Gadgets

Fixed: Cannot upload photos to Facebook from iPhone

Fix for the Facebook photo upload error that gives the alert message “Your photo could not be uploaded at this time” to iPhone users.

iphone-410324_1280

For weeks, I had been unable to upload photos from my iPhone 4 to Facebook. The error message that kept appearing was:

ALERT: Your photo could not be uploaded at this time.

I thought it was my local network or 3G network that was preventing me from completing the upload. So I did some digging around and found what’s causing the issue — the Location Services setting for Facebook on your iPhone.

To resolve this photo upload error, do the following:

  1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Location Services.
  2. Verify that Location Services is set to ON.
  3. In the list apps that uses Location Services, look for Facebook.
  4. Verify that Facebook is set to ON.
Fix for unable to upload photo from iPhone to Facebook
Location Services on the iPhone

That’s it. The error should no longer occur and you should now be able to upload photos to Facebook from your iPhone.

If it didn’t work or you have questions, leave a comment below.

[alert color=”yellow”]07 February 2013 update: Apple has changed the location of Location Services in iOS 6 (and later). For updated instructions on how to check if Location Services is enabled on your iPhone, please see How to Enable Location Services on iPhone iOS 6.x.[/alert]

91 Comments
  1. GregBrady 6 years ago
    Reply

    It worked but I’m irritated that they need to know my location in order to upload a photo.

  2. Emil Mitchell 7 years ago
    Reply

    I can access my camera tool but no longer access my albums on iPhone 7 from Facebook as of last FBI update. Is there a workaround of way to rectify this?

  3. Peggy 8 years ago
    Reply

    I have just tried EVERY suggestion on here and NOTHING works. I can not share pictures from my iphone to Facebook 🙁

  4. Peggy 8 years ago
    Reply

    no luck for me either, I don’t even have the option for Location Services

  5. Nancy82 10 years ago
    Reply

    My Facebook app doesn’t even shows up. What do I do now.

  6. Dre 11 years ago
    Reply

    I figured out that you can’t upload from the ‘camera’ you have to upload from ‘photos’

  7. kkw 11 years ago
    Reply

    Thanks that worked for me!!

  8. Del238 11 years ago
    Reply

    Try going to camera roll choose photo then forward to FB worked for me and I am a technical retard

  9. Therese Keels 11 years ago
    Reply

    No “location services” under general settings:(

  10. Shayna 11 years ago
    Reply

    I just try this. Like just now. 🙁 and it won’t let me upload one of my videos on Facebook. Why is it doing this?

  11. Pinkylady 11 years ago
    Reply

    I’m trying to upload pictures off my phone but its sayin that ain’t got facebook configure so I clicked onto settings and following what they are saying but it ain’t working can someone please help me! :).

  12. CommanderAmanda 11 years ago
    Reply

    No luck for me. I used to be able to upload photos. Now when I try to upload from my library on my phone it comes up with the message..”This app does not have access to your photos or videos” It says you can enable in Privacy settings, but bugger me if I know where 🙁

    • industriella 11 years ago
      Reply

      Oh, I know this one! If you recently updateed to iOS 6, you need to go to Settings, Photos, and choose On. That should give FB access to your Camera Roll

      • grace 11 years ago
        Reply

        That didn’t work because there were already on but what I had to do was go to Settings, Privacy, Facebook then choose on and it worked

      • Kelly Kinkaid 11 years ago
        Reply

        Thank you. This is what worked for me.

  13. Millie 11 years ago
    Reply

    I tried all the above and did not work then went to settings, privacy, photos and selected “on” for the Facebook app…

  14. Kim 12 years ago
    Reply

    After months of being frustrated this finally worked, but a little differently… Settings-General – Location Settings… Facebook was turned on, but CAMERA was not. When I turned “camera” to on, and restarted my iphone…. voila! Finally working!! Thanks!

  15. Katnip364 12 years ago
    Reply

    Didn’t work for me at all- cant even change my cover photo- says page not available or I have been blocked- I am about done with wasting my time with FB

  16. Tyler georgei 12 years ago
    Reply

    I still can’t upload pics to fb..

  17. KassiePanther 12 years ago
    Reply

    This isn’t working for me! I did this for both the Facebook app and safari and I still can’t upload from either. Safari says my browser doesn’t support uploading pictures and my app will try to upload and then fail. I’ve been uploading to Facebook just fine since I’ve got my phone and today is the first time I’ve encountered this problem. Please help!

