OneDrive File Issues

How to Back Up iPhone Photo Albums to OneDrive

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to back up manually created photo albums from an iPhone to a personal OneDrive account, supplementing the standard complete photo library backup.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: iOS (iPhone)
Scenario: Uploading specific, curated photo albums from an iPhone's Photos app to OneDrive without relying solely on the automatic full-library backup feature.
Observed behavior: The user needs step-by-step instructions on how to select and upload specific albums, as they are looking for a way to maintain their manual album organization in cloud storage.

Before you start

Ensure you have the latest version of the OneDrive app installed on your iPhone, are logged into your personal account, and have an active internet connection.

Solution 1Recommended

Upload Photo Albums Using the OneDrive iPhone App

Use this method to manually select and upload photos from specific iPhone albums directly within the mobile application.

While OneDrive offers an automatic camera backup, you can also manually upload specific albums. Note that the mobile app requires you to select the photos inside the album rather than uploading the album folder itself in one tap.

Open OneDrive

Launch the OneDrive app on your iPhone and navigate to the directory where you want to store the photo album, or create a new folder specifically for it.

Tap the Plus Icon

Tap the '+' (Plus) sign located at the top right of the screen.

Select Upload

From the dropdown menu, tap on the 'Upload' option.

Choose Photos and Videos

Tap on 'Photos and Videos' to open your iPhone's media picker.

Select the Album and Photos

Navigate to the specific manually created album you wish to back up. Tap to select the images individually, then confirm to begin the upload process.

Individual Selection Required: In the current version of the OneDrive mobile app, photos and videos must be selected individually. You cannot select an entire album folder at once.

Solution 2

Transfer Large Photo Albums Using a Computer

Use this method for faster synchronization and easier management when backing up large or numerous photo albums.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Management Across Devices

While you use OneDrive to back up your iPhone photo albums, consider WPS Office for all your document needs. It's a lightweight, easy-to-use alternative to Microsoft Office that helps you edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files directly from your iPhone without taking up excessive storage space.

1. Download the App: Search for WPS Office in the Apple App Store and download it to your iPhone.
2. Sign In: Open the application and sign in to access free cloud storage and advanced editing tools.
3. Start Creating: Tap the '+' icon to instantly create, edit, or scan Word, Excel, and PDF documents on the go.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, ensuring seamless sharing and editing.Lightweight mobile app design saves valuable iPhone storage space for your photos and videos.Built-in cloud integration allows you to easily sync documents across iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac.Completely free to download and use for essential document viewing and editing.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload an entire iPhone album folder to OneDrive at once?

Currently, the OneDrive mobile app does not support selecting and uploading an entire album folder with a single tap. You must open the album and manually select the photos and videos you wish to upload. For batch folder uploads, using a computer is recommended.

Is there a faster way to synchronize large photo albums to OneDrive?

Yes. For significantly faster synchronization of large albums, connect your iPhone to a computer via USB, transfer the desired albums to your local hard drive, and then drag the folders into the OneDrive desktop app or website.

Will manually backing up albums create duplicate photos in OneDrive?

If you already have the automatic 'Camera Upload' feature enabled, the photos from your albums may have already been backed up to the main Camera Roll folder. Manually uploading them again to a new folder will create duplicates within your OneDrive storage.

Document & File Issues