How to Disable Memories Alerts in iOS 12 - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

How to Disable Memories Alerts in iOS 12

by

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
102 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
102 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)
102 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
102 months ago
‘You have a new memory’

Oh good, I’d forgotten. :rolleyes:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSayuSay Avatar
102 months ago
Did I miss something in iOS? Is there no DELETE button for photos if they make you that ***** miserable?

A lot of high and mighty retorts to my post with really little content other than the usual tripe from under a stoney bridge somewhere in neverland.

Memories is awesome.
If your life sucks that much it 'aint my problem or Apples.
Suck it up and sort it out instead of landing it on someone else as their responsibility to make you happy.
Or you can just comprehend and read the whole article to the point of sentence

“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."

I don't need someone to make me happy, but **** happens and this is a good article for someone who FOR SOME REASON needs to disable Photo memories.
Those heartbreaking photos may not be the brightest moment of your life. But would you delete the last photos of deceased friend or family member? You might wanna keep it, but don't want to reflect back by the time it appears on Memories. Like I said, life is not just black and white moments.

Just because you think it's awesome doesn't mean everyone have to like it. Hey no need to be so bitter, you have a perfectly happy life and happy kids, remember? LOL
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brien Avatar
102 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)

Popular Stories

iphone 18 pro max glacier

iPhone 18 Pro Unboxing: New Colors, Better Photos, and Smaller Dynamic Island

Thursday September 17, 2026 11:34 am PDT by
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are launching tomorrow, but we were able to get one early to share some initial impressions. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Both the 18 Pro and Pro Max are heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models they replace, and it's most noticeable when you pick up the Pro Max. It was a heavy phone to begin with, and now there's ...
google photos wardrobe

Google Photos Wardrobe Feature Comes to iOS

Thursday September 24, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Google today said its digital wardrobe option is available in the Google Photos iOS app in the U.S., India, and Brazil. Google first announced the feature back in April, but it was limited to Android users until now. The wardrobe option uses AI to pull images of clothing from the Google Photos library, organizing them into a digital closet. Users can put items together to create outfits ...
Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:36 am PDT by
Apple's long-rumored smart home hub will have an iMac G4-style design and a host of unique features, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The smart home hub is said to feature a square 6-inch display, with variants that can be placed on a countertop or mounted on a wall. It features a single FaceTime camera on the front, with microphones and speakers in its connected base. Gurman described the...
Latest Stories
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
2 minutes ago
iPhone 18 Pro Colors Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
iPhone 18 Pro Colors Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
9 minutes ago
Early Prime Big Deal Days: Best Discounts on Accessories, TVs, and More at Amazon
Early Prime Big Deal Days: Best Discounts on Accessories, TVs, and More at Amazon
31 minutes ago
MacBook Pro With OLED Touch Screen Rumored to Launch in October or November
MacBook Pro With OLED Touch Screen Rumored to Launch in October or November
2 hours ago
Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors
Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors
2 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Aperture Control Goes Fully Manual in Halide 3.2
iPhone 18 Pro Aperture Control Goes Fully Manual in Halide 3.2
4 hours ago
Apple Stores Receive 'Do Not Open' Boxes Ahead of Smart Home Products Launch
Apple Stores Receive 'Do Not Open' Boxes Ahead of Smart Home Products Launch
4 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Jump in China Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Jump in China Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch
5 hours ago
Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage
Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage
5 hours ago
PSA: Apple Mail on Mac May Stop Syncing Microsoft 365 Accounts Today
PSA: Apple Mail on Mac May Stop Syncing Microsoft 365 Accounts Today
6 hours ago
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
16 hours ago
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
17 hours ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
21 hours ago
Apple Event on October 13?
Apple Event on October 13?
22 hours ago
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
1 day ago
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
1 day ago
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
1 day ago
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
1 day ago
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
1 day ago
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
1 day ago
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
1 day ago
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
1 day ago
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
2 days ago
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
2 days ago
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping
iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping
2 days ago
You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12
You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12
2 days ago
Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today
Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today
2 days ago
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
2 days ago
Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls
Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls
2 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors