TapLanternOne clear step at a time

Files, Email & Print • 4 Calm Steps • 100% Free & Anonymous

Attach a photo or PDF to an Email on iPhone (4-Step Visual & Voice Guide)

Use the hidden attachment bar right above your keyboard in the Apple Mail app.

Lanny the TapLantern 3D Superhero Mascot
Lanny™ Your Flying 3D Guide Tap Lanny to watch him fly & point on screen!

Step 1 of 4 • Open Mail & tap body

Start in the blue Mail app and tap inside the message area.

Open the blue Mail app (white envelope icon) and start or reply to an email. Then tap once inside the blank white message area so the keyboard pops up.

🔍 What to look for on your iPhone screen: Blue Mail icon (white envelope), then blank message body

🏮 Lanny’s pointer tip: “Start in the blue Mail app and tap inside the message box!”

👉 Try it now: Open the blue Mail app and tap inside the message body of your email draft.

💡 Helpful Note: Can’t spot Mail? Swipe down from the center of your phone screen (not from the top of the phone, which opens shortcut icons instead of Search) to search “Mail”.

Step 2 of 4 • Look above the keyboard

Tap the attachment icon (or ‹ arrow) right above the keyboard.

Look at the gray bar sitting directly on top of your keyboard letters. On the right side of that bar, you’ll see a Photo icon and a Paperclip/Document icon (or tap the ‹ arrow on the right to reveal them).

🔍 What to look for on your iPhone screen: Icons sitting right above the top row of keyboard letters

🏮 Lanny’s pointer tip: “Look right above the keyboard letters on the right!”

👉 Try it now: Spot the icons sitting right above the keyboard in Mail.

💡 Helpful Note: Alternatively, you can double-tap inside the white email body and slide the black pop-up bubble left to tap 'Insert Photo' or 'Add Document'.

Step 3 of 4 • Choose Photo or File

Tap the Photo icon (for pictures) or Document icon (for PDFs).

Tap the little Mountains icon to pick a picture from your Photos, or tap the Page/Paperclip icon to pick a saved PDF from your Files app!

🔍 What to look for on your iPhone screen: Choose Photo or Attach File option

🏮 Lanny’s pointer tip: “Pick a Photo from your library or a PDF from Files!”

👉 Try it now: Select your photo or document to insert it into the email.

💡 Helpful Note: Once selected, you’ll see the photo or PDF box appear right inside your email message.

Step 4 of 4 • Tap Send (↑) at top-right

Tap the blue upward arrow (↑) at the top-right to send.

When your attachment is in the email and the recipient’s address is filled in at the top, tap the blue circle with the upward arrow (↑) in the top-right corner to send it!

🔍 What to look for on your iPhone screen: Blue ↑ Send circle in the top-right corner

🏮 Lanny’s pointer tip: “Tap the blue ↑ arrow at top right—whoosh, sent!”

👉 Try it now: Check where the blue Send arrow sits in the top-right corner.

💡 Helpful Note: If the blue ↑ arrow is grayed out, check that you typed an email address in the 'To:' line at the top.

Did this guide work on your iPhone? (1-Tap Anonymous Feedback)

Tap one button below to let Lanny know how this page felt—no typing or email required:

✓ Yes, It Worked! 🤔 My Screen Looks Different

Common Ways People Ask This Question

Whether you searched Google, Bing, ChatGPT, or asked Siri, this 4-step guide answers all of these everyday iPhone questions:

  • “How do I attach a photo or PDF file to an email on my iPhone?”
  • “Where is the paperclip or attachment button in iPhone Mail?”
  • “How to insert a picture or document into an email on iPhone”
  • “Step-by-step guide to emailing a PDF or photo from iPhone”

Recommended Next Guide: Find your file again

Use the blue Files app, open your folder, or search the name.

All 28 Free Visual & Voice iPhone Guides on TapLantern

Click any question below to read the calm 4-step guide or launch Lanny’s interactive phone simulator: