How to Customise Photos App Library Layout and Reorder Pinned Collections in iOS 18

The Photos app in iOS 18 received the most extensive redesign in iPhone history, replacing the classic four-tab navigation bar (Library, For You, Albums, Search) with a unified, all-in-one scrollable interface. While the new layout puts media front and centre, the sheer volume of automated categories—such as Recent Days, People & Pets, Trips, Memories, and Featured Photos—can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, Apple built deep layout modularity directly into the app, allowing users to reorder categories, hide unwanted sections, and customize Pinned Collections for instant access to their favourite albums.

Understanding the Unified Photos App Layout

The iOS 18 Photos app consists of two primary zones on a single unified canvas:

• Top Half (Photo Grid): Displays your complete chronological photo library, with quick zoom toggles for Years, Months, and All Photos.
• Bottom Half (Collections): A vertical stack of themed collections, including Pinned Collections, Media Types, Utilities, Memories, and Trips.

Customising and Reordering Collection Sections

If you rarely review Memories or Trips and prefer seeing your custom Albums or Utilities at the top of the feed:

1. Open the Photos app on an iPhone running iOS 18.
2. Scroll down to the very bottom of the main interface.
3. Tap on Customise & Reorder.
4. Each collection section appears in an editable list with a circular checkmark on the left and a three-line drag handle on the right.
5. To Hide Sections: Uncheck the circle next to any section you do not want to see (such as Trips, Memories, or Recent Days).
6. To Reorder Sections: Touch and hold the drag handle next to any section and drag it upward or downward to configure your preferred order.
7. Tap the X (Close) button in the top-right corner to save your changes.

Configuring Pinned Collections for Rapid Access

The Pinned Collections section acts as a quick-access dock for your most essential photo groupings:

1. Scroll down the main Photos interface until you locate the Pinned Collections carousel.
2. Scroll horizontally to the far right of the carousel and tap Modify.
3. In the modification sheet, explore the suggested collections or search for specific albums.
4. Tap the green + icon next to collections you want to pin (such as Screenshots, Videos, Receipts, or a specific shared family album).
5. Tap the red – icon to remove default suggestions you do not need.
6. Drag the three-line handles to arrange the order of appearance.
7. Tap Done.

Filtering the Main Photo Grid

You can also declutter the primary library grid to remove visual noise:

1. Scroll up to the top photo grid.
2. Tap the Filter (Arrows) button located in the lower-left corner of the grid toolbar.
3. Tap View Options.
4. Uncheck Screenshots or Shared with You if you prefer the main grid to showcase only camera photos.

Recommended Layout Configurations

Customising the iOS 18 Photos app layout transforms a generic media stream into an efficient, personalized photo manager tailored precisely to your viewing habits.