How to Select Multiple Photos in iPhone: An Exclusive Guide

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of photos on your iPhone? Selecting multiple images can be a breeze once you know the tricks! In this guide, you will get to learn how to select multiple photos in iPhone in various methods. Selecting multiple photos/images on your iPhone will help you to make, edit in batch, share, and organize photos in your iPhone.

We’ll explore different selection techniques, from grabbing individual photos to swiftly choosing entire albums. Plus, we’ll answer many frequently asked questions to empower you as a photo management pro.

Let’s unlock the secrets to mastering photo selection on your iPhone!

Why Mastering Photo Selection on iPhone Makes You a Power User?

Selecting multiple photos on your iPhone might seem like a basic task, but mastering different selection techniques unlocks a new level of photo management efficiency. That is why learning these methods will make you a photo management pro:

  • Effortless Batch Editing: Imagine wanting to edit the brightness or apply a cool filter to several photos at once. Selecting them all quickly allows you to batch-edit them, saving tons of time compared to editing them one by one.
  • Seamless Sharing: Sharing a group of photos with friends or family becomes a breeze. You don’t have to select photos manually by tapping on each of them, rather you can select them all in seconds and share them through your preferred app.
  • Organized Albums in a Flash: Creating themed albums is a fantastic way to organize your photos. Selecting multiple photos lets you quickly add them to a new or existing album, keeping your memories categorized and easily accessible.
  • Faster Cleanup: Got a bunch of blurry or unwanted photos cluttering your library? Selecting them all at once allows for a speedy deletion process, freeing up valuable storage space on your iPhone.
  • Time-Saving Selection: Let’s face it, selecting photos one by one for large albums can be tedious. Mastering these selection techniques saves you precious time, allowing you to focus on the more enjoyable aspects of managing your photos, like reliving memories or editing them to perfection.

How to Select Individual Photos on Your iPhone?

The most basic method involves selecting photos one by one. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Navigate to the desired album, year, or collection containing the photos you want to select.
  3. Tap Select in the top right corner. This activates the selection mode.
  4. Tap on each photo you want to choose. On each selected photo, you will see a blue checkmark will appear.

Selecting Multiple Consecutive Photos

Need to grab a sequence of photos? Here’s a faster way:

  1. Follow steps 1-3 from the above section.
  2. Tap on the first photo that you want to select.
  3. Hold down your finger on the first photo and drag it across the screen towards the last photo you want to include. All photos your finger touches will be selected, indicated by blue checkmarks.

How to Select Photos in Different Rows or Albums?

Want to choose photos scattered across your library? This method lets you do that:

  1. Follow the steps 1-3 mentioned above from the “How to Select Individual Photos on Your iPhone?” section.
  2. Tap on the 1st photo you want to select.
  3. Without lifting your finger, scroll through your albums or year view to locate other photos.
  4. Tap on each additional photo you want to add to your selection.

How to Select Multiple Photos in iPhone?

selecting many images on iPhone

Using the Photos App

The Photos app on iPhone is the default and most commonly used tool for managing your pictures. Here’s how to select multiple photos within this app:

  1. Open the Photos App: From your home screen, launch the Photos app.
  2. Navigate to the Album or Library: Go to the section where your photos are stored. You can choose ‘All Photos’, ‘Recents’, or any specific album.
  3. Tap ‘Select’: In the top-right corner, tap on the ‘Select’ button.
  4. Select Photos Individually: Tap on each of the photos you want to select. A checkmark will appear on the selected photos.
  5. Select a Range of Photos: If you want to select a consecutive range of photos, tap and hold the first photo, then drag your finger across the screen to select multiple photos in a row.

Using the Drag and Drop Method

This method is particularly useful if you want to move photos between albums:

  1. Open the Photos App: Go to your home screen, and launch the app.
  2. Navigate to Your Photos: Go to the album or library where your photos are located.
  3. Tap ‘Select’: Tap on the ‘Select’ button in the top-right corner.
  4. Drag to Select Multiple Photos: Place your finger on the first photo and start dragging to select additional photos. This will allow you to select a continuous group of photos.
  5. Move to Another Album: Once selected, tap ‘Add To’ at the bottom, then choose the album where you want to move the photos.