  18. keelygorski@yahoo.com 12 years ago
    Reply

    Hello.

    I just recently got my iphone not even a week ago. I cannot get photos to upload to FB. I keep getting the error message ‘Error sharing photos’. I tried the fix here, but it did not work. My location is turned on, so I did turn it off and turn it back on again… unsuccessful. I have also uninstalled and reinstalled the app 3 times, nadda… please help, this is very frustrating.

  19. JessicaReginaCox 12 years ago
    Reply

    ive tried turning the location services on and off many times and still no luck, i have also unstalled and reinstalled the app without any luck. HELP!

  20. SheilaB 13 years ago
    Reply

    Didn’t work for me. Posted a pic a few hours ago then deleted post to change the caption. Unable to post pics ever since. The pic goes to my ‘mobile uploads’ but post doesn’t go to wall or news feed. Another weird thing is screen goes to black the second the upload shows as being done.

  21. kames1 13 years ago
    Reply

    My settngs are different. Facebook is in “Settings” and I don’t have the option to turn on location services. Locations services is “on” in Settings, but Facebook is not one of the apps requesting to use it. Also, my iPhone doesn’t show up under my hard drive, even when it shoes up in iTunes. Suggestions

    • Turntwo8 12 years ago
      Reply

      I have the same problem…..

    • Jay 11 years ago
      Reply

      kames1, what iOS version are you using?

  22. metahead 13 years ago
    Reply

    @IrisCruz Did you install the Facebook app on your iPhone? Or you’re using Facebook via your iPhone’s Safari browser?

  23. IrisCruz 13 years ago
    Reply

    hi, I followed the instructions above but i do not see the facebook app under location services…can you help.

  24. Grace 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you so much for sharing the solution!

  25. LIsa 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you SO MUCH for posting – this was driving me crazy – the fix worked!!

  26. Mark 13 years ago
    Reply

    FFS! Thank you! This has been bugging me for AGES!

  27. Arryan 13 years ago
    Reply

    My iPhone 3GS isn’t uploading pictures to Facebook.. The loading bar will fully load but then it goes back to where it gives you the option to upload or cancel. I’ve tried everything, including what apple support told me to do and checking my location services, restrictions, restarting my phone, reinstalling the app. And I don’t know what else to do. HELPP

  28. gwcfsm 13 years ago
    Reply

    Great Suggestion. Works fine now!!!
    Thanks!!

  29. Woo 13 years ago
    Reply

    WOOOOHOOOO It worked..!!! Your The Man..!!!

  30. wendy 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you

  31. wendy 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you!

  32. rpvilao 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thanks 🙂 It seems to me very strange, but it works.

  33. NKY 13 years ago
    Reply

    thanks 🙂 your tip is super helpful

  34. catie 13 years ago
    Reply

    I tried updating the app, and i got one photo to load w/o a caption but then when i tried again with a caption it didnt work. then i turned on location services, still nothing, completely turned off location services, still nothing again. they keep popping up in my mobile uploads album but not the wall. ive had this problem before and un-installed the app, but thats a headache. i just restarted my phone as well and it still doesnt work! help! i have a 3GS running the latest iOS update and latest facebook app

  35. Rik 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you! We've been struggling with this for months!

  36. minkus 13 years ago
    Reply

    you are the sh!t!!!! 🙂

  37. DP 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thanks!!! I haven’t been able to download photos for MONTHS!! I really appreciate you sharing!! Gotta go… Got alot of photos to download. 🙂

  38. Missbiss 13 years ago
    Reply

    So easy when you know how! Thanks, it worked for me and stopped me pulling my hair out!

  39. vince 13 years ago
    Reply

    You the man !!! Thanks bro !!!!!

  40. Jenny 13 years ago
    Reply

    Jay, you are amazing!

    • metahead 13 years ago
      Reply

      @Jenny: You're the second person to tell me this (first was my mother). Thank you. I'm glad to be of help. 🙂

      • haysamona 12 years ago
        Reply

        pls help it did work for me and when i tried to uploud any photo all my app freez what should i do

  41. Liza 13 years ago
    Reply

    OMG ALL THIS TIIIIIME I DIDNT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG NOW IT WORKS!!!!

  42. Tom 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you very very much!!!!!! ;-D

  43. cathy 13 years ago
    Reply

    I wish Verizon's tech could have suggested this weeks ago! Thanks so much!

