How to stop photos taken in Messages being saved to your library
2 min read · 3 steps · Updated 4 October 2026
Open Settings, tap Camera, scroll to the bottom and switch off Save Captures to Photo Library under Messages. Photos you take with the camera inside the Messages app are then no longer saved to your library in the Photos app automatically.
- Device
- iPhone
- Shown on
- iOS 26.5 (iPhone 17)
- App
- Settings
- Path
- Settings › Camera
- Real screenshots
- 3 of 3 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
A quick photo taken inside a chat, of a receipt or a parking spot, is automatically saved to your library in the Photos app as well. If you do not want these throwaway pictures there, one switch stops it.
The screenshots show iOS 26.5 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows have the same names, with a slightly different look.
Step by step
Open Settings and tap Camera
Camera is in the first group of the main Settings list.
Scroll to the bottom of the page
The last group has the heading Messages.
Switch off Save Captures to Photo Library
In the picture it is on. The note below reads: automatically save captures taken in Messages Camera to the Photo Library.
Good to know
To have them saved again, switch Save Captures to Photo Library back on.
In short: Settings, Camera, Save Captures to Photo Library off.
Links checked on 3 October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.