Photo albums keep your iPhone pictures organized, whether it’s a vacation, a pet, receipts, or a project. Creating one on an iPhone 7 takes a few taps in the Photos app, and you can add photos while creating the album or anytime later. This guide covers creating, filling, sharing, and managing albums, with notes for newer iOS versions.
Quick Answer
Open Photos, tap Albums, tap the + in the top-left corner, and choose New Album. Name it, tap Save, select the photos to include, and tap Done (or Add).
Create an Album on iPhone 7 (iOS 15)
- Open the Photos app.
- Tap the Albums tab at the bottom.
- Tap the + button in the top-left corner and choose New Album.
- Type a name and tap Save.
- Tap the photos and videos you want to add, then tap Done. You can also skip this and add photos later.
Add Photos to an Existing Album
- From Library: tap Select, choose photos, tap the Share button, then Add to Album and pick the album.
- From one photo: open it, tap Share > Add to Album.
- From inside the album: open the album and tap + (or the three-dot menu > Add Photos on newer iOS).
Adding a photo to an album doesn’t make a copy; it’s the same photo, so it doesn’t use extra storage.
- Make sure Shared Albums is on: Settings > Photos > Shared Albums.
- In Photos, tap Albums > + > New Shared Album.
- Name it, tap Next, invite people by phone number or email, and tap Create.
- Add photos. Invitees can view, like, comment, and (if allowed) add their own photos.
Organize Albums
- Rename or delete: on the Albums tab, tap See All > Edit. Tap an album name to rename it, or tap the red minus to delete it. Deleting an album doesn’t delete its photos from your library.
- Reorder: in Edit mode, press and drag albums.
- Folders: tap + > New Folder to group related albums.
- Remove a photo from an album: open it in the album, tap the trash icon, and choose Remove from Album (not Delete).
On Newer iOS Versions
In iOS 18 and later, Photos uses a single scrolling view. Scroll to Albums (or Collections), tap it, then tap + to create a new album. The rest of the steps are similar.
Troubleshooting
- Can’t add photos to an album: smart albums like Recents, Favorites, and Screenshots are automatic and can’t be edited. Create your own album instead.
- Albums missing on another device: turn on iCloud Photos in Settings > Photos on all devices.
Related: rearrange photos in an album on an iPad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting an album delete the photos?
No. Photos stay in your library unless you delete them individually.
Can I password-protect an album?
Not a regular album. Use the Hidden album, which can require Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode on newer iOS versions.
Summary
- Open Photos > Albums and tap +.
- Choose New Album, name it, and tap Save.
- Select photos and tap Done.
- Use Share > Add to Album to add more later.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.