Send photos, videos, and audio messages on iPhone
In the Messages app , you can send photos, videos, and audio messages using the iMessage or SMS/MMS service. You can share, save, or print an attachment. The Photos iMessage app suggests photos to share based on who you’re messaging with, what you’re talking about, and where you’ve taken photos together. Your carrier determines the size limit of attachments; iPhone may compress photo and video attachments when necessary.
For information about sending SMS/MMS attachments on models with Dual SIM, see Manage your cellular plans.
Send a photo or video
In Messages, do any of the following while writing a message:
Take a photo within Messages: Tap , frame the shot in the viewfinder, then tap .
Take a video within Messages: Tap , choose Video mode, then tap .
Choose a photo or video: Tap in the app drawer, then swipe left to browse through recent shots, or tap All Photos.
Tap to send your message or to cancel.
Edit or mark up a photo
You can edit or mark up a photo to send in a Messages conversation.
Tap in the app drawer, then choose a photo.
Tap the photo in the message bubble, then do any of the following:
Tap Markup, use the Markup tools to draw on the photo, then tap Save.
Tap Edit, use the photo editing tools to edit the photo, then tap Done.
Tap Done, add a message, then tap to send the photo, or tap to remove the photo from the message bubble.
Add camera effects to a photo or video
On supported models, when you take a photo or video in a conversation, you can add camera effects to it—such as filters, stickers, labels, and shapes.
Tap , then choose a camera mode, such as Photo or Video.
Tap , then do any of the following:
(iPhone X and later) Tap , choose an Animoji, then tap to close the Animoji window.
Tap , choose a filter to apply to your picture, then tap to close the Filters window.
Tap to add a text label, then tap to close the Text window.
Tap to add a shape, then tap to close the Shapes window.
If you have stickers, you can tap them to add them to your picture.
Tap to take a photo or to record video.
Tap Done to add the photo to the message bubble, where you can add a message, or tap to send just the photo directly.
Send an audio message
In a conversation, touch and hold to record an audio message.
Tap to listen to your message before you send it.
Tap to send your message or to cancel.
Note: To save space, iPhone automatically deletes audio messages two minutes after you listen to them, unless you tap Keep. To always keep them, go to Settings > Messages > Expire (below Audio Messages), then tap Never.
Listen or reply to an audio message
Raise iPhone to your ear to play incoming audio messages.
Raise it again to reply.
To turn this feature on or off, go to Settings > Messages, then turn off Raise to Listen.
Share, save, print, copy, or delete a message or attachment
In a conversation, do any of the following with attachments:
Share, save, or print an attachment: Tap the attachment, then tap .
Copy an attachment: Touch and hold the attachment, then tap Copy.
Share items from another app: In the other app, tap Share or , then tap Message.
Forward a message or attachment: Touch and hold a message or attachment, tap More, select additional items if desired, then tap .
Delete a message or attachment: Touch and hold a message or attachment, tap More, select additional items if desired, then tap .
Note: Attachments you send over iMessage (such as photos or videos) may be uploaded to Apple and encrypted so that no one but the sender and receiver can access them. To improve performance, your device may automatically upload attachments to Apple while you are composing an iMessage. If your message isn’t sent, the attachments are deleted from the server after several days.