Download Article Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to transfer photos so that you can access them on your iPhone.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using iCloud

Download Article
  1. It's a gray app that contains gears (⚙️) and is typically located on your home screen.
  2. It's the top section in the Settings menu that contains your name and image if you've added one.
    • If you are not signed in, tap Sign in to Your iPhone, enter your Apple ID and password, then tap Sign In.
    • If you are running an older version of iOS, you may not need to do this step.
    Advertisement
  3. It's in the second section of the menu.
  4. It's near the top of the "APPS USING ICLOUD" section.
  5. It will turn green. Photos you take on your device, as well as existing photos in your Camera Roll, will now be saved to iCloud.
    • If you'd like to save storage space on your device, tap Optimize iPhone Storage to store smaller versions of photos on your device.
  6. Any new photos you take with your device will now sync to all that devices on which you've signed in with your Apple ID when they're connected to Wi-Fi.
  7. This is the main button below the screen of the iPhone. This will return you to your main home screen.
  8. It's a white app with a multicolored flower icon.
  9. It's in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
  10. It's at the top of the screen. All of your iCloud photos are now accessible in your Photos app.
  11. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using iTunes

Download Article
  1. The icon looks like a multicolored musical note inside a white background with a multicolored ring around the outside.
  2. Using your iPhone cable, plug the USB end into your computer and the other end into your iPhone charging port.[1]
  3. It's in the upper-left corner of the iTunes window.[2]
  4. It's in the left pane of the window next to a camera icon.
  5. It's at the top of the right pane of the window.
    • If you see “iCloud Photos is On” instead of “Sync Photos,” your photos are already being synced with iCloud, and are available on your iPhone.
    • To switch from iCloud Photo Library to iTunes, disable iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone: Open Settings, tap your Apple ID, tap iCloud, then Photos and slide "iTunes Photo Library" to the "Off" (white) position. If prompted, follow the on-screen instructions to download your photos before continuing.
  6. It's near the top of the screen.
  7. The folder or app you choose should be the folder or application where you store your photos.
  8. Everything in the folder or application you selected will now be included in the sync.
    • Click on Include videos if you would also like to sync videos to your iPhone.
  9. It's in the lower-right corner of the iTunes window. All photos (and videos, if you chose that option) in the folder or application you selected will sync to your iPhone.
  10. The photos you synced are now available on both your iPhone and your desktop.
  11. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using AirDrop

Download Article
  1. Do so by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
  2. It's in the right-center of the Control Center.
    • If prompted to turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, do so.
  3. It's in the center of the pop-up menu.
  4. It's a white app with a multi-colored flower icon.
  5. It's at the bottom (iPhone or iPad) or left (Mac) of the screen.
  6. It's one of the albums on the screen, likely in the upper-left corner.
  7. Do so by tapping the photo you want to share.
  8. It's a rectangle that contains an upward-pointing arrow in the lower-left (iPhone or iPad) or upper-right (Mac) corner of the screen.
    • On iPhone or iPad, you can select additional photos by scrolling left or right through the photos at the top of screen and tap the open circle in the lower-right corner of an image to select it.
    • Some users have reported issues when trying to use AirDrop to transfer multiple photos.
  9. It's in the center of the sharing menu on iPhone or iPad or near the middle of the drop-down menu on Mac.
    • If you don't see the iPhone, ensure that the device is close enough (within a few feet) and that AirDrop is enabled.
    • If prompted to turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, do so.
  10. A message will appear saying that a device is sharing a photo. Once the transfer is complete, Photos will open to the picture(s) on your iPhone.
  11. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I change the photo on my homepage?
    OC_VORTEKS
    OC_VORTEKS
    Community Answer
    Open settings, select "Wallpaper," then select "Choose a New Wallpaper," and choose the photo you want.
  • Question
    How do I delete photos from my iPhone 6?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you synced your photos with iTunes: connect your iPhone to your computer, then select your phone in iTunes. Click "Photos," then uncheck the folders you no longer want on your iPhone. Delete all of them at once by un-checking "sync photos from". When prompted, confirm that you want to delete the photos. If they are photos you took with the iPhone camera, open the Photos app on your iPhone, tap the photo, then tap the trash can.
  • Question
    My pictures shift from vertical or horizontal to upside down. What is the best method to prevent this?
    StrangelyQuiet
    StrangelyQuiet
    Top Answerer
    Go to whatever way you want to watch your video, and then go to the command centre. Select "Orientation Lock," as this stops the screen from switching positions.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement

About This Article

Linh Le
Co-authored by:
Certified Mobile Repair Specialist
This article was co-authored by Linh Le. Linh Le is a Certified Mobile Repair Specialist and the Owner of SC Mobile Repairs in San Clemente, California. With more than 12 years of experience, he specializes in smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch hardware repair. Linh has an iTech Mobile Device Repair Certification and an iOS Certification. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Franciscan University of Steubenville. This article has been viewed 445,968 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 13
Updated: February 21, 2023
Views: 445,968
Categories: IPhone
Article SummaryX

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap your Apple ID.
3. Tap iCloud.
4. Tap Photos.
5. Enable "iCloud Photo Library."
6. Enable "Upload to My Photo Stream."
7. Find iCloud photos in the Photos app.

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 445,968 times.

Is this article up to date?

Advertisement