Notes
Photos, original and reference
Whether to copy into the note, or link to what is in the Photos app
When you add a photo or video to a note, a screen asks you to choose between `Add as Original` and `Add as Reference`. The same photo ends up in the note either way. What differs is where the original lives.
Add as Original
The photo is copied into the note and kept there.
Deleting it from the Photos app later leaves the note untouched. In exchange there are two copies of the same photo, so it uses more space on the device.
Add as Reference
The note keeps only a preview, and the original is fetched from the Photos app as needed.
There is only one copy, so it saves space. In exchange, deleting the photo from the Photos app makes it disappear from the note too.
Which one to choose
- 1`Original` for notes meant to last. Diaries and records you will come back to
- 2`Reference` if you have many photos or space is tight. Fine as long as you do not clear out the Photos app
- 3`Original` if you are unsure. Then tidying up the Photos app never empties a note
If you clear out the Photos app often, Original is the safer choice. Photos put into notes tend to get deleted along with everything else.
To stop being asked each time
Turn on `Always add this way without asking` on the choice screen.
To change it later, go to Settings > Notes > When adding photos/videos to a note and pick Ask Each Time, Original or Reference.
Turning a reference into an original
You can change your mind afterwards.
Open the photo in the note, choose `Save Original to Note` from the ⋯ menu, and the original comes across from the Photos app into the note as Saved as Original. The original has to still be in the Photos app.
References and backups
A photo added as a reference has no original in the backup file. Only the preview is included. Restoring on another device can leave those photos looking blurry. Before switching devices, bring your Photos library across as well.
After a restore you are told how many photos could not be matched to an original. They reconnect if the same photo is in that device's Photos app.
Viewing on another device
A photo added as a reference shows its original only if that device's Photos app has the same photo. Using the same photo library on iPhone and iPad usually means they all show up.
When no original is found the preview is shown instead. The photo has not been lost.