How to Make a Picture Collage on iPhone

How to Make a Picture Collage on iPhone

A picture collage is a collection of photos merged creatively into a single image. Unfortunately, the iPhone doesn’t have a built-in app that lets you create a picture collage. However, many third-party apps let you do it.

In this guide, we’ll learn how to create a picture collage using the simplest and most commonly used photo collage apps: Layout by Instagram and Google Photos.

Making a picture collage on iPhone using Instagram’s Layout

Download Layout from the app store using this link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/layout-from-instagram/id967351793.
Then, follow these steps:

  1. Launch the Layout app.

    Layout from Instagram App on the iPhone
    Tap Layout.

  2. When the app opens, a dialog box will pop up asking you if you’d like to add photos to the Layout library. Tap Select More Photos…

    Tap Select More Photos…

  3. Choose the photos you want to include in your collage and tap Done.

    Adding Photos to Layout Library on the iPhone
    Tap Done.

  4. Select the photos you want to include in your collage. They’ll appear in different layouts at the top. You can scroll left and right to browse through the layouts. Then, tap the one you prefer.

    Choosing a Layout for a Picture Collage on iPhone
    Choose a layout for the collage.

  5. Next, tap on any picture in the collage to highlight it, then select an option from the bottom to edit it. Here’s a brief overview of what you can do with each option:

    Replace – replace the image with another one from the library.
    Mirror – to replace the image with a mirror version of it.
    Flip – flips the image upside down.
    Borders – creates white borders between the images.

    Editing a Picture Collage on iPhone
    Edit your picture collage using these options.

  6. You can also resize the images by tapping and dragging the blue border line around any image.

    Resizing Images in a Picture Collage on iPhone
    Resize the images in the collage by dragging the blue border line.

  7. Once you’re done editing your picture collage, tap Save. The collage will be saved in the “Photos” app. You can also share it directly on Instagram or Facebook.

    Saving Picture Collage on iPhone
    Tap Save.

Making a picture collage on iPhone using Google Photos

Download Google Photos from the app store using this link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-photos/id962194608
Then, follow these steps:

  1. Launch the Google Photos app. Tap Allow access to all photos.

    Giving Access to Google Photos on iPhone
    Tap Allow Access to All Photos.

  2. Tap Select Photos to choose the images you want to add to your library.

    Adding Photos to the Google Photos Library
    Tap Select Photos.

  3. After selecting the images, tap Done.

    Selecting Photos to Add in Google Photos Library
    Tap Done.

  4. The app will ask you to give full access to your photos. Tap Change settings.

    Changing the Settings to Give Permission to Google Photos
    Tap Change Settings.

  5. In the Google Photos settings, tap Photos.

    Changing Permission Settings for Google Photos
    Tap Photos.

  6. Tap All Photos.

    Giving Google Photos Access to All Photos on the iPhone
    Tap All Photos.

  7. Go back to the app and tap Library in the bottom-right.

    Library in Google Photos Where Users Can Create Collages
    Tap Library.

  8. Tap Utilities.

    Utilities Where Additional Features are Located
    Tap Utilities.

  9. Under “Create New,” tap Collage.

    Creating a Collage on Google Photos
    Tap Collage.

  10. Choose the photos you want to add to your collage, then tap Create.

    Selecting Photos to Include in a Picture Collage
    Tap Create.

  11. You can add a filter by tapping the edit icon at the bottom.

    Editing a Picture Collage on Google Photos
    Add a filter by tapping the edit icon.

  12. Unlike Layout from Instagram, Google Photos doesn’t give you the option to change the layout of your collage or resize the border. It only allows you to add filters. Once you’re done editing your collage, tap the Save icon at the bottom.

    Saving a Picture Collage on Google Photos
    Tap the save icon.

  13. Finally, tap Save to device. Your collage will be saved in the Photos app.

    Saving a Collage to User's iPhone
    Tap Save to device.

Making a picture collage on iPhone using other apps

There are many other third-party apps you can use to create picture collages on iPhone, some with more advanced features than the ones mentioned above. For example:

  • Adobe Express: Graphic Design is a free app from Adobe. It includes multiple layout designs and templates for collages along with template icons and backgrounds.

    Creating Picture Collages with Adobe Exprerss on iPhone
    Create picture collages with Adobe Express (source: adobe.com).

  • Pic Collage is another free app you can use to make picture collages on your iPhone. The app has over 3000 designs and templates, many of which are based on specific themes such as weddings, birthdays, and summer holidays. However, you will need to purchase the “VIP” version to remove their watermark. It also removes in-app ads and gives you access to more templates and fonts.

    Creating Picture Collages with PicCollage on iPhone
    Create picture collages with PicCollage (source: piccollage.com)

Phoebe is an HR assistant in her day job, but is also a web blogger that loves writing guides and sharing her experiences. When she is not out with her friends, she enjoys traveling or binge-watching Netflix. She graduated with a BA in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Utah, and is a chief editor at TechObservatory.

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