The basic steps depend on where the picture is and what device you're using
Downloading a picture means saving an image file from the internet to your device so you can use it offline, edit it, print it, or share it. The method changes depending on whether you're on a computer or phone, and whether the image is on a website, in an email, or in a cloud storage service like Google Drive or OneDrive.
On most devices, the fastest route is right-clicking the image (on a computer) or long-pressing it (on a phone), then selecting a "save" or "download" option from the menu that appears. The image then goes to a default folder — usually called Downloads on a computer, or Photos on a phone — where you can find it later.
Key Takeaways
- On a computer, right-click any image and select "Save image as" to choose where the file goes and what to name it.
- On an iPhone, long-press the image and tap "Save Image" to add it to your Photos app automatically.
- On Android, long-press the image and select "Download image" or "Save image" depending on your browser.
- Downloaded images go to a default folder (Downloads on computers, Photos on phones) unless you choose a different location.
- Some websites block right-click downloads; in those cases, take a screenshot instead or look for an official download button.
Downloading on Windows or Mac computers
Right-click directly on the image you want to save. A menu will pop up with several options. Look for "Save image as" (on most browsers) or "Download image" (on some). Click that option.
A dialog box will open asking where you want to save the file and what to name it. By default, it will suggest your Downloads folder and use the image's original filename. You can change either one. Type a new name if you want, pick a different folder from the list on the left, then click "Save" or "Download" at the bottom.
The image is now on your computer. Open your file manager (File Explorer on Windows, Finder on Mac) and navigate to the folder where you saved it. You can now open it in any photo viewer or editing program.
Downloading on iPhone
Long-press (press and hold) the image until a menu appears. On most websites and in most apps, you will see an option that says "Save Image" or "Add to Photos." Tap that option.
The image is automatically added to your Photos app. Open Photos, go to the "Library" tab at the bottom, and look in the "All Photos" section or scroll to the date when you downloaded it. The image will be there.
If you don't see a save option when you long-press, the website or app may have disabled it. In that case, take a screenshot instead: press the Side button and Volume Up button at the same time (or press the Top button and Home button on older iPhones), and the screenshot will save to Photos.
Downloading on Android phones
Long-press the image until a menu appears. Look for "Download image," "Save image," or "Download." The exact wording depends on which browser or app you're using. Tap that option.
The image downloads to your phone's default Downloads folder or directly to your Photos app, depending on your phone's settings and which browser you use. To find it, open your file manager (usually called Files or My Files) and look in the Downloads folder, or open your Photos or Gallery app and look for a "Downloads" album.
If the menu doesn't show a download option, long-press again and look for "Open image in new tab" or "View image." This opens the image by itself in your browser. Then long-press that full-screen image and select download.
Downloading from email attachments
If someone sent you a picture in an email, open the email and look for the image preview. On a computer, right-click the image and select "Save image as" just as you would on a website. On a phone, long-press the image and select "Save" or "Download."
Many email apps also show a download icon (usually a downward arrow) next to attachments. Tap or click that icon to download the image directly without having to right-click or long-press.
Downloading from cloud storage services
If the image is in Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or a similar service, open the file in that service. Right-click it (on a computer) or long-press it (on a phone) and look for a "Download" option. On some services, you can also click a three-dot menu icon and select "Download" from there.
The image will download to your device's default Downloads folder (on a computer) or Photos app (on a phone), just as if you had downloaded it from a website.
What to do if you can't right-click or long-press
Some websites deliberately disable right-click downloads to protect images. If the menu doesn't appear when you right-click or long-press, try taking a screenshot instead. The screenshot will save to your device and you can crop it to just the image you want.
Alternatively, look for an official download button on the page itself — many sites that restrict right-clicking still offer a visible download link or button. If neither option works, you may not have permission to download that particular image, and you should respect that restriction.
Finding your downloaded images
On Windows, open File Explorer and click "Downloads" in the left sidebar. On Mac, open Finder and click "Downloads" in the sidebar. Your downloaded images will be listed there, sorted by date.
On iPhone, open the Photos app and go to the Library tab. Scroll down to find an album called "Downloads," or look in "All Photos" and scroll to the date you downloaded the image. On Android, open your file manager and navigate to the Downloads folder, or open your Photos or Gallery app and look for a Downloads album.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my downloaded image look blurry or low quality?
You may have downloaded a thumbnail (a small preview version) instead of the full-size image. Try right-clicking the image again and looking for options like "View full image" or "Open in new tab." This usually opens the larger version, which you can then download.
Can I download images from any website?
Technically yes, but you should check the website's terms of use first. Some images are protected by copyright, and downloading them without permission may violate the law. Look for a license or usage rights statement on the page, or contact the website owner if you're unsure.
What file format will my downloaded image be?
The image will download in whatever format it was originally stored in — usually JPG, PNG, or WebP. You can see the file extension (the letters after the dot in the filename) when you look at the file on your computer. Most photo editing programs and viewers work with all three formats.
How much storage space do downloaded images use?
A typical photo from the internet is between 100 kilobytes and 5 megabytes, so you can download hundreds or thousands before running out of space on a modern device. If you're downloading very large files or many files at once, check your device's available storage in Settings.
Can I download images directly to a specific folder instead of Downloads?
Yes. On a computer, when you right-click and select "Save image as," the dialog box lets you choose any folder. On a phone, most downloads go to a default location, but some apps let you choose the folder in settings. Check your browser or app settings if you want to change the default download location.