The three ways to add photos to Amazon Photos

Amazon Photos stores pictures on Amazon's servers instead of just on your phone or computer. You can add photos three ways: upload from your computer using a web browser, use the mobile app to back up photos automatically, or upload directly from your phone's photo library. Which method you choose depends on whether you want to move old photos all at once or set up ongoing backup of new pictures.

All three methods put your photos in the same Amazon Photos account, so you can see them from any device. Your photos stay private by default — only you can see them unless you share a specific photo or folder with someone else.

Key Takeaways

  • You can upload photos through a web browser at photos.amazon.com, from the Amazon Photos mobile app, or by dragging files into the app on your computer.
  • The mobile app can automatically back up new photos as you take them, but you control whether this happens and can turn it off anytime.
  • Uploading through a web browser works best for moving large batches of old photos from your computer at once.
  • Amazon Photos gives you unlimited storage for photos if you have an Amazon Prime membership, but videos and non-photo files count against a separate storage limit.

Uploading photos through a web browser

Open a web browser and go to photos.amazon.com. Sign in with your Amazon account — the same one you use for shopping or Prime Video. Once you are signed in, look for an upload button, usually near the top of the page. Click it and select the photos from your computer that you want to add.

You can select multiple photos at once by holding Ctrl (on Windows) or Command (on Mac) while clicking each photo, or by clicking one photo, holding Shift, and clicking another to select everything in between. Amazon Photos will upload them in the background while you do other things. Depending on your internet speed and how many photos you are uploading, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

This method works well if you have a folder of old photos on your computer that you want to move to Amazon Photos all at once. It also works on any computer with a web browser, so you do not need to install anything.

Setting up automatic backup on your phone

read the Amazon Photos app from the Apple App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play Store (for Android). Open the app and sign in with your Amazon account. Look for a settings or backup option — the exact location varies between iPhone and Android, but it is usually in a menu at the bottom or top of the screen.

Turn on the backup setting. The app will ask for permission to access your phone's photo library. Grant that permission, and the app will start uploading photos you take going forward. You can choose whether to back up only new photos or to also back up photos already on your phone. You can also choose whether to back up over WiFi only or over both WiFi and mobile data — backing up over mobile data uses your phone's data plan.

Once automatic backup is on, new photos appear in Amazon Photos within a few minutes of you taking them. You can turn off automatic backup anytime in the app settings, and photos already uploaded stay in Amazon Photos even after you turn it off.

Uploading photos from your phone manually

If you do not want automatic backup, you can upload photos one batch at a time. Open the Amazon Photos app on your phone and look for an upload or add button. Tap it and select the photos from your phone's library that you want to add. You can usually select multiple photos by tapping each one while holding your finger on the screen.

The app will upload the photos you selected. This method gives you full control — nothing uploads unless you choose it. It takes longer than automatic backup if you have many photos, but some people prefer it because they decide exactly what goes to Amazon Photos and when.

Understanding storage limits and what counts

If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you get unlimited storage for photos in Amazon Photos. This means you can upload as many photos as you want and they will not count against any storage limit. This is one of the main reasons people use Amazon Photos instead of other services.

Videos and other files do count against a separate storage limit. Amazon Prime members get 100 GB of storage for videos and other files. If you run out of that 100 GB, you can buy more storage through Amazon, but photos stay unlimited. If you do not have a Prime membership, both photos and videos count against a 5 GB limit, and you can buy additional storage if you need it.

Organizing photos after you upload them

Amazon Photos automatically organizes your photos by the date you took them. You can also create albums — folders that hold specific photos you group together. To create an album, open Amazon Photos on any device, look for an album or folder option, and give it a name. Then add photos to that album by selecting them and choosing "add to album" or a similar option.

You can also search for photos by the date you took them, the location where you took them (if your phone recorded location data), or by typing a description. For example, you can search "beach" and Amazon Photos will show photos you took at a beach, or search "2023" to see all photos from that year. This search works because Amazon analyzes your photos to recognize what is in them, though you can turn off this analysis in settings if you prefer.

Sharing photos with other people

Your photos are private by default. To share a photo or album with someone else, open it in Amazon Photos and look for a share button or option. You can usually share by sending a link, which you can give to anyone. The person who receives the link can view the photos without needing an Amazon account, but they cannot read them or add them to their own Amazon Photos unless you give them permission to do that.

You can also share an entire album with a family member or friend. Some people use this to share vacation photos or to let grandparents see photos of grandchildren. The person you share with can view the album on any device, and you can stop sharing anytime by removing the link or changing the sharing settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my photos if I cancel my Amazon Prime membership?

Your photos stay in Amazon Photos and remain private. You lose the unlimited storage benefit, so if you have more than 5 GB of photos, you cannot upload new ones until you either buy additional storage or delete some photos. Photos already uploaded stay where they are.

Can I upload photos from my tablet or iPad?

Yes. The Amazon Photos app works on iPad and Android tablets the same way it works on phones. You can also upload through a web browser on any tablet. Automatic backup works on tablets too if you turn it on in settings.

Do my photos upload if I close the app?

If you set up automatic backup, photos upload in the background even when the app is closed, as long as your phone is connected to WiFi or mobile data. If you are uploading manually, the upload continues in the background after you close the app, though it may pause if your phone goes to sleep.

Can I delete photos from Amazon Photos without deleting them from my phone?

Yes. Deleting a photo from Amazon Photos does not delete it from your phone. Your phone and Amazon Photos are separate — deleting from one does not affect the other. You can delete from your phone without affecting Amazon Photos too.

What if my internet connection drops while I am uploading?

The upload pauses and resumes automatically when your connection comes back. You do not need to start over. If you are uploading a very large batch and your connection is unreliable, uploading over WiFi instead of mobile data usually works better.