How to Attach a Photo to an Email on iPhone and iPad

This article explains three ways to attach a photo to an email message on an iPhone or iPad. Instructions apply to devices running iOS 9 through iOS 15 and iPadOS 15.

How to Attach a Photo to an Email Using the Photos App

This approach dedicates the entire screen to selecting the photo, making it easier to pick the right one. 

1. Open the Photos app and locate the photo you want to email.

2. Tap the Share icon (an arrow pointing out of a box).

3. To share several photos, tap each one you want to attach to the email message. Scroll through the images using iPad gestures, swiping from left to right or from right to left. A blue check mark appears next to the photos you select.

4. Tap the Mail icon to open a new email message containing the photos.

5. Type your email message and send it.

How to Attach Photos From the Mail App

If you're already writing an email in the Mail app and want to attach a photo, follow these steps:

1. Tap inside the body of the message to open a menu that includes the option to Insert Photo or Video. (You might have to tap the right arrow first.)

2. Tapping this icon activates a window with your photos in it. Tap the one you want to send and then tap Use in the window's upper-right corner on iOS 12 through iOS 9. In iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 or later, tap x when you're done.

   You can attach only one photo at a time in iOS 9 through iOS 12, but you can send more than one photo in an email. Repeat these steps to attach additional images. On an iPhone or iPad running iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 or later, you can select multiple images.

3. To take a new photo to attach to your email (iPad-only), tap the Camera icon on the keyboard and take a photo. If you are satisfied with the image, select Use Photo to add it to the email.

4. After you've attached the photos, send the email as usual.

Use iPad Multitasking to Attach Several Images

Attach several photos using the iPad's drag-and-drop feature and its multitasking abilities to move photos into your email message.

The iPad's multitasking feature works by interacting with the dock, so you'll need access to the Photos app from the dock. However, you do not need to drag the Photos icon to the dock; you simply need to launch Photos before launching the Mail app. The dock displays the last few apps opened on the far right side.

Inside a new email message, do the following:

Using Split View to Attached Photos in iPadOS 14 and Earlier

1. Start a new message in the Mail app and then slide your finger up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the dock.

   Don't slide your finger more than an inch, or the iPad will transition into the task-switching screen.

2. Tap and hold the Photos icon until it expands slightly.

3. Drag the icon to one side of the screen. It's compatible with Split View, so it'll have a rectangle around it.

4. When you reach one side of the screen, a black area will open that you can drop the icon into.

5. When you lift your finger, the Photos app will launch on that side of the screen. Locate a photo to add to the mail message, tap and hold it, again waiting a second for it to expand. Drag it to your email message and lift your finger to drop it.

   While dragging one image, you can tap more to add them to the "stack" of photos. Drop them all at once to add multiple images to your email.

6. Finish your email and send it.

Using Split View to Attach Photos in iPadOS 15

In iPadOS 15, the process is even more straightforward.

1. Open the Mail app. Tap the three dots at the top of the screen.

2. Tap the split view icon to send the Mail app to one side of the screen.

3. Tap the Photos app icon to open Photos on the other side of the screen.

4. Locate the photos you want to attach in the Photos app. Tap Select and tap each image you want to include in an email.

5. Tap the Share icon.

6. Select Mail to open a new email with the images included.

7. Finish your email and send it.