Sending a picture in a text is one of the most common things people do on an iPhone, but the button you tap has moved over the years. On an older iPhone 5, you tap a camera icon next to the text box; on current iPhones, you tap a + button. This guide covers both, explains the difference between iMessage and MMS picture messages, and fixes the usual reasons a photo won’t send.
Quick Answer
Open Messages and the conversation. On iOS 17 or later, tap + next to the text box, tap Photos, choose the picture, and tap the send arrow. On an iPhone 5 (iOS 10), tap the camera icon to the left of the text field, choose a photo from the row that appears (or tap Photo Library), and tap send.
Send a Picture Message on a Current iPhone (iOS 17 and Later)
- Open Messages and tap a conversation, or tap the compose button to start a new one.
- Tap + to the left of the text box.
- Tap Photos. (Tap Camera to take a new picture instead.)
- Tap one or more photos. They appear in the text box.
- Add a message if you like, then tap the blue or green send arrow.
Shortcut: in the Photos app, open a picture, tap the Share button, and choose Messages or a contact from the top row.
Send a Picture Message on an iPhone 5 (iOS 10)
The iPhone 5 can’t update past iOS 10.3.4, so its Messages app looks different:
- Open Messages and the conversation.
- Tap the camera icon to the left of the text field. (If you see a gray arrow >, tap it first to reveal the icon.)
- Swipe through recent photos and tap one, or swipe right and tap Photo Library to browse all albums.
- Tap Choose if asked, add text, and tap Send.
The same steps apply on iOS 11 through iOS 16, where you can also tap the Photos app icon in the app strip below the text box.
Blue vs. Green: iMessage, MMS, and RCS
| Bubble color | Sent as | What it means for pictures |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | iMessage | Sent over Wi-Fi or cellular data to other Apple devices. Higher quality; no carrier MMS charges. |
| Green | MMS | Sent through your carrier to non-Apple phones (or when iMessage is off). Photos are compressed and may count against a messaging plan. |
| Green | RCS | On iOS 18 and later with a supporting carrier, chats with Android phones can use RCS, which sends higher-quality pictures over data. |
Picture Message Won’t Send?
- Turn on MMS: Settings > Messages (on newer versions, Settings > Apps > Messages) and turn on MMS Messaging. Without it, you can’t send pictures to non-Apple phones.
- Turn on cellular data. MMS needs mobile data even if you have Wi-Fi. Check Settings > Cellular.
- Check iMessage: make sure iMessage is on in Messages settings, and consider turning on Send as Text Message (or Send as SMS) so messages fall back to SMS/MMS when iMessage isn’t available.
- Restart your iPhone and try again.
- Update carrier settings: Settings > General > About; if an update is available, a prompt appears after a few seconds.
- Reset network settings as a last resort: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings (on iOS 10: General > Reset). This erases saved Wi-Fi passwords.
Very large photos or long videos may be too big for MMS. Send them as iMessage, share an iCloud link, or trim the video first.
If the camera button is gray, see why the camera icon is gray in Messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my pictures blurry when sent as green messages?
Carriers limit MMS file sizes, so photos are compressed. Use iMessage or RCS, or share a link for full quality.
How do I send a picture to several people?
Start a new message and add multiple contacts in the To field. For group MMS to non-Apple phones, turn on Group Messaging in Messages settings.
Can I send a picture message without cellular data?
iMessage and RCS pictures can go over Wi-Fi. MMS (green messages to non-Apple phones without RCS) needs cellular data.
Summary
- Open Messages and the conversation.
- Tap + > Photos (current iPhones) or the camera icon (iPhone 5).
- Choose the photo and tap send.
- If it fails, turn on MMS Messaging and cellular data.
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.