like duplicating or deleting videos).
The issue persists across multiple devices linked to the same iCloud account.

Possible Causes

Extremely Large Photo Libraries
Users with 100,000+ images and videos report that indexing can take weeks or even restart after changes.
Interrupted Background Processing
The Photos app performs analysis only when the phone is locked, charging, and connected to Wi-Fi. If you don’t charge overnight or frequently move the phone, it pauses the process.
iCloud Sync Loops
Changes made across multiple Apple devices can trigger re-analysis. For instance, duplicating or editing videos on one device can restart the analysis on others.
Software Bugs in iOS 26
The rollout of Apple Intelligence and enhanced photo features may have introduced indexing or synchronization glitches.

How to Fix Endless Photo Analyzing on iPhone 16 Pro Max: iOS 26

1. Keep the iPhone Plugged In Overnight

Make sure your phone is charging, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi. The Photos app performs most of its curation work under these conditions.

2. Avoid Making Major Photo Edits During Analysis

Editing, duplicating, or deleting large batches of media can restart the analysis process. Let the app finish before making bulk changes.

3. Check iCloud Photos Sync

Go to Settings > Photos > iCloud Photos and confirm that syncing is enabled. If you recently changed iCloud settings, give your phone time to re-index.

4. Turn Off Enhanced Visual Search (Temporary Relief)

If the process is draining battery or performance:

Go to Settings > Apps > Photos.
Toggle Enhanced Visual Search off.
This disables background analysis for object and scene recognition but keeps basic photo browsing active.

5. Restart and Reset Sync

Restart your iPhone.
Go to Settings > Photos and toggle iCloud Photos off, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on.
This forces a fresh sync and can clear out stuck background tasks.

6. Update to the Latest iOS Version

Apple may issue a fix in future patches. Check for updates via Settings > General > Software Update.

The Privacy Debate Around Photo Analysis

While Apple claims all image analysis occurs on-device, some users have expressed concern about Apple’s data scanning practices. Features like landmark recognition and visual search rely on AI models that examine user photos, leading to ongoing discussions about user consent and data privacy.

Apple maintains that all scanning happens locally and securely, but critics argue that any unrequested use of personal data raises transparency concerns.

Final Thoughts

If your iPhone keeps analyzing photos and videos endlessly, you’re not alone — this is a common issue among iOS 26 and iOS 18.1 users, especially those with large iCloud libraries. While Apple’s AI-driven photo features are designed to enhance search and organization, the ongoing indexing bug has limited their usefulness.

Until Apple releases a software fix, try the above steps — particularly overnight charging, disabling Enhanced Visual Search, and keeping iCloud sync stable.

With time, the Photos app should complete its analysis, restoring smart features like search, memories, and wallpaper recommendations.