Using the Files App

For those who use iCloud Drive or other cloud services integrated into the Files app, selecting multiple photos is slightly different:

  1. Open the Files App: Launch the Files app from your home screen.
  2. Navigate to the Photos Folder: Find the folder where your photos are stored.
  3. Tap ‘Select’:  Go to the top-right corner and tap the ‘Select’ button.

Select Photos: Tap on the images you wish to select or drag to select multiple items.   

Pro Tip for Selecting Photos While Zooming Out

For even faster selection of multiple photos in a grid view, try this:

  1. In the Photos app, zoom out until you see multiple rows and columns of photos.
  2. Tap Select.
  3. Now, dragging your finger across the screen will select entire rows of photos at once. This is a great time-saver when dealing with large albums.

What to Do for Efficient Photo Management?

  1. Regularly Organize Your Photos: Create albums and categorize photos to keep your library organized.
  2. Use iCloud Storage: Enable iCloud Photos to back up your photos and access them across all your Apple devices.
  3. Delete Unnecessary Photos: Regularly review and delete photos you no longer need to free up space.
  4. Create Memories: Use the ‘For You’ tab in the Photos app to view automatically generated collections of your best moments.
  5. Edit Photos in Batches: Use the editing tools in the Photos app to adjust multiple photos at once for consistency.

How do I select multiple files on my iPhone?

While the Photos app is optimized for photos and videos, the same selection techniques can be applied to other file types managed through the Files app. Here’s how:

  • Open the Files app and navigate to the folder containing the files you want to select.
  • Tap and hold on to a file until all files start wiggling.
  • Use another finger to tap on additional files you want to select.
  • Drag your finger across the screen to create a selection box that captures multiple files.

How do I select multiple files quickly?

There are a few ways to speed up your photo selection on iPhone:

  • Select Consecutive Photos: Tap the first photo, then hold and drag your finger across the screen towards the last photo you want.
  • Select Scattered Photos: Tap the first photo, then scroll through your albums while pressing your finger to tap on additional photos in different locations.
  • Select All Photos in a View: Open the target album or year view, tap “Select” in the top right, and then tap the circle with the number indicating the total photos (or firmly press “Select” on some models).
  • Bonus Tip: Select Entire Rows: Zoom out in the Photos app grid view, tap “Select,” and drag your finger to select entire rows of photos at once.

How do you multi-shot photos on an iPhone?

By “Multi-shot” we understand your iPhone camera’s “Burst Mode” feature. This mode captures several photos in rapid succession when you hold down the shutter button.

To select multiple photos from a Burst:

  • Open the Photos app and navigate to the Burst photos you want to select.
  • Tap on the Burst image (it will show multiple thumbnail images).
  • In the bottom left corner, you’ll see “Select…” followed by the number of photos captured in the Burst. Tap “Select…”
  • Choose the photos you want to keep by tapping on them. You can also swipe left or right to quickly review and select photos.
  • Tap “Done” if you want to keep your chosen photos and discard the rest.

Where is “Select All” in iPhone Photos?

To access “Select All” in iPhone Photos, there are two ways mentioned below:

  • Open the desired album or year view. Tap “Select” in the top right corner. In the top left corner, you’ll see a circle with a number indicating the total photos. Tap on this circle to select all photos at once.
  • On some iPhone models with 3D Touch enabled, you can firmly press the “Select” button to bring up an option to “Select All.”

What is the shortcut for multiple files?

Shortcuts foe selecting multiple photoin iPhone

Unfortunately, there isn’t a single keyboard shortcut for selecting multiple files on iPhone. However, the methods mentioned above provide quick and efficient ways to select photos and other files using touch gestures.

How to select multiple photos in iPhone 14, iPhone 15 (and any iPhone model):

The selection methods explained throughout this guide apply to all iPhone models, including iPhone 14 and iPhone 15.

How to select multiple photos in iPhone to delete:

  1. Open the Photos app and navigate to the album containing the photos you want to delete.
  2. Use the selection methods mentioned above to choose the photos you want to remove.
  3. Once you’ve selected all the photos, tap the Trash Bin icon in the bottom right corner.
  4. 17Confirm the deletion by tapping “Delete Photos” in the pop-up window.

