how to copy a photo to an existing album

I created a photo album called Friends I want to fill with photos of friends for a slideshow when in Standby mode and docked.


When I try to "Add to Album" the iPhone asks which album (makes sense) but then wants to create a new album within that album with those photo(s).


Can just copy photos of friends to an album without creating an album for each of their photos?


Thanks in advance for any assistance.



iPhone 15 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Nov 9, 2025 7:10 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 9, 2025 8:39 AM

cbc1973 wrote:

I created a photo album called Friends I want to fill with photos of friends for a slideshow when in Standby mode and docked.

When I try to "Add to Album" the iPhone asks which album (makes sense) but then wants to create a new album within that album with those photo(s).

Can just copy photos of friends to an album without creating an album for each of their photos?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Sounds like you may have made a folder called "Friends", not an album. Folders are a way to sort albums, which in turn hold pictures. That would explain why it wants you to make an album, since there isn't one to put the photos in already.


Try deleting the folder you made, then remaking it as an album. It should look like the example 'Empty Album' below, without the four empty boxes seen in 'Empty Folder':


1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 9, 2025 8:39 AM in response to cbc1973

cbc1973 wrote:

I created a photo album called Friends I want to fill with photos of friends for a slideshow when in Standby mode and docked.

When I try to "Add to Album" the iPhone asks which album (makes sense) but then wants to create a new album within that album with those photo(s).

Can just copy photos of friends to an album without creating an album for each of their photos?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Sounds like you may have made a folder called "Friends", not an album. Folders are a way to sort albums, which in turn hold pictures. That would explain why it wants you to make an album, since there isn't one to put the photos in already.


Try deleting the folder you made, then remaking it as an album. It should look like the example 'Empty Album' below, without the four empty boxes seen in 'Empty Folder':


how to copy a photo to an existing album

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