How to Send Photos to a Digital Frame (Every Method)

Getting photos onto your digital frame is easier than most people think. There are several main ways to do it, depending on which frame you have. Here is how each method works, step by step.

Method 1: Mobile App

This is the most common way. Almost every WiFi frame comes with a free app.

• Download the frame maker's app from the App Store or Google Play.
• Create an account and pair the app to your frame.
• Open the app and tap the upload or send button.
• Pick photos from your camera roll.
• Tap send. The photos show up on the frame within minutes.

Which frames use this: Aura, Nixplay, Skylight, Frameo-based frames, and most other WiFi frames.

Method 2: Email

Some frames have their own email address. This is the easiest method for people who do not like apps.

• Find the frame's email address (shown during setup or in the app).
• Open your email and create a new message.
• Attach one or more photos.
• Send the email to the frame's address.
• The frame downloads the photos and adds them to the slideshow.

Which frames use this: Skylight and Pix-Star. This is the best method for frames for grandparents since the sender does not need any special app.

Method 3: Google Photos Sync

If your photos live in Google Photos, some frames can sync directly.

• Open the frame's app and go to settings or photo sources.
• Connect your Google account.
• Pick one or more Google Photos albums to sync.
• The frame pulls new photos from those albums automatically.

Which frames use this: Aura (built-in), Nixplay (built-in), Skylight (Plus plan only), Pix-Star (web interface). For more details, read our best frames for Google Photos guide.

Method 4: iCloud

If you are an iPhone user and store photos in iCloud, Aura frames are your best bet.

• Open the Aura app and go to photo sources.
• Connect your iCloud account.
• Select albums to sync.
• New photos added to those iCloud albums show up on the frame.

Which frames use this: Aura is the only major brand with direct iCloud support.

Method 5: USB Flash Drive

The classic method. No internet needed.

• Copy photos from your computer to a USB flash drive.
• Plug the USB drive into the frame's USB port.
• The frame reads the files and starts the slideshow.

Which frames use this: Dragon Touch, Aluratek, Pix-Star, and most budget frames. Note: Aura and Skylight do not have USB ports.

Method 6: SD Memory Card

Similar to USB but uses a small SD card instead.

• Copy photos to an SD card using a card reader on your computer.
• Slide the SD card into the frame's card slot.
• The frame reads the photos and adds them to the slideshow.

Which frames use this: Pix-Star, Dragon Touch, and some Frameo-based frames. Most WiFi-only frames skip the SD card slot.

Method 7: Social Media and Cloud Services

Nixplay connects to more photo sources than any other brand. Through the Nixplay app, you can pull photos from Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, and Flickr. Build playlists that mix photos from different services onto one frame.

Which frames use this: Nixplay has the most connections. No other brand matches its range of social media sources.

Which Method Is Best?

For most people, the mobile app is the easiest and most flexible option. For elderly users who struggle with apps, email sharing on a Skylight or Pix-Star is the way to go. For offline use, USB and SD card are reliable and simple.

The method you prefer should drive which frame you buy. Check our best apps for sending photos for a deeper look at the app experience on each brand.