Bonus Tip: Selecting Photos for WhatsApp Status

Here’s how to select multiple photos for your WhatsApp Status on iPhone:

  1. Open the WhatsApp app.
  2. Go to the Status tab.
  3. Tap the Pencil icon if you want to create a new Status.
  4. Grant access to your Photos if prompted.
  5. In the Photos app that opens within WhatsApp, use the selection techniques mentioned earlier to choose the photos you want to add to your Status.
  6. Once it is selected, tap “Done”  in the bottom right corner.
  7. You can now edit your Status by adding text, emojis, or drawings (optional).
  8. Tap “Send” to share your Status update with your WhatsApp contacts.

Related Topic You may like to read: How to Select Multiple Messages in WhatsApp on iPhone?

Can I select photos on my iPhone using Siri?

Yes, you can use Siri to help you find and select photos on your iPhone, though the capabilities are somewhat limited compared to manual browsing. Here are some things you can do with Siri related to photos:

Search for Photos: You can ask Siri to show photos based on time, location, or content. For example:

“Show me photos from last weekend.”

“Find photos from Paris.”

“Show my photos of dogs.”

Open the Photos App: Siri can open the Photos app for you, but selecting specific photos to perform actions on them requires manual interaction.

Create Memories: You can ask Siri to create a memory or slideshow from a set of photos, but this still requires some manual steps to customize.

To use Siri for these tasks, activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri” or pressing the Side/Home button, and then issue your command.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I deselect a photo I accidentally chose?

Simply tap on the photo with the blue checkmark to remove it from your selection.

Is there a way to select all photos at once on my iPhone?

Yes! Refer to the “Selecting All Photos in a View” section for two methods to achieve this.

Can I select photos to share with multiple apps at once?

While you can’t directly share photos with multiple apps simultaneously, you can select them all and then choose the app you want to share them with. The selected photos will be carried over to that app for sharing.

How do I select photos to add to a new album?

Once you’ve selected your photos, tap the Share button (square with an upward arrow). You’ll see an option to “Add to Album.” Choose “New Album” to create a new album specifically for your selected photos.

Is there a way to select photos based on date or other criteria?

Unfortunately, the Photos app doesn’t offer a built-in way to select photos based on specific criteria like date. However, you can leverage the built-in “Years,” “Collections,” and “Albums” sections to narrow down your selection based on these categories.

Can I Share Multiple Photos via AirDrop?

Absolutely. Here’s how:
Open the Photos app and select the photos you want to share.
Tap the share icon.
Select AirDrop and then choose the device you want to share with.

Is There a Way to Select Photos by Date?

Yes, you can:
Open the Photos app.
Go to the ‘Photos’ tab.
To narrow down your selection to a specific day, tap on the date.
Tap ‘Select’ and choose the photos from that date.

How Can I Select Multiple Photos for a Slideshow?

To create a slideshow with multiple photos:
Open the Photos app.
Select the photos you want.
Tap the share icon.
Choose ‘Slideshow’ from the options.

Can I Use Siri to Select Multiple Photos?

Currently, Siri doesn’t support selecting multiple photos directly. However, you can use Siri to open the Photos app or specific albums to speed up the process.

 How Do I Select All Photos in an Album?

Currently, there isn’t a direct ‘Select All’ button in the Photos app. However, you can quickly select all photos by dragging your finger across them after tapping ‘Select’. For large albums, you may need to do this in sections.

Conclusion

Learning how to select multiple photos in iPhone can significantly streamline your photo management tasks. Whether you’re organizing, sharing, or deleting photos, these methods will save you time and effort. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll become more efficient and make the most out of your iPhone’s capabilities. Happy photo managing!

Managing photos on your iPhone can be a breeze if you know the right techniques. Whether you’re trying to organize your photo library, share multiple images at once, or delete a bunch of pictures to free up space, knowing how to select multiple photos on your iPhone is essential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through various methods to select multiple photos and answer some frequently asked questions to make your experience seamless.

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