Stop Unexpected and Embarrassing Photos From Popping Up on Your iPhone

Apple loves to make you feel nostalgic with featured photos and memories. The two iPhone features work in tandem as "featured content" to highlight the biggest moments in your life, whether it's an island vacation with your friends or an anniversary dinner with your spouse.

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This featured content isn't exclusive to the Photos app. Featured content appears across your device, like the search page and on widgets on your home screen. 

That's not necessarily a bad thing until you realize you may have old or embarrassing pictures scattered throughout your photo library that could possibly appear unwarranted somewhere other than your photo library.

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Having these unexpected photos randomly show up on your iPhone, especially if you're showing something to someone or someone else is using your phone, can become a headache... that you can luckily avoid.

If you want to stop unexpected or embarrassing photos from randomly appearing on your iPhone, here's how to stop it.

Apple stopped including chargers with new iPhones a few revisions ago, which turned out to be an opportunity for us. Instead of adding another Apple charger to the pile, you can use one you already have.But why settle for the basic single-port adapter? This $30 Anker Nano charger includes two USB-C ports that deliver 47 watts of power: 27 watts from one and 20 watts from the other, enough to charge the iPhone via fast charging and an iPad or Apple Watch. Apple's basic, and larger, USB-C Power Adapter delivers just 20 watts. The Anker's prongs also flip down flush with the case for easier storage in a bag or purse.Yes, it's an extra cost, but the dual ports, foldable prongs and higher-capacity output are worth it.

Juggling a phone in the car is not only dangerous but frustrating as hell. We're years into the smartphone era, and yet in most cars when you want to use your phone for driving directions, you end up dumping it in a cup holder. Not ideal.Instead, get the iOttie Auto Sense Qi Wireless Car Charger. This sturdy $48 -- 20% off -- phone mount clamps your iPhone in place and also charges it wirelessly with 7.5W of power. Position it at the best angle and lock it tight so even if Siri mysteriously takes you down an unpaved road, you'll still be able to see the map.

I love the basic concept behind MagSafe and Qi charging pads: You're bound to set your iPhone down on a surface, so why not pick up some battery power while it's there? For the price of Apple's basic $39 MagSafe Charger, you can pick up three $15 Anker 315 Wireless Charging Pads and put them wherever you tend to set your phone down, such as the bedroom, kitchen and living room table.It provides 10 watts of power, enough to fast-charge many devices, and a charging cable is included. You'll need to provide your own wall charger.

If you buy an iPhone 16, you'll need a new case. That's because the new Camera Control button on the side needs a cutout. We haven't had the chance to check out any iPhone 16 cases yet, but based on the ones we liked for the iPhone 15, here are a couple of iPhone 16 cases that should be good.Did you agonize over which iPhone 16 color to choose? Don't let your Apple device spend its days hidden under an opaque case. The $23 -- 54% off minus a 5% discount via a clickable coupon -- Spigen Ultra MagSafe Case shows off the iPhone's case color through its transparent durable material while also protecting the phone from dings and scrapes.

For when your iPhone 16 will have to navigate rougher environments -- even if that's just the kitchen or, well, anywhere gravity applies -- OtterBox has been the choice for cases that offer more protection. The $60 OtterBox Symmetry Series SoftTouch for MagSafe case includes bumpers around the cameras and corners as well as a MagSafe ring for easy charging and attaching other accessories.

The cable that comes with any iPhone is… well, let's just hope Apple is putting resources to better use elsewhere. Even with the iPhone Pro models, the cable is just 1 meter (about 3 feet) long.Save that one for emergencies and instead get this set of two Anker USB-C Charger Cable 6-foot flexible braided charging cables on sale for just $13 -- 19% off.

The USB-C cable coiled in the box behind the iPhone 15 and later models is... slow. Even though USB-C as a plug shape is near universal, not all cables can transfer data as quickly as others. And that one is really only good for charging, because it passes data at just USB 2.0 rates (480Mbps, or megabits per second).That was an amazing speed -- nearly a quarter century ago when it was introduced. But if you want to back up your iPhone to a computer or record video to an external SSD, you need a cable that can handle USB 3 speeds of at least 5Gbps (gigabits per second).For that, pick up this 1 meter USB-C cable from Cable Matters, for just $13. It transfers data at up to 10Gbps, and it'll also pass 100 watts of power for charging and to run external devices.But there's a catch: The higher speeds are available only on the Pro models -- the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 continue to support only USB 2 speeds.

At its September event announcing the new iPhone 16, Apple did not release new versions of the AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds – and yet still managed to improve them.They're already top of class in noise cancellation and easy connectivity to all of your Apple devices. But coming this fall is a software update that will add hearing-health features such as automatic dampening of loud sounds and a new FDA-authorized hearing aid mode. AirPods Pro 2 are normally $250 but are currently $190 -- 24% off.

The MagSafe feature on the iPhone opens up true compact charging without the tangle of wires for those times when you need to top up the phone's battery on the go. The Anker 622 MagGo has proven itself as a reliable and easy to carry MagSafe charger that grips the back of an iPhone to charge. It's also currently on sale for as low as $32.A USB-C port is tucked into a corner for connecting non-MagSafe items like an Apple Watch charging cable. And above all that, the 622 MagGo can also double as a phone stand, strong enough to hold an iPhone 16 Pro Max in landscape orientation for Standby mode.

If there's one criticism I have of Apple AirTags it's that they're smooth little pucks. That's fine for stashing in a purse pocket but impractical for attaching to a key ring or dog collar.That's why you'll also want to pick up some AirTag holders, such as Belkin's no-frills Apple AirTag Secure Holder -- currently just $9, or 30% off -- or Apple's own AirTag Leather Key Ring. I've used the Belkin holder on my keys since the first batch of AirTags shipped and had no problems.

You can show a person less frequently or not at all

If someone is featured pretty prominently across your photo library, iOS will consider them an important person in your life. That person will definitely show up in your memories and featured photos across your device. For most, it's a joyous experience, reliving precious memories with your favorite people.

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If things are not so precious anymore and you no longer talk to that person, you probably don't want to see their face randomly pop up on your phone. Sure, you could go through your camera roll and scrub every photo and video with that person in it, but that's a lot of work. Fortunately, there's an easy way to hide photos with a specific person.

To feature a person less frequently or not at all in memories, features photos and widgets, open the Photos app, find a photo or video with the person you want to show less often, tap the three-dot menu button in the top-right and then hit "Feature This Person Less."

You can now choose from two options:

If you still want to see group photos featured across your device, choose the first option, but if you really don't want to see that person, choose the second. Nelson Aguilar/CNET

You can also completely disable memories and featured photos

Now, not everyone's unexpected photo is going to be of an ex-spouse or former friend. An embarrassing photo of yourself or something that's borderline inappropriate might pop up on your phone somewhere, and if you're worried about that happening, you might just want to get rid of memories and feature photos completely.

In the Settings app, go to Apps > Photos and toggle off Show Featured Content. This will stop all featured content across your device, including albums in the Photos app, widgets on your home screen and photos in search.

Instead of seeing memories and featured photos, you'll see a grey box that says "Featured Content is Turned Off." Nelson Aguilar/CNET

Other tips you can follow to prevent unexpected photos from showing up

What I've detailed above is a great start to prevent certain photos from appearing across your device, but you can do more, especially if the two tips don't really do it for you.