photos iconHave you ever woken up to your iPhone or iPad alerting you to the fact that "You Have a New Memory" on this day, in the form of photos and videos you shot years ago? If the answer is yes, you've been the willing (or unwilling) recipient of a Photos feature notification called Memories.

In iOS 12, the Photos app automatically curates photos and videos that you've taken into specific memory collections. Essentially, these are homemade movies of past events like family gatherings or vacations which your device generates without any input required on your part (although you can edit them).

Despite Apple's good intentions, the risks inherent in its Memories feature are pretty obvious. So if you're less than enthusiastic about the idea of your iOS device digging up bygones from the annals of your Photo library, here's how to switch off those Memory alerts.

How to Disable Memories Alerts in iOS 12

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
    how to disable memories alerts in ios 12 01

  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Select Photos from the list of apps.
    how to disable memories alerts in ios 12 02

  4. Tap Memories.
  5. Toggle the Allow Notifications switch to the OFF position.

Note that this doesn't disable the automatic Memories feature, which will still appear in the Photos app's For You tab, but at least you won't receive unexpected reminders about events that you intentionally consigned to the history books long ago.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Top Rated Comments

Seoras Avatar
86 months ago
Memories has to be one of best things Apple has done for its users. My kids love seeing the Memories of themselves (I've tagged their faces and "it" finds them in my pictures and makes great videos with music).

As a parent you take 1000's of photos of your kids but you rarely take a chance to look back over them. Memories is a fabulous way to enjoy exactly that - memories. It's especially good if you have an Apple TV. Makes great family viewing once a month I find.

Yet there will be those who will gripe, especially here on MR, about interference, annoyance and just general negativity towards anything Apple does. I seriously doubt most of the posters on MR forums are genuine apple users. If they were they'd have moved off onto some other company's platform long ago where I'm sure they'll find it's all fluffy clouds and unicorns of tech goodies and empowerment and root access for their mother.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sfobear Avatar
86 months ago
What would be even better is Apple letting me take care of my own photos.

Let me decide what albums I want to see, if I want collections of people created automatically, if I want to have albums by filters, and all the other stupid add ons they force on my content trying to make Photos "friendly" (or more accurately I suspect, demo-able).
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vicviper789 Avatar
86 months ago
Are there any simple alternatives for the Photos app like iOS 5.0? I do not want “memories” or algorithms to analyze my photos for faces and objects and I sure as hell hate swiping up (or on that scrolling thing) and it showing photos I don’t want to show.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Porco Avatar
86 months ago
‘You have a new memory’

Oh good, I’d forgotten. :rolleyes:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brien Avatar
86 months ago
Memories has to be one of best things Apple has done for its users. My kids love seeing the Memories of themselves (I've tagged their faces and "it" finds them in my pictures and makes great videos with music).

As a parent you take 1000's of photos of your kids but you rarely take a chance to look back over them. Memories is a fabulous way to enjoy exactly that - memories. It's especially good if you have an Apple TV. Makes great family viewing once a month I find.

Yet there will be those who will gripe, especially here on MR, about interference, annoyance and just general negativity towards anything Apple does. I seriously doubt most of the posters on MR forums are genuine apple users. If they were they'd have moved off onto some other company's platform long ago where I'm sure they'll find it's all fluffy clouds and unicorns of tech goodies and empowerment and root access for their mother.
Some of us don’t want or need all these smart features. I’d much prefer a barebones camera roll and nothing else.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSayuSay Avatar
86 months ago
Memories has to be one of best things Apple has done for its users. My kids love seeing the Memories of themselves (I've tagged their faces and "it" finds them in my pictures and makes great videos with music).

As a parent you take 1000's of photos of your kids but you rarely take a chance to look back over them. Memories is a fabulous way to enjoy exactly that - memories. It's especially good if you have an Apple TV. Makes great family viewing once a month I find..
How about

1000's photos of ex wife who leaves you for someone else?
Or 1000's photos of deceased bestfriend that would hurt you if you're looking back?
Or 1000's photos of you naked butt with your ex gf last year when you're dating a new girl?

You know life is not like Disney stories when you're just a happy parent taking 1000s of happy kids playing on the beach or cute dogs that makes you just live your life happily ever after?
Sometimes you just don't want to look back and Memories INTERVENES that process!
But of course Photos don't give you an easy way to just delete some group of photos with just one process. You just forget, it's buried deep down in the past and now it reappears as MEMORIES.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...