Sharing photos between phones

Want to get photos off your phone and onto someone else’s — the grandkids’ pictures to Grandma, or the vacation album to everyone? How you do it depends on which phones are involved. Find your situation below.

iPhone to iPhone — AirDrop

AirDrop is the fastest way between Apple devices. Both phones need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on and to be near each other.

1. Open the Photos app and pick the photo (or tap Select and choose several).
2. Tap the Share icon (a square with an up-arrow).
3. Tap AirDrop, then tap the other person’s name/photo when it appears.
4. They get a popup — they tap Accept, and the photos land in their Photos app at full quality.

Tip

Don’t see the other person in AirDrop? Have them open Control Center, press firmly on the Wi-Fi area, and set AirDrop to Everyone for 10 Minutes. Make sure both phones are unlocked and close together.

Android to Android — Quick Share

Most Android phones have Quick Share (Samsung calls it the same; older phones say Nearby Share).

1. Open Google Photos (or Gallery) and pick the photo(s).
2. Tap Share, then Quick Share / Nearby Share.
3. Pick the other person’s device when it pops up. They tap Accept.

Both phones need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi/Location on and to be close together.

iPhone ↔ Android — the cross-platform case

AirDrop and Quick Share don’t talk to each other, so use one of these:

• Just a few photos? Send them in a text message or WhatsApp. Easiest, works every time. (Texts may shrink the quality a little.)
• A whole album, full quality? Use Google Photos: the sender makes a shared album and sends the link. Anyone on iPhone or Android can open it, view, and download the originals. This is the best way for big batches.

Note

Regular text messages can compress photos and videos to send them faster. For full quality across iPhone and Android, use a Google Photos shared album (or email the photos to yourself/them).

Sharing a big batch with the whole family

• All Apple? Make an iCloud Shared Album (Photos → the + → New Shared Album), add people, and everyone sees new photos automatically.
• Mixed iPhone and Android? A Google Photos shared album is the one that works for everyone.

When it won’t send

1. AirDrop: both phones need Wi-Fi + Bluetooth on, unlocked, and close; set AirDrop to Everyone for 10 Minutes (see the tip above).
2. Quick Share: turn Bluetooth and Location on, and keep the phones close.
3. Different kinds of phones? Don’t fight AirDrop — use a text/WhatsApp or a Google Photos shared album instead.
4. Still stuck? Text Stephen with which two phones you’re using and he’ll point you the easiest way.