What is the best way to save all BeReal photos at once?

The best way to save all your BeReal photos at once is to use BeReal's GDPR data export combined with RealRetrieve. Request your data from the BeReal app (it arrives as a ZIP file within 48 hours), upload it to RealRetrieve, and download all your photos as standard JPG files with original timestamps and locations preserved. This is the only method that saves all photos in bulk with correct dates.

Can I save BeReal photos to my camera roll?

Yes. You can save BeReal photos to your camera roll by either using the in-app Save button (one at a time), or by using RealRetrieve to convert your data export and then importing the resulting JPG files into Apple Photos or Google Photos. RealRetrieve preserves original timestamps so photos appear in chronological order.

Do BeReal screenshots look bad?

Yes. Screenshots capture the display resolution of your phone screen rather than the full camera resolution, resulting in noticeably lower quality. They also include UI elements (time, battery indicator) unless carefully cropped. Screenshots are not recommended for archiving your BeReal memories.

Last updated: March 2026

The Best Way to Save BeReal Photos — All Methods Compared

For saving a few specific photos: Use the in-app Save button — it's free and instant.

For saving all your BeReal photos: Use BeReal's data export + RealRetrieve ($7.99 one-time). It's the only method that saves everything in bulk, with correct dates, in the proper BeReal format.

Screenshots: Poor quality, not recommended for anything you care about.

There are three ways to save BeReal photos. Each has different tradeoffs in quality, timestamp accuracy, effort, and cost. This guide covers all of them honestly.

Method 1: In-App Save (Manual)

Good for: small batches

Save photos one-at-a-time using the BeReal app

Open any BeReal post in the app, tap the three-dot menu, and tap Save to Camera Roll. The photo is saved to your phone immediately.

Time cost: Roughly 60–90 seconds per photo when you account for navigating to each post, tapping through the menu, and waiting for the save to complete. For 200 BeReals, that