iPhone drag & drop
Drag & drop on iPad is very useful while multitasking on iPhone. Thanks to drag & drop, you can move links, images, text, documents and more between apps in the Split View of the iPad. On the iPhone, drag & drop works slightly differently and the options are slightly more limited. We explain exactly how it works, what is possible and in which apps.
- Drag & drop between apps
- Files
- photos
- Notes
- Memories
- Home screen
Drag & drop between apps
Since iOS 15, it has been possible to use drag & drop between apps on the iPhone. To drag an item, place your finger on the item a little longer. While you keep this finger on the screen, move another finger to another app. As soon as it opens, let go of the item. You will then see the item appear in the newly opened app.
By placing your finger on the item, it appears to rise from the surface. And as you drag, animations and other visual cues help you move the item. iOS also indicates where you can release the content. Good to know: the item is not actually moved, but copied. If you want to move an item, it’s better to put your finger on it and choose Move.
In many apps it is possible to drag multiple items at the same time by tapping even more items with another finger. They then form a stack that you can drag to a new location. This works a bit like moving multiple app icons on the home screen.
Use drag & drop on iPhone
In iOS 11 to iOS 14 it is only possible to use drag & drop within the same app. That means you can drag a photo, text or file to another location, as long as it’s the same app. You use drag & drop by placing your finger on an item and then dragging it to the desired location. Then release the part. There is no need to press hard on the screen.
#1 Drag & drop in Files
The Files app is the most logical place where you need drag & drop. You mainly use this to clean up and rearrange all your documents. You can drag files between folders and you can do this with several at the same time. In addition to moving documents, this can also be done with entire folders. For example, you can drag files and folders all the way to the home screen of the Files app so that you can assign a tag. Unfortunately, it is not possible to drag and drop files to another storage service. So you cannot drag an iCloud Drive file to Google Drive using drag & drop.
Do you find drag & drop difficult to do, because a larger preview is always shown? Don’t worry, you can also just use the Move screen option, as shown in the image below.
You can also just use the Move option.
#2 Drag & drop in Photos
In the Photos app on iPhone, you can move photos and videos between your own folders. In the Albums tab you will find a My Albums heading at the bottom. You can move the photos in here from one album to another. To do this, open your own photo album and hold your finger on a photo, after which you can drag it. Tap any more photos you want to move and tap Albums at the top left, while keeping your other finger with the photos on the screen. Then release them where you want to move them.
You can also put the photos in a different order in an album. To do this, press and hold a photo and move it to another location within the album. Drag & drop in the Photos app only works with these types of albums and not, for example, in the album with all your photos, your favorites or selfies.
#3 Drag & drop in Notes
In the Notes app it is possible to move photos and text. This is useful, for example, if you want to merge notes, because you do not have to copy and paste. To drag text here, first select the text to be dragged. Then press and hold the selection and tap the back button with your other finger to go to the notes overview. Then select another note to paste the selected text into and release it as soon as the green plus appears on screen.
In addition to text, it also works with photos, checklists and drawings. It is not possible to change the order of notes yourself with drag & drop.
#4 Drag & drop in Memories
If you use the standard Reminders app, you can drag items in it. This is especially useful if you use multiple lists, because you can move each reminder to a different list. This means you don’t have to set them again and choose a date or time, for example. Simply press and hold a reminder and use your other finger to select a list where you want to move the reminder. Then release the reminder above the desired list.
#5 Drag & drop into Mail
When composing an email in the Mail app, use drag to move your text and photos. Suppose you want to move a complete paragraph up in a new email, then select this text, hold down the selection and drag it up. This saves a lot of hassle with cutting and pasting. In addition to text, it also works with photos that are added as attachments to the email.
#6 Drag & drop on the Home screen
Drag & Drop is also easy to use on the home screen. You use the function to rearrange your apps faster. By moving multiple apps at the same time, you do not have to put each app into folders one by one, because the entire selection disappears into a folder at once. This saves a lot of time, especially if you just got a new iPhone and you want to organize your home screen.
If you want to know more about drag & drop on the iPad, we have a separate tip for that.
