iOS 14: How to Limit How Much Access Third-Party Apps Have to Your Photo Library on iPhone and iPad - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 14: How to Limit How Much Access Third-Party Apps Have to Your Photo Library on iPhone and iPad

by

In iOS 14, Apple allows you to limit the level of access that third-party apps have to the photos library on your iPhone or iPad.

When apps that ask permission to access your photos, you can now choose to give access to your entire photo library or just a few photos at a time, which is useful if you don't want social networks like Facebook or Instagram seeing your entire camera roll.

ios14limitedphotosaccess
If you use the limited photos option, you can continually change the photos that are shared, selecting just a couple at a time that you want to upload or edit, depending on the app. It adds another step to workflows involving photos, but it keeps your full library safe and inaccessible.

You'll be prompted about limited photos access the first time an app wants permission to use photos, but you can also control which apps have access to all of your photos, limited photos, or no photos at any time by following these steps:

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap Privacy.
  3. Tap Photos.
    settings

  4. Tap the app whose photos access you want to adjust.
  5. Under "Allow Photos Access," choose Selected Photos, All Photos, or None.
    settings

Note that allowing access to your photos includes associated metadata, such as location and depth information.

Related Forum: iOS 14

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Instagram Feature 2

PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8

Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Accessory

Monday May 4, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns. The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49. There...