Search Objects and Scenes in iOS 12 Photos

Apple's iOS 12 Photos app allows users to search their photo libraries for specific objects, scenes, and settings—such as sunsets, mountains, cars, or pets—without needing to manually tag them. Powered by on-device machine learning and advanced computer vision, the operating system automatically indexes your images in the background, making visual content directly searchable. This guide explains how the search functionality works and how to use it to locate specific photos quickly.

How to Search for Objects and Scenes

To find specific scenes like sunsets in iOS 12, follow these steps:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the Search tab located in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
3. Tap the search bar at the top of the interface.
4. Type the object or scene you want to find, such as "sunset," "beach," "guitar," or "dog."
5. Tap the matching category in the suggestions list or tap Search on your keyboard to view all matching results.

Combining Search Terms for Better Results

iOS 12 supports multi-keyword searches, enabling you to narrow down extensive libraries by combining concepts. You can combine an object or scene with:

• Dates or Years: Searching "sunset 2018" will display only sunsets captured during that calendar year.
• Locations: Searching "sunset Hawaii" filters results to show only images taken in that specific geographic area.
• People: If you have labeled faces in the People album, searching "sunset John" will locate photos containing both the sunset and that individual.

How Indexing Works

The photo analysis takes place entirely on your device to protect privacy. Your iPhone processes images while locked and connected to power, mapping objects, faces, and scenes locally rather than sending your data to external servers. If a newly captured photo does not immediately appear in search results, allow your device time to finish indexing while charging overnight.