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Use Photos on iPhone or iPad to crop a photo, reframe it, or choose a standard aspect ratio. Cropping changes which part of the image remains; to adjust image dimensions, Apple documents Preview’s Adjust Size command on iPhone, but the reviewed guidance does not verify the same route on iPad.
Use the steps below to choose the right workflow, and save a copy when you need to keep an untouched original.
Key takeaways
- Photos offers the basic crop workflow on both iPhone and iPad: open a photo, tap Edit, then Crop.
- Dragging a crop corner preserves the original aspect ratio until you unlock the ratio control.
- Photos includes standard crop presets such as Square, Wallpaper, 9:16, and 5:7.
- On iPhone, Apple documents Preview’s Adjust Size command for changing image dimensions.
- The reviewed sources do not verify an equivalent Preview size-adjustment workflow on iPad.
- You can discard pending edits or revert a saved Photos edit. With iCloud Photos enabled, edits are saved across your devices.
How to crop a photo on iPhone
In Photos, open the image, tap Edit, then Crop. Adjust the frame or choose an aspect-ratio preset, then tap Done to save. Apple’s iPhone Photos crop guide documents this workflow.
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- Tap Edit, then tap Crop.
- Drag the crop frame’s corners or pinch to choose the area to keep. Dragging a corner preserves the original aspect ratio until you unlock the ratio control.
- To use a standard shape, tap the aspect-ratio control and choose a preset such as Square, Wallpaper, 9:16, or 5:7.
- Tap Done to save, or cancel and discard the pending changes if you do not want to keep them.
For a quick crop, Apple also documents pinching to zoom while viewing a photo, then tapping Crop in the upper-right corner. Adjust the frame if needed and tap Done.
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How do you crop a picture to a square on iPhone?
Open the picture in Photos, tap Edit > Crop, open the aspect-ratio options, and choose Square. Reposition the frame so the subject remains inside it, then tap Done.
A square crop changes the visible composition. It does not specify an output width and height in pixels.
How to crop a photo on your iPad
In Photos on iPad, open the image, tap Edit, then tap Crop on the left side of the screen. Adjust the frame or choose a preset, then tap Done. See Apple’s iPad Photos crop guide.
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- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
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- Open Photos and select the image.
- Tap Edit, then tap Crop on the left side of the screen.
- Drag the crop frame or pinch to change the visible area. Dragging a corner preserves the original aspect ratio until the ratio lock is unlocked.
- For a standard proportion, tap the aspect-ratio control and choose a preset such as Square, Wallpaper, 9:16, or 5:7.
- Tap Done to save, or tap Close to discard pending changes.
What is the difference between cropping and resizing?
Cropping changes which part of a picture remains and can change its aspect ratio. Resizing changes image dimensions. Use Photos when you want to reframe an image or crop it to a shape; use Preview’s Adjust Size command when you need to change dimensions on iPhone.
| Your goal | App and device covered by the research | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Remove edges or reframe a composition | Photos on iPhone or iPad | Lets you adjust the visible crop area. |
| Crop to a common shape | Photos on iPhone or iPad | Offers presets such as Square, Wallpaper, 9:16, and 5:7. |
| Adjust image dimensions | Preview on iPhone | Apple documents More > Adjust Size. |
How to adjust image size on iPhone with Preview
Apple documents an image-size adjustment route in Preview on iPhone: open the image, tap More, choose Adjust Size, choose the available options, and tap Done. See Apple’s Preview guide for iPhone.
- Open the image in Preview.
- Tap More.
- Tap Adjust Size.
- Choose the available size options.
- Tap Done.
The cited Apple instructions confirm this workflow on iPhone. They do not establish an equivalent Preview size-adjustment route on iPad, so do not assume the same controls are available there.
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- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
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- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Can you repeat edits on multiple photos?
Apple documents copying edits from one photo and pasting them onto other photos or a batch on iPhone. This can repeat supported adjustments, but a crop may not suit the composition of every photo. Apple also describes transform actions in Shortcuts, including cropping images and converting formats; its cited guide does not provide a complete resize-shortcut recipe.
With iCloud Photos enabled, Apple says edits are saved across your devices. For details, see the iPhone Photos guide, the iPad Photos guide, and Apple’s iPhone editing guide. For Shortcuts, consult Apple’s transform actions guide.
How do you keep the original photo?
To preserve an untouched original, discard pending changes before saving or make a separate copy before exporting a changed image. After saving an edit in Photos, reopen the image in Edit and choose Revert or Revert to Original to undo it. With iCloud Photos enabled, edits are saved across your devices.
Rank #4
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Which built-in tool should you use?
- Use Photos on iPhone or iPad to crop, reframe, or choose a standard aspect ratio.
- Use Preview on iPhone when you want to adjust image dimensions with Adjust Size.
- Use Photos edit copying to repeat supported edits across photos, while checking that each crop suits its image.
- Use Shortcuts for transform actions when appropriate, but check the available actions on your device rather than relying on an unverified resize recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I crop a photo to a square on iPhone or iPad?
In Photos, open the image, tap Edit > Crop, choose Square from the aspect-ratio options, adjust the frame, and tap Done.
Can I set an exact image size on iPhone?
Apple documents Preview’s More > Adjust Size command on iPhone. Choose from the options shown in Preview; the cited guide does not establish the same workflow on iPad.
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Is cropping the same as resizing?
No. Cropping changes which part of an image remains; resizing changes image dimensions. Photos is the documented crop route on both devices, while Apple documents Preview’s size adjustment on iPhone.
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Can I undo a crop in Photos?
Before saving, cancel or close and discard the pending changes. After saving, return to Edit and choose Revert or Revert to Original.
The Bottom Line
Use Photos on iPhone or iPad to crop a photo or choose a standard aspect ratio. To adjust image dimensions, use Preview’s Adjust Size command on iPhone; the reviewed Apple guidance does not verify that route on iPad.
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