Alex Ruben
How To Transfer Photos from Gallery to Files on iPhone
Transferring photos from your iPhone’s Photos app into the Files app is actually pretty useful if you’re trying to get your images organized or free up some space. Sometimes, the Photos app can get cluttered, or maybe you want quick access to certain images from other apps or devices. Doing this can make your life easier, especially if you like keeping things tidy or are trying to prepare for a backup. The steps are straightforward, but of course, there are some quirks in the process that might trip you up—like not having enough storage or missing the right menu options. After all, iOS does things its own way, so here’s a step-by-step that should hopefully save some frustration.
How to Fix Moving Photos from Gallery to Files on iPhone
Open the Photos App and Pick Your Photos
First, launch the Photos app, which is usually on the Home screen or in your app library. Navigate to the images you want to move. If you’re doing a bulk transfer, selecting the right ones is kinda important because it helps keep your Files neat later on.
- Tap Select in the top right corner.
- Tap on each photo you want to move, or drag your finger across multiple images to select a bunch. Sometimes, if Photos bugs out, it might not register your selection, so if that happens, restarting the app or even the phone can help.
Tip: if you want to select entire albums, you might need to go into albums first.
Share and Save Photos to Files
Once the images are chosen, hit the Share button — it’s the little box with an arrow pointing up, usually at the bottom left. From the share sheet:
- Scroll right or down to find Save to Files. If it’s not there, tap More and enable it. Sometimes this part is kinda hidden, and that’s where frustration sets in, but if you don’t see Save to Files, make sure you’ve granted Photos app permission to access Files.
This action sends your selected images into the Files app, but where exactly they go depends on your choice next.
Select a Destination Folder in Files
Once you tap Save to Files, a picker appears, showing your folder options. Usually, you’ll see On My iPhone and iCloud Drive if you’ve enabled it. If you want to keep things sorted, tap New Folder in the top right corner and name it something relevant—like “Travel Pics” or “Work stuff”.
- After choosing your folder, tap Save in the top right. Be aware that sometimes, this step feels a little sluggish or non-responsive, especially if your storage is nearly full or the system’s acting weird.
Check Your Photos in the Files App
To verify everything’s working, open the Files app. Navigate to the folder you saved to, usually under On My iPhone. You should see your images there, confirming the transfer was successful. If not, double-check if you picked the right folder or if the transfer finally finished.
- Pro tip: If your files aren’t showing up right away, try closing and reopening the Files app or restarting your phone. Sometimes it just needs a nudge.
Extra Tips & Troubleshooting
Some common pitfalls: not enough storage space (check Settings > General > iPhone Storage), or the Share sheet not showing Save to Files. If you don’t see the option, ensure you’ve granted Files access in your privacy settings Settings > Privacy > Files and Folders. Also, the Photos app sometimes glitches after a big transfer—so rebooting can clear things up.
On certain setups, the process might fail the first time or appear stuck. Unplugging your phone, then reconnecting, or updating iOS can sometimes help. Because of course, Apple has to make it harder than it needs to be at times.
Wrap-up
Moving photos into Files on the iPhone isn’t overly complicated once you get the hang of the menus, but it does require a bit of patience, especially if things aren’t quite working smoothly. The main idea is to select, share, and choose the right folder combined with some basic troubleshooting if it doesn’t go as planned. It’s a simple way to keep your images better organized and clear some storage clutter.
Summary
- Open the Photos app, select images
- Tap Share and choose Save to Files
- Pick or create the destination folder
- Verify in the Files app
- Watch for storage issues or permission settings if things act weird
Fingers crossed this helps
Hopefully, this saves someone a few headaches. The process isn’t perfect, but it’s doable. Just keep in mind that iOS has a tendency to throw curveballs, especially if your phone’s running low or if you’re trying to move hundreds of pics at once. Still, it works—you just might have to try a couple of times or restart here and there.