How to send photos or attachments on iPhone and iPad

Sending an email on iPhone (Image credit: iMore)

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How to insert a photo or video into an email
How to add an attachment into an email

So you think you know how to use the Mail app? But do you know how to send photos or attachments on iPhone and iPad? Don't worry, it's actually easier than you might think. Just follow these steps.

How to insert a photo or video into an email in the Mail app for iPhone and iPad

Trying to send photos or attachments on iPhone and iPad can be tricky if you've never done it before. Fortunately, once you know what to do, it's a pretty straightforward process. Follow these steps:

Launch the Mail app from your iPhone or iPad's Home screen or app drawer.
Tap on the Compose button in the bottom right corner.
Type in the sender info, subject, and body fields just as you would for a normal email.

How to send photos or attachments on iPhone and iPad: Open the Mail app, tap on Compose, Type the sender info, subject, and body fields. (Image credit: iMore)

Tap in body. A menu will appear.
Choose the Photo icon.
Select the photo or video you'd like to insert. You'll see a preview of the image.
Tap the Send button in the upper right corner once you've finished writing your email.

To insert a photo or video into your email. tap in the body of the email. choose the photo icon, then select your content. Tap the Send button. (Image credit: iMore)

How to add an attachment in the Mail app for iPhone and iPad

Launch the Mail app from your iPhone or iPad's Home screen or app drawer.
Tap on the Compose button in the bottom right corner.
Tap and type in the sender info, subject, and body fields just as you would for a normal email.

Tap in the body. A menu will appear.
Choose the Attachment icon.
Select the file you wish to send. You'll see a preview of the image.
Tap the Send button in the upper right corner once you've finished writing your email.

To send an attachment with your email, tap on the body of the email, choose the attachment icon. Next, select the file you wish to send. Tap the send button (Image credit: iMore)

Congratulations! You can now send photos or attachments on iPhone and iPad without using a Mac or a laptop. You're one step closer to mastering Mail.

Any questions?

Still have questions about how to send photos or attachments on your iPhone or iPad? Let us know below.

Updated October 2020: Updated for iOS 14 and iPadOS 14.

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.

3 Comments

Wow, you can teach an old dog new tricks! I never new about this method! I always have sent photos from the photos app!
I have just found a work-around (at least on an iPad) for a long-time quirk - and none for one I just noticed. Just proceed as described in the article. Attach a photo using the corresponding option from the pop-up menu. Now add a second photo using the "Add document" option.
Send the message to yourself, in order to see what I mean. 1) The first picture will have been attached in the size you chose, but it will be named "Image0.jpeg" or similar goof. 2) The second picture will have kept both its original size and its original name.
I’ve been asked to send a video and photo as attachments to an email but need to compress the file size. How do I do this on my iPad?