The fastest way: use the paperclip icon in Mail
Open the Mail app and start a new message or reply to one. Tap inside the message body where you want to mention the photo, then look for the paperclip icon at the bottom of the keyboard. Tap it, and you'll see options to add a photo from your library or take one right then.
If you choose "Photo Library", your Photos app opens. Find the photo you want, tap it once to select it, then tap "Choose" in the bottom right. The photo attaches to your email and appears as a thumbnail in the message. You can add multiple photos this way — just repeat the process.
If you choose "Take Photo or Video", your camera opens immediately. Take the shot, review it, then tap "Use Photo". The image attaches without you having to save it to your library first.
Key Takeaways
- The paperclip icon at the bottom of the Mail keyboard is the standard way to attach photos on iPhone.
- You can attach photos from your library or take a new photo directly within the email, without switching apps.
- Photos you attach appear as thumbnails in the message and are sent at full resolution unless you resize them.
- If the paperclip icon doesn't appear, make sure you've tapped inside the message body first.
What to do if the paperclip icon isn't visible
The paperclip only shows up when your cursor is actually in the message body. If you're tapping in the "To:" or "Subject:" field, the icon won't appear. Tap once in the main message area where you'd type your text, and the paperclip should show up at the bottom of the keyboard.
On older iPhone models or if you're using a third-party keyboard, the paperclip might be in a different spot. Look along the bottom of the keyboard for any attachment icon — it usually looks like a paperclip or a plus sign in a circle. If you still can't find it, try tapping the arrow keys at the bottom left of the keyboard to reveal more options.
Resizing photos before you send them
When you attach a photo, Mail asks whether you want to send it at actual size, large, medium, or small. This choice appears in a popup before the email sends. Actual size means the full resolution photo — useful if someone needs to print or edit it, but it takes longer to send and uses more data. Medium or small is fine for most emails and sends much faster.
You can change this setting after attaching the photo. Tap and hold on the photo thumbnail in your message, then tap "Resize Image". Choose your preferred size from the popup. If you change your mind later, you can tap the photo again and pick a different size right up until you hit send.
Attaching photos from iCloud or other cloud services
If your photos are stored in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or another cloud service, you can attach them directly from Mail without downloading them first. Tap the paperclip icon as usual, but instead of choosing "Photo Library", look for "Browse" or the cloud service name in the menu. This opens a file browser where you can navigate to your cloud folders and select the image you want.
This method works the same way whether the file is a photo, screenshot, or any other image format. The file attaches to your email just like one from your library would. Keep in mind that the recipient receives the actual file, not a link to it, so the email size depends on the image file size.
Pasting photos directly into the message
You can also copy a photo and paste it straight into your email without using the paperclip. Open Photos, find the image you want, tap it, then tap "Copy" from the menu. Go back to Mail, tap in the message body, then tap "Paste". The photo appears inline in your message.
Pasting works well if you want the photo to sit in the middle of your text rather than as a separate attachment. The photo still sends at the size you choose when the email is about to go out. This method is faster if you're attaching just one or two images.
Troubleshooting when photos won't attach
If a photo won't attach, the most common reason is that Mail doesn't have permission to access your Photos app. Go to Settings, scroll down to Mail, tap it, then look for "Photos". Make sure it's set to "All Photos" or "Selected Photos" rather than "None". If it says "None", tap it and change the setting.
Another reason is that your email account has a size limit on attachments. Most email providers allow attachments up to 20 or 25 megabytes, but some allow less. If you're trying to attach a very large photo or multiple high-resolution images, the email might be too big to send. Try resizing the photos to medium or small before sending, or split them across multiple emails.
If Mail crashes when you try to attach a photo, close the app completely and reopen it. If the problem keeps happening, restart your iPhone. A restart clears temporary files that might be interfering with the attachment process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attach multiple photos at once?
Yes. Tap the paperclip icon, choose "Photo Library", then tap each photo you want to attach. You can select as many as you want before tapping "Choose". All of them attach to the same email. If you're attaching many photos, the email size grows quickly, so consider resizing them to medium or small.
What happens if the person I'm emailing uses Android or Gmail?
Photos attached from iPhone Mail work fine with any email service or phone type. The recipient sees the photos the same way they would from any other email. The only difference is that very large attachments might take longer to download on slower connections, but the photo itself displays normally.
Can I attach a screenshot?
Yes. Screenshots save to your Photos app automatically, so they show up in your library just like regular photos. Find the screenshot, attach it using the paperclip method, and it sends like any other image. You can also take a screenshot while composing an email and paste it directly into the message.
Why is my photo blurry after I attach it?
If you chose "Small" or "Medium" when resizing, the photo compresses to save space, which can make it look less sharp on screen. Try attaching it again and choose "Large" or "Actual Size" instead. Keep in mind that larger files take longer to send and use more data, but they look clearer.