Can't find photo icon in iMessage

I can't find the photo icon in iMessage. The photos aren't missing from iMessage, but the icon is missing. How do I find the photos in iMessage? I've attached photos with and without the photo icon below. Please help.

iPhone 17 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Nov 13, 2025 7:39 AM

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3 replies

Dec 21, 2025 6:21 AM in response to Cblee79

You seem to be asking about the Photo option listed at the top of a contact when you want to message them. I looked at several of my contacts and also found that the Photo option is not always available for all contacts. This could depend on the device used by the contact or the limitations set by the company. I noticed that my personal contacts (people on iPhones and Androids with whom I regularly share photos), the photo option appears. Where the contact info is for a company, or a person using a business contact, Photos are not always an option.

  • Are two examples showing info for the same contact?
  • Are both screen shots from the same iPhone? If yes, which iPhone is it? And what is the iOS?


Could you please provide more information?

Dec 21, 2025 6:59 AM in response to Carol B.

Carol B. wrote:

You seem to be asking about the Photo• option listed at the top of a contact when you want to message them. I looked at several of my contacts and also found that the Photo option is not always available for all contacts. This could depend on the device used by the contact or the limitations set by the company. I noticed that my personal contacts (people on iPhones and Androids with whom I regularly share photos), the photo option appears. Where the contact info is for a company, or a person using a business contact, Photos are not always an option.
Are two examples showing info for the same contact?
• Are both screen shots from the same iPhone? If yes, which iPhone is it? And what is the iOS?

Could you please provide more information?

To add to this, if you open a text message and tap their name at the top of the messages, photos will appear as an option IF the message thread has shared photos in it. If the message thread doesn't have any photos associated with that specific contact, Photos won't show as an option.

Can't find photo icon in iMessage

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