How to Save Pictures from Emails on an iPhone + Quick Fixes

PDF download Download Article
Easily move pictures from an email to your iPhone gallery
PDF download Download Article

Do you want to save a picture that was emailed to you? Whether you're using Apple's Mail app, Gmail, or another mail app, you can easily download the email attachment to your Camera Roll. Here's how to save pictures from emails on an iPhone.

Downloading Email Image Attachments on iPhone

To save pictures from an email to your Camera Roll, tap and hold the picture. Select Save Image or Save to Files . You can find saved images in the Photos app.

Section 1 of 2:

Saving Pictures

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open it fully. You should see the picture within the email body.
    • This method will work in iOS' Mail app, Gmail app, or another email app.
    • If you don't see the picture in the Mail app, make sure you don't have Privacy Protection turned on.
      • To check, open Settings → Mail → Privacy Protection → toggle off Protect Mail Activity .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    A pop-up menu will open.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can find this in the pop-up menu, under Markup and Reply . [1]
    • The picture will be saved to your iPhone. You can find it in the Photos app.
    • Alternatively, you can select Save to Files to save the picture to the Files app or iCloud .
    4. Advertisement
Section 2 of 2:

Troubleshooting

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a7\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a7\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you can't save a picture to your Camera Roll, it may have protections enabled or it's in a file that can't be saved. In this case, you can screenshot the picture . Keep in mind this will affect the size and resolution of the image.
    • On iPhones without a Home button: press the lock button and top volume button at the same time.
    • On iPhones with a Home button, press the lock button and Home button at the same time.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-Pictures-from-Emails-on-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you don't have enough storage space on your iPhone, you may be unable to save new pictures. Consider using a cloud service such as iCloud or Google Drive to store media.
    3. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    On new iPhone SE when try to save a photo from email by holding finger on image doesn't give option "save image" other than 1 in 20 attempts. Get "download" option but doesn't save to camera roll
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If you have 3D touch (which does come with the 2nd generation of SE), then you touch the image once, don't let go (it will fit the screen so you can see the entire image), press down harder and the image will open in a page for itself. Only after that will you see the download icon. Tap the icon, then select 'Save Image'. You can then find the downloaded image by opening your iPhone's Gallery App, tap albums, and navigate to Downloads. (also, if you're looking for an app called the Camera Roll, you won't find it. Photos is the new app that contains your camera roll as well as other photos that you've downloaded or screenshotted)
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
  • Question
    How do I transfer an emailed photo on my iPhone to my iPhone photo gallery?
    Community Answer
    Press and hold the attachment until the menu comes up at the bottom of the phone offering options to move photos to applications, social media (e.g., attach to Message, Mail, Facebook), etc. Select "Save Image" - second row of icons. The photo will automatically be saved to your photo gallery.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 16 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How do I get "save" image when trying to save a photo from an email on my iPhone when the option won't come up when I tap and hold the image?
    Community Answer
    If you tap and hold the image, it should give you a few options such as "copy photo", "save photo" "print", and some other things. If it does not give you the option of saving the photo on your phone, then either you cannot save the photo, or you may be out of storage space.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 27 Helpful 3
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Hard Reset an iPhone
      10 Simple Ways to Fix an iPhone or Android That Won’t Send Pictures
      How to Fix "Notifications Silenced" on iPhone Messages
      Turn Off Location Sharing on an iPhone Without Anyone Knowing
      How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC: 3 Simple Ways
      4 Ways to Find Your Lost iPhone When It’s Offline or Dead
      2 Ways to Get a Still Image from Video on iPhone or iPad
      6 Easy Steps to Reload Your Cash App Card at the Store
      How to Automatically Forward Text Messages to Another Phone
      How to Overlay Pictures on iPhone
      How to Use the iPhone Hidden Album to Hide Private Photos
      How to Fix the “iPhone Unavailable” Message: Explanation and Fixes
      3 Easy Ways to Check Your WiFi GHz on an iPhone
      4 Simple Ways to Know if You’ve Been Blocked on Snapchat
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/download-email-attachments-iph7fe7a50a7/ios

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Mail.
      2. Tap a message.
      3. Tap and hold a photo.
      4. If necessary, tap the Share icon.
      5. Tap Save Image .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 447,123 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement