How to fix no option to allow access to photos on iPhone

When you first open an iPhone app after installing or updating your device, it usually asks for various permissions, such as access to the microphone, camera, and photos. However, in some cases these prompts do not appear. If you’re one of the many iPhone owners facing the problem of third-party apps not being able to access photos, it can be frustrating.

This issue prevents you from setting profile pictures in different apps and even uploading photos and videos from the default Photos app. What are the potential solutions to fix the problem of iPhone apps not being able to access photos? Keep reading to find out.

How to fix that there is no option to allow access to photos

Your third-party iPhone app may not be able to access your photos for various reasons. Some of them include:

1. The application does not have the necessary permissions required to access this feature.
2. The application or your operating system is out of date.
3. Corrupted cache files that have not been deleted for a long time.
4. Recent app update with bugs.
5. Camera restriction settings.
6. Application permission settings.
7. Accidental access denial queries.

If your iPhone apps can’t access your Photos app, try the following solutions in order:

1. Turn on photo access for a third-party app

The first step is to ensure that the app in question has permission. Most apps require special permissions to access iPhone features such as the camera, microphone, and Photos app in order to function properly.

Usually, when you use an app for the first time, your iPhone automatically asks you to grant these permissions. However, if you missed this opportunity, follow these steps to enable access to photos through the Settings app (I’ll use Instagram as our example iPhone app).

1. On the home page, tap settings.
2. Scroll down and select Instagram.
3. Under Allow Instagram access section, enable Camera option.
4. Additionally, tap Photos and choose All photos (for iOS 15 and later) or select Read and write (for iOS 13 and older).

2. Enable access to Photos for iPhone app in privacy settings

To enable access to Photos for iPhone app from privacy settings, follow these steps:

1. Open it settings app on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. choose Privacy.
3. Touch Photos.
4. Turn on the switch next to an app (eg Instagram) to turn it on.

3. Force restart iPhone

If you’ve tried the first two fixes, but your third-party app still can’t access photos on your iPhone, it might be a minor glitch. In such cases, performing a force restart on your device can often fix the problem. Note that the method of force restart varies depending on your iPhone model. Here are the steps for different iPhone models:

For iPhone 6S or older:

1. Press and hold Home button and Waking/Sleeping button simultaneously.
2. Hold them until you see Apple logo appear on the screen.

Force Restart iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:

1. Press and hold Turn down the sound and button Power button simultaneously.
2. Keep holding them until they don’t Apple logo appears on the screen.

For iPhone 8 or later:

1. Press and quickly release Boost button.
2. Press and quickly release Turn down the sound button.
3. Press and hold page until the Apple logo appears on the screen, then release it.

4. Clear cache and data

Clearing cache and data for an iPhone app can be an effective solution to fix problems caused by corrupted files. By removing these files, you can remove error codes and improve the functionality and performance of the application. Do this:

1. Find the app on the home screen and press and hold the app icon. Tap on Application information option.
2. Go to Clear data option and select it.
3. You will see two options: Clear all data and Clear the cache.
4. Touch Clear the cache to remove all temporary files and then check the application.
5. If you still can’t access your photos, please select Clear all data option too.

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5. Check for screen time limits

Screen time and content and privacy restrictions are useful features that help us monitor our app usage and maintain device privacy. They can also affect app permissions, including access to the Photos app. If you haven’t granted an app access to your Photos app, it won’t be able to access your photos unless you change your settings. Follow these steps to adjust the settings:

1. Open it Settings app on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Scroll down and select Screen time.
3. Touch Content and privacy restrictions.
4. Go to Allowed section.
5. Enable Photos option.
6. Return to previous screen (Settings > Time of use > Content and privacy restrictions).
7. Find and tap Photos.
8. Ensure that Allow changes option is on.
9. Besides, don’t forget include specific iPhone application (eg Instagram) to which you want to grant access to photos.

6. Don’t forget to disable low power mode

The Low Power Mode feature is designed to conserve battery life on your iPhone by disabling certain power-draining features. However, if you forget to turn off Low Power Mode or accidentally enable it, it can potentially prevent your iPhone app from accessing your photos. To disable Low Power Mode on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open it Settings app on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap Battery.
3. Find it Low power mode option and check if it disabled.

7. Check for third-party app updates.

Most apps release updates periodically to introduce new features and fix any bugs or issues. It’s possible that your iPhone app can’t access the photos due to an error. To update your iPhone app to the latest version and fix potential bugs, follow these steps:

1. Open it Application store on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Profile icon in the upper right corner.
3. Find the app you’re having trouble with and tap it Update button.

8. Reinstall the application

Reinstalling the app will remove all associated data and cache, giving you a fresh start and the ability to grant access to photos on reinstallation. To reinstall Instagram:

1. Touch and hold Instagram application until it starts to vibrate.
2. Tap on x icon that appears to delete the application.
3. Continue with reinstall the app from the App Store.

After reinstalling the app, you will be asked to allow access to photos and other permissions during app setup. Be sure to grant the necessary permissions.

9. Reset all settings

A final solution you can try to enable access to photos for your app is to reset all settings on your iPhone. This action will reset all custom settings to their default state. Follow the steps below to reset all settings:
For iOS 15 and later:

1. Open it Settings app on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Touch In general.
3. choose Transfer or reset your iPhone.
4. Choose Reset.
5. Finally tap Reset all settings.
6. Enter your iPhone passcode and confirm reset. Your iPhone will then restart.

For iOS 14 and earlier:

To see more fixes for, check out the Apple forum discussions here.

How can I give my iPhone apps access to my photos?

To give iPhone apps access to your iPhone photos, go to settingsgo to Screen timechoose Content and privacy restrictionstouch Photosand make sure the setting is set to Allow changes.

Then open the app you want to allow access to your photos and try to access your photos again. You should be prompted to give permission. Accept the request to grant access.
Now go back to settings and come to Privacy > Photos. You should see the app listed there. You can give it Reading/Writing permissions by selecting the appropriate option.