OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneDrive Uploading Videos but Not Photos on iPhone

Bushra Parveen Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a synchronization issue where the OneDrive camera upload feature backs up videos from their iPhone but fails to upload photos.

How to Fix OneDrive Uploading Videos but Not Photos on iPhone

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: iOS
Scenario: Using the OneDrive app to automatically back up media from the iPhone's camera roll to the cloud.
Observed behavior: Videos are successfully transferred to OneDrive, but photos remain stuck or are completely ignored by the upload process.

Before you start

Ensure your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and check your available OneDrive storage space, as insufficient cloud storage will silently halt new photo uploads.

Solution 1Recommended

Check iPhone Privacy Permissions and Background Activity

Ensure iOS allows OneDrive full access to your photo library and grants it permission to sync data while running in the background.

Apple's iOS has strict privacy controls. If OneDrive is only granted limited access to your Photos app, it may fail to detect or upload new images, even if videos are somehow getting through. Additionally, background syncing must be enabled for large batches of photos to process.

Open iPhone Settings

Navigate to your iPhone's main 'Settings' app and scroll down until you locate the 'OneDrive' app settings.

Enable Full Photo Access

Tap on 'Photos' and ensure the permission is set to 'All Photos' rather than 'Selected Photos' or 'None'.

Turn On Background App Refresh

Return to the OneDrive settings menu and toggle on 'Background App Refresh'. This allows OneDrive to continue uploading photos when the app is minimized.

Check iPhone Privacy Permissions and Background Activity

Battery Saving Modes: If your iPhone is in 'Low Power Mode', Background App Refresh will be temporarily disabled. Plug in your device to resume automatic uploads.

Solution 2

Reset Camera Upload and Force Active Sync

Toggle the camera upload feature off and back on, then force the app to stay active on the screen to process large photo backlogs.

Solution 3

Update iOS and Reinstall the OneDrive App

Resolve potential software bugs or corrupted app data by updating your operating system and performing a clean installation of OneDrive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my OneDrive camera upload keep pausing on my iPhone?

Camera upload will automatically pause if your iPhone's battery is low, Background App Refresh is disabled in Settings, or you are connected to a cellular network without having enabled cellular data uploads within the OneDrive app settings.

Does OneDrive convert HEIC photos to JPG when uploading from an iPhone?

Yes, but you can control this behavior. Go to OneDrive Settings > Camera Upload, where you will find an option to upload photos as HEIC (original format) or automatically convert them to JPG for broader compatibility on non-Apple devices.

How do I clear the OneDrive cache on my iPhone to fix upload issues?

iOS does not offer a direct 'Clear Cache' button for apps. To clear the OneDrive cache, you can sign out of your account within the app and sign back in, or completely uninstall the app from your home screen and reinstall it from the App Store.

Document & File Issues