How to edit pictures in the Photos app on iPhone and iPad

By Christine Chan
Contributions from
Bryan M Wolfe
 last updated

Make your adjustment right on your device.

photo editing on iphone
(Image credit: iMore)
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There's no doubt that the iPhone and iPad can take some beautiful pictures with their camera. The Camera app offers a bunch of features to make every shot as pretty as it can be. However, some images might need a little extra work. Fortunately, you can easily edit pictures in the Photos app on iPhone or iPad. You don't need photo editing apps to rotate, crop, or straighten your photos. Here's how to do it!

How to rotate in Photos on iPhone or iPad

  1. Launch Photos on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Find the photo you want to rotate and tap it to open it.

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Edit in the top right corner.
  2. Tap on the Crop button in the bottom menu.

  1. Tap the Rotate button in the top menu.
    • It is the second button from the left with a curved arrow.
    • Tap it until you get your desired rotation.
  2. Tap Done to save your changes.

How to straighten in Photos on iPhone or iPad

  1. Launch Photos on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Find a photo you want to straighten and tap on it to open.

  1. Tap Edit in the upper right corner.
  2. Tap on the Crop button in the bottom menu.

  1. By default, it goes to Straighten. Drag your finger along the bottom dial to straighten your image.
  2. If you need to straighten the image vertically or horizontally, tap on either Vertical or Horizontal (located next to the default Straighten option).

  1. Adjust the slider until you are satisfied with the results.
  2. Tap Done to save your changes.

Sometimes you'll need to vertically or horizontally straighten your image to get a better perspective. This is especially true if you are taking photos of architecture and buildings, and want a straight edge on the walls rather than a skewed perspective due to the lens.

How to crop in Photos on iPhone or iPad

  1. Launch Photos on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Find the photo you want to crop, and then tap on it to open.

  1. Tap Edit in the upper right corner.
  2. Tap the Crop button in the bottom menu.

  1. Tap and drag on the corner handles of the crop until you're satisfied with the results.
  2. Tap Done to save your changes.

How to change the aspect ratio for crops on iPhone and iPad

  1. Launch Photos on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Find a photo you want to crop, then tap on it to open.

  1. Tap Edit in the top right corner.
  2. Tap on the Crop button in the bottom menu.

  1. Tap the Aspect Ratio button at the top (it's the one with multiple rectangles in one located next to the options button or the "..." button).
  2. Scroll through the aspect ratio options by swiping horizontally.
  3. Tap the ratio you want to use (the default is Freeform).
  4. Tap Done to save your changes.

Start editing

Whether on iPhone or iPad, Apple makes it simple to adjust your photos. All you have to do is go into the official Photos app to get started. 

Christine Chan
Christine Chan

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed.

When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.

With contributions from