Dear TeachUsTech’ers,
In this guide, we’ll show you how to send a single photo from your iPhone to someone using the Messages app (also called texting). We’ll keep things simple and move slowly, one screen at a time.
In this newsletter we focus only on sending one photo at a time. In a future TeachUsTech newsletter, we’ll show you how to send several photos in a single text message.
These newsletters are made to be printed and kept nearby, so feel free to mark them up and write your own notes in the margins. If you have a friend that would appreciate this but don’t know how to forward emails yet, you can view our very first newsletter here on “How to Forward an Email”.
What You’ll Need
• An iPhone that is turned on and unlocked.
• The photo you want to send already saved in your Photos app.
• The Messages app set up on your phone (you’ve sent or received texts before).
• A mobile data connection or Wi‑Fi so the message can be sent.
Step 1 – Open the Photos App
On your iPhone’s Home Screen, look for the Photos app icon (a colorful flower). Tap it once to open the Photos app.
Step 2 – Find and Tap on the Photo You Want to Send
In Photos, you’ll see your pictures. Scroll if you need to. Tap the single photo you want to send. This guide is just for sending one photo at a time.
Step 3 – Tap the Share Button
Your chosen photo will now fill the screen. At the bottom left, tap the Share button (the square with an arrow pointing up).
Step 4 – Choose Messages
A sharing menu will slide up from the bottom of the screen. Tap the Messages icon. If you see your contact’s name or face in the row above, you can tap that as well to send it directly to them.
Step 5 – Add a Message (Optional) and Send
A new text message will open with your photo already attached. At the top, make sure the “To:” line shows the correct person or phone number. In the box that says “Add comment or Send,” you can type a short message (for example, “Here’s the photo from today!”) if you’d like.
When you’re ready, tap the green arrow button on the right side of the text box to send your photo.
How to Know When a Photo Was Sent
After you tap the green send arrow, your photo will appear in the conversation. Under or beside the message, you may see the word “Delivered.” This means it has successfully been sent from your phone.
If you see a red exclamation mark or a message saying it was not delivered, check your Wi‑Fi or mobile signal and try sending it again.
Helpful Tips
• If you accidentally chose the wrong photo, you can tap the “×” in the corner of the photo in the message before you send it, then start again from Step 2.
• You can always practice by sending a photo to a close family member or friend and telling them you’re just testing things out.
• In a future TeachUsTech newsletter, we’ll show you how to send several photos at once in a single text message.
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