  44. iYara 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thanks a million 😀

  45. yna710 13 years ago
    Reply

    This totally works! Thanks so much for the tips!! ^__^

  46. amara 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thanks a million

  47. alkgrace 13 years ago
    Reply

    Awesome, thanks! This has been driving me crazy!!!

  48. Cheryl 13 years ago
    Reply

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! it now works 🙂

  49. worldwarwiki 13 years ago
    Reply

    Easiest fix ever! Thanks so much.

  50. bill 13 years ago
    Reply

    wow it does work

  51. Kris 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you very much!

  52. rex 13 years ago
    Reply

    fuuuuuuc!!!! i almost kill my selft! thanks! it works! hahaha

  53. jackie 13 years ago
    Reply

    thanks for the info i still can't upload my pictures to my iphone? starts to upload and it freezes and stays there i end up cancelind the upload please help. thanks Jackie

    • metahead 13 years ago
      Reply

      Have you tried restarting your iPhone?

  54. mark 13 years ago
    Reply

    awsome you just made me look like a hero with my wife lol THANKS

  55. sunni 13 years ago
    Reply

    You rock. This totally worked …. ! Thanks!!

  56. casey 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank-you so much

  57. Doug 13 years ago
    Reply

    I just found that if you turn location services completely off for the whole phone, that also seems to allow the photo to be uploaded. Interesting….

    • Holly 13 years ago
      Reply

      Thank you! I made sure Facebook was turned on but it still didn't work. Then I saw your post and turned off location services completely and now it's working just fine.

    • metahead 13 years ago
      Reply

      @Doug: That is interesting. I guess that confirms that this is an "undocumented feature" (AKA bug).

    • michaelsharman 12 years ago
      Reply

      Yep, 2012 and the fb app is still buggy. I couldn’t upload photos or video via 3G or wireless…but I turned OFF location services and it worked first go. Insane.

  58. steve 13 years ago
    Reply

    I can't believe this is being touted as a "fix". This is another attempt by Facebook to erode user security.

    • metahead 13 years ago
      Reply

      @Steve: I know a lot of people have issues with Facebook's privacy measures. I don't totally agree with some of their policies, but I am able to tolerate them for now. If I were one of those people who hate Facebook for their privacy policies, I'd stop using Facebook. They say if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

      Zuck it up or take it up with Zuckerberg. Excuse the pun.

  59. Melanie 13 years ago
    Reply

    This works, but I don't know if I WANT the Location Services for Facebook turned on. What exactly does this do? Does it mean that the photos posted will now have GPS data embedded in the code? I don't want that. Anyone with info on this??

    • metahead 13 years ago
      Reply

      @Melanie: I think Facebook requires Location Services for Places (check-ins). You can just disable it again after you upload your photos. Your photos are geo-tagged by your iPhone, not by the Facebook app.

  60. Elissa 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you! Will keeping it on run down the battery faster?

    • metahead 13 years ago
      Reply

      @Elissa: I don't think so. Facebook doesn't really use Location Services unless you check into places or take photos.

  61. Andy 13 years ago
    Reply

    cheers mate i was baffled!!!

  62. tara 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you so much, I was getting really frustrated…you solved my problem! Appreciate it. 🙂

  63. Rita 13 years ago
    Reply

    Fabulous! I'm happily uploading from my iPhone now. THANKS SO MUCH FOR POSTING THE SOLUTION. :o)

  64. Mike 13 years ago
    Reply

    @Jay — I googled this and found your solution on page 2. Thank you so much; this was the problem! A lot of the time I turn off location on my iPhone 4 to save battery. Thanks again!

    • metahead 13 years ago
      Reply

      @Mike and all: I'm glad to be of help. Thank you, too, for letting me know that you find this post useful.

  65. Lisa 13 years ago
    Reply

    OMG !!!! Thanks you so much!!!!!

  66. shad 13 years ago
    Reply

    thx

  67. Urmom 13 years ago
    Reply

    OMG, U JUST SAVED MY LIFE, ANYONE READING THIS, IT ACTUALLY WORKS, NO FRICKEN JOKE, THANK GOD!!!!!!!!

  68. jon 13 years ago
    Reply

    great post thanks

  69. Superapolon 13 years ago
    Reply

    Quick and easy… Also forever grateful – eres el puto amo!

  70. Cherie 13 years ago
    Reply

    OMG, It worked! Thank you so much.

  71. Andrew 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thanks for the tip. It works.

  72. Li 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thank you! This helped!

  73. linda 13 years ago
    Reply

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. It worked.

  74. forever grateful 13 years ago
    Reply

    Thanks. It worked!

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