The basic steps for attaching a photo
On both iPhone and Android, you attach a photo to a text message by opening your messaging app, starting a new message or opening an existing conversation, then tapping the attachment button — usually a plus sign, paperclip, or camera icon depending on your phone and which app you use. From there you choose whether to take a new photo or pick one from your phone's photo library. The exact location of that button and the wording of the menu options varies, but the principle is the same across all phones.
The most common messaging apps are the built-in ones: iMessage on iPhone and Google Messages on Android. Both work the same way: open the app, tap into a conversation, look for the attachment icon near the text field, and select your photo. The photo then appears in the message thread before you hit send, so you can see what you're about to share.
If you're using a third-party app like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Telegram, the process is nearly identical — find the attachment or plus icon, choose your photo, and send. The button location might be slightly different, but every messaging app has this feature built in.
Key Takeaways
- Open your messaging app, start or open a conversation, and tap the attachment icon (usually a plus sign, paperclip, or camera) near the text field.
- Choose whether to take a new photo with your camera or select an existing photo from your phone's library.
- The photo appears in the message before you send it, so you can confirm it's the right one before it goes through.
- Third-party apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger use the same process, though the button location may vary slightly.
- Photos sent through text messages are compressed by your phone to reduce file size, which may affect image quality slightly.
Where to find the attachment button on iPhone
On iPhone using iMessage (the built-in messaging app), open a conversation and look at the bottom of the screen. To the left of the text field where you type, you'll see a plus sign in a circle. Tap that plus sign, and a menu appears with options including "Photo Library" and "Take Photo or Video." Tap "Photo Library" to browse photos already on your phone, or "Take Photo or Video" to open your camera and snap a new one right there.
If you don't see the plus sign, make sure you're in the iMessage app itself and not a different messaging service. Some older iPhone models may have a slightly different layout, but the plus sign has been the standard attachment button for several years. If you're using a different app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger on iPhone, look for a similar icon — often a plus sign or paperclip — in roughly the same location at the bottom of the screen.
Where to find the attachment button on Android
On Android using Google Messages (the default messaging app on most Android phones), open a conversation and look at the bottom right of the screen. You'll see a plus sign or a paperclip icon next to the send button. Tap that icon to see your options: "Photos and videos," "Camera," "Contacts," and others depending on your phone. Tap "Photos and videos" to pick from your library, or "Camera" to take a new photo immediately.
The exact appearance and location can vary slightly between Android phone manufacturers — Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others sometimes customize their messaging apps. But the attachment button is always near the text field, usually to the left or right of the send button. If you're using WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or another app on Android, look for a plus sign, paperclip, or camera icon in the same general area at the bottom of the conversation.
Choosing between your photo library and taking a new photo
When you tap the attachment button, you'll see two main options: select a photo you already have on your phone, or take a new photo right then. If you want to send a photo you took earlier, choose "Photo Library" or "Photos and videos" depending on your phone. This opens a browser where you can scroll through your photos, organize by date or album, and pick the one you want. Once you tap it, it attaches to your message.
If you want to take a fresh photo to send immediately, choose "Take Photo" or "Camera." Your phone opens the camera app right there in the messaging interface. Take your photo, review it, and confirm. The photo then attaches to your message without you having to leave the conversation. This is faster if you're sending something you just photographed and don't need to edit first.
What happens to photo quality when you send it
When you send a photo through a text message, your phone automatically compresses it — that is, it reduces the file size so the message sends faster and doesn't use as much data. This compression is invisible to you, but it does mean the photo that arrives on the other person's phone is slightly lower quality than the original on your phone. The difference is usually small enough that you won't notice unless you zoom in or print the photo.
If you need to send a photo at full quality — for example, a detailed document or a professional image — consider using email or a cloud service like Google Drive or iCloud instead of a text message. Those services preserve the original quality. Text messaging is fine for casual photos, screenshots, and anything you'd normally share on social media, but not for anything where quality matters.
Sending multiple photos at once
Most messaging apps let you attach more than one photo to a single message. After you tap the attachment button and select your first photo, look for an option to "Add more" or a plus sign to select additional photos. On iPhone, you can usually tap multiple photos in the Photo Library before confirming. On Android with Google Messages, you may need to select one photo, send it, then repeat the process for the next one — though some Android phones and third-party apps do allow batch selection.
If your app doesn't support multiple photos in one message, you can always send several messages in a row, each with one photo. The other person will receive them as a sequence in the conversation. There's no practical limit to how many photos you can send this way, though sending dozens at once may take a moment to process depending on your internet connection.
Troubleshooting when photos won't attach
If you tap the attachment button and nothing happens, or if the photo won't send, the most common cause is that your messaging app doesn't have permission to access your photos. On iPhone, go to Settings, scroll to find your messaging app, and make sure "Photos" is toggled on. On Android, go to Settings, find Apps or Application Manager, select your messaging app, tap Permissions, and make sure "Photos" or "Media" is allowed.
Another common issue is that your phone is out of storage space. If your phone's storage is full, it can't process or send photos. Check your storage in Settings and delete old files or apps if needed. If you're on a very slow internet connection, the photo may time out before it sends — try moving to a stronger Wi-Fi network or waiting a moment before trying again. If none of these steps work, try closing the messaging app completely and reopening it, which often clears temporary glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a photo to someone with a different type of phone than mine?
Yes. Photos sent through text messages work across all phones — iPhone to Android, Android to iPhone, and between any two phones. The photo is converted to a standard format that any phone can read, so the other person will see it regardless of what kind of phone they have.
What if the person I'm texting doesn't receive the photo?
Check that you have an active internet connection or cellular data. Text messages with photos require data to send, unlike plain text messages. If you're on Wi-Fi, make sure it's actually connected. If the message shows as "Not Delivered" or "Failed," try sending it again. If it keeps failing, restart your phone and try once more.
Does sending photos through text use a lot of data?
Each photo uses a small amount of data — typically a few hundred kilobytes to a couple of megabytes depending on the photo's size and quality. Sending one or two photos won't noticeably affect your data usage, but sending dozens regularly could add up. If you're on a limited data plan, consider using Wi-Fi when sending multiple photos.
Can I edit a photo before attaching it to a message?
Most messaging apps don't have built-in editing tools. If you want to crop, rotate, or adjust a photo before sending, edit it in your phone's Photos app or a photo editing app first, then attach the edited version. Some third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp do offer basic editing tools after you select a photo but before you send.
What's the difference between sending a photo through text and through email?
Text messages compress photos to save space and data, which slightly reduces quality. Email preserves the original photo quality but is slower and requires an email address instead of just a phone number. Use text for quick casual photos, and email when quality matters or you're sending to someone's email address.