Alex Ruben
How To Create Side-by-Side Photo Collages on iPhone
If you’ve ever wanted to make a quick collage or just merge a couple of images side-by-side on your iPhone, you know it can be kinda annoying figuring out how to do it. The built-in options don’t really make this super obvious, and sometimes the shortcuts logic is more complicated than it should be. But hey, using the native Shortcuts app isn’t too bad once you get the hang of it—I’ll walk through how to set that up, step by step, so you can create fun photo collages without needing extra apps. Just a heads-up, sometimes these shortcuts can be a little finicky, and the results might vary depending on your image quality and settings. Still, it’s a decent way to do quick merges without cluttering your device with third-party photo editors.
How to Fix or Set Up a Photo Combining Shortcut on Your iPhone
Method 1: Making the Shortcut Manual and Flexible
This method helps if you want to be able to pick photos and merge them in different ways without messing with a bunch of settings each time. It applies if your current shortcuts aren’t working as expected or if you’re just getting started with automation. The gist is to build a shortcut that asks you to select multiple images, combines them horizontally, vertically, or in a grid, and then saves the output right into your Photos app.
Open the Shortcuts App and Start Fresh
- First, find the Shortcuts app. If it’s not on your home screen, swipe down to access the search bar and type “Shortcuts”.
- Once open, tap the + icon to create a new shortcut. It’s usually at the top right corner.
- Next, tap the small dropdown arrow under the name, or just tap on the name to rename. Call it “Photo Combiner” or whatever floats your boat.
Set Up Photo Selection
- In the search bar at the bottom, type
Select Photosand add that action. - Tap on the action, then toggle Select Multiple to ON—this way, you can pick as many images as you want for your collage.
- Note: Sometimes, on older iPhones or with certain iOS versions, this step can be glitchy. If it doesn’t let you select multiple, try restarting your phone or updating iOS—won’t hurt.
Configure How You Want the Photos Merged
- Search for and add
Combine Imagesto the shortcut. - By default, it should merge horizontally, but tap on the options to switch it to Vertical or Grid, depending on what you want.
- Because the options can be a little hidden or confusing, tap the little arrow next to the action to see the merge type options. There’s even a way to adjust spacing and background color if you want some extra flair.
Finally, Save the Merged Photo to Your Library
- Add the
Save to Photosaction. This is straightforward—just make sure it’s positioned after the combine step. - Tap Done in the top right to finish building your shortcut.
Create Easy Access from Your Home Screen
- Find your new shortcut inside My Shortcuts.
- Press and hold on it, choose Details, then tap Add to Home Screen.
- Confirm, hit Add, and now your shortcut is just one tap away.
Using the Shortcut to Merge Photos
- Just tap on the shortcut icon from your home screen.
- Select the photos you want — remember, you can pick multiple images here.
- Hit Add, wait a few seconds, and your combined photo will be saved into your Photos app.
- Not every merge looks perfect right away, and sometimes the sizing feels off. Tweak the merge options or crop images beforehand if needed. On some setups, the shortcut might crash or not save immediately—try running it again or restarting your device if that happens.
Extra Tips & Common Gotchas
If the shortcut isn’t working right or the images come out weird, check these:
- Make sure your images are high-res and aren’t too big—big images can crash Shortcuts or result in blurry composites.
- Compare your storage space—if you’re running low, saving might fail unexpectedly.
- Experiment with the merge type—horizontal, vertical, or grid—to see what looks best.
- Sometimes, giving the shortcut a quick restart or even resetting the app can fix weird behaviors. Apple’s shortcuts can be quirky like that.
Wrap-up
This isn’t a total replacement for dedicated collage apps, but it’s surprisingly flexible once set up. Few taps, and you’ve got a custom way to combine images on the fly. Just enough to impress friends or spice up your social media posts without downloading another third-party app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I combine more than five photos at once?
Most likely, yes. It depends on how many photos you pick when prompted—just select as many as the shortcut allows, maybe around 10 or so. Don’t expect a perfect grid if you pick way too many—it’s kinda basic right now.
Are there better apps for this if I want more control?
Definitely. Apps like Canva, PicCollage, or Layout by Instagram give you more layout options, filters, and control. But for quick merges, this shortcut method is pretty handy.
What if the merged photo ends up weird or blurry?
Probably your images are too big or mismatched in size. Try cropping or resizing them first, or tinker with the merge settings—sometimes downscaling images a bit helps avoid crashes or low-quality outputs.
Summary
- Create a shortcut that prompts for images, merges them how you like, and saves the result.
- Adjust merge styles depending on your mood—horizontal, vertical, or grid.
- Use the shortcut from your home screen for quick access.
- Whatcha get? A simple, DIY photo collage tool built right into the phone.
Final Wrap-up
That’s about it. Setting this up isn’t totally foolproof, but once it’s working, it beats messing around with third-party apps just to do quick merges. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone. Good luck, and happy collaging!