A new iOS 26 bug is turning photos sent from Android devices into red-tinted images for some users, and it’s sparking discussion across the web. Reports circulating on Reddit describe Android-shot photos appearing with a red filter once opened in Apple’s Photos app. Users have tested this with different devices, including a Motorola Razr and a Samsung Galaxy S24, and even images taken on an iPhone 15 appearing as red when viewed on an iPhone 17.
The issue isn’t limited to a red hue. Some users note that zooming in on affected photos makes them appear black and white when cropping. The problem persists even after updating to iOS 26.2, suggesting the bug isn’t simply a lingering software patch but a deeper compatibility hiccup between Android-originated image data and the Photos app on iOS 26.
A workaround some have found is to tap Edit and then choose Revert, which appears to remove the red tint. However, this fix is merely a stopgap, and Apple has not publicly acknowledged the glitch or offered a formal timeline for a permanent fix.
Context around iOS 26 issues remains active. Early feedback after the update highlighted lag, stuttering animations, app crashes, and faster battery drain. The new Liquid Glass design, introduced with iOS 26, has been polarizing—some users appreciate its aesthetics, while others find it harder to read and visually distracting. In response, Apple released subsequent updates aimed at giving users more control over how Liquid Glass looks.
Additionally, Apple previously acknowledged a camera bug affecting the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air, which could cause parts of images to be obscured in certain scenarios. That issue was slated for correction in later updates.
On the security front, Apple reported fixes for more than 20 vulnerabilities in iOS 26.2, including a risk where apps could access payment tokens via certain permission configurations. Other areas—Icons, Messages, MediaExperience, Screen Time, Telephony, and Photos—also received patches to address related permissions and logging concerns.
Bottom line: while iOS 26 brings design and security improvements, it’s clear that compatibility quirks and bugs, like the Android-to-iOS photo color issue, remain a point of concern for users. As Apple gathers user feedback and pushes fixes, the question many are asking is whether these growing pains will ease with upcoming updates, and how Apple will better ensure cross-platform image handling going forward.
