Apple’s recently released iOS 16.3.1 and iPadOS 16.3.1 update has broken Google Photos. Users complain about being unable to open Google Photos after updating their device to the latest software build.
iOS 16.3.1 patches a security vulnerability attackers exploited in the wild. The release also contains Crash Detection optimizations for the iPhone 14 series and other minor bug fixes.
Don’t install iOS 16.3.1 on your iPhone for now
Opening Google Photos after updating your iPhone to iOS 16.3.1 will instantly lead the app to crash. A reinstall does not help, as the app will crash at launch.
It is unclear why iOS 16.3.1 breaks Google Photos. The big G will presumably roll out a new build of the Photos app to fix this issue unless a server-side update does the job. Given the issue is widespread and is being actively reported on social media, Google should resolve the problem from its end sooner than later.
After update ios 16.3.1 and update google photos in my iphone 14 pro. Google photos not open and work properly. @Apple @AppleSupport @GoogleIndia @googlephotos pic.twitter.com/a1F4Tn6j8p
— Davinder Singh (@davinder127) February 14, 2023
Do remember that with the Google Photos app crashing, your photos won’t be backed up to the cloud either.
Switch to iCloud Photos
You should hold out on installing the iOS 16.3.1 update for now if you rely heavily on Google Photos. If you have automatic updates enabled on your iPhone, disable it from Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates and then toggle off the Install iOS Updates option.
If you have already installed the iOS 16.3.1 update on your iPhone, there’s not much you can do now. Consider using your PC, Mac, or any other device if you need to access Google Photos urgently. This is also an excellent time to make the switch to iCloud Photos. With features like a shared iCloud Photo Library, it is a more private and feature-rich alternative to Google Photos.
Source: The Verge
