Unfortunately, it is not possible to transfer photos directly from your Apple Watch back to your iPhone.
The Apple Watch is designed to receive photos from its paired iPhone, not to send them back. As explicitly stated in information from March 9, 2017: "It is not possible to transfer photos from your Apple Watch to your iPhone. Photos can only be synced to Apple Watch from the paired iPhone. They cannot be synced in the other direction or otherwise exported from your watch."
This means the photo synchronization process between your iPhone and Apple Watch is a one-way street, primarily for viewing photos on your wrist that are already stored on your iPhone.
Understanding Apple Watch Photo Sync Direction
To clarify the intended functionality and prevent common misconceptions, consider the following sync flow:
| Device Syncing From | Device Syncing To | Possible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Apple Watch | ✅ Yes | You can select specific albums or a collection of photos to sync from your iPhone to your Apple Watch for convenient viewing on your wrist. This is managed through the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. |
| Apple Watch | iPhone | ❌ No | Photos cannot be transferred or exported from your Apple Watch back to your iPhone. The Watch does not act as a primary photo capture or storage device that pushes content to the iPhone, with the exception of screenshots. |
Why the One-Way Sync?
The Apple Watch's primary role regarding photos is as a companion device for viewing your existing photo library from your iPhone. It does not possess a general-purpose camera for taking photos that would then need to be transferred to your iPhone. Its storage is also more limited compared to an iPhone.
The only exception to the one-way sync is screenshots taken directly on your Apple Watch. When you take a screenshot on your Apple Watch (by simultaneously pressing the Digital Crown and the Side button), that image will automatically sync to the Screenshots album in the Photos app on your paired iPhone. However, this is distinct from transferring general photos that were previously synced to the Watch from the iPhone.
Therefore, if you are looking for a photo that you've seen on your Apple Watch, it almost certainly originated from your iPhone in the first place and is still located there.
