OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix No Select All Option When Uploading Photos to OneDrive on iPad

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to find a bulk selection tool to upload thousands of images to OneDrive via an iPad, and alternative methods result in blank file icons.

Product: OneDrive iOS App
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Uploading a large batch of photos (thousands of images) to the cloud.
Observed behavior: The OneDrive app requires selecting photos individually because the 'Select all' button is missing. Attempting to upload them through the iPad Files app instead causes the files to display as blank or white icons.

Before you start

Ensure your iPad is connected to a highly stable and fast Wi-Fi network, as attempting to sync thousands of high-resolution photos over a weak connection can lead to timeouts and blank icons.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Windows PC or Mac for Bulk Uploads

Bypassing the iPad app limitation by using a computer allows you to utilize standard keyboard shortcuts to select and upload thousands of photos instantly.

Due to the current design limitations of the OneDrive iOS application, there is no native 'Select all' button in the photo picker. Moving the upload process to a desktop environment is the most efficient and reliable workaround for large file batches.

Transfer photos to your computer

Sync or transfer your iPad photos to a Windows PC or Mac using a USB cable, AirDrop, or iCloud.

Open the OneDrive desktop app or web portal

Select all files instantly

Navigate to the local folder containing your transferred photos, click on any image, and press 'Ctrl+A' (Windows) or 'Command+A' (Mac) to select all images at once.

Upload to your cloud storage

Drag and drop the selected photos into the OneDrive window or folder to begin the bulk upload process.

Solution 2

Troubleshoot Blank Icons in the iPad Files App

Resolve the caching and connectivity problems that cause images to display as white or missing icons when uploading large files via the iPad Files integration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my photos showing as blank white icons in the iPad Files app?

Blank icons usually indicate a caching error or a network timeout when the iPad tries to process and sync a massive amount of files at once. Restarting the app, uploading in smaller batches, or switching to a faster Wi-Fi network typically resolves this issue.

Will Microsoft add a 'Select All' button to the OneDrive iOS app?

Microsoft continually updates its applications based on user feedback. While the bulk selection feature is currently missing for photos on iOS, users are highly encouraged to submit a feature request directly through the 'Help & Feedback' section in the OneDrive app settings.

Is there a way to select multiple files quickly on the iPad without a computer?

In the OneDrive iOS app, you can select multiple files by tapping the checkmark icon at the top and sliding your finger across the photos you want to select. However, for thousands of images, this manual dragging method is tedious, making the PC/Mac approach significantly faster.

Document & File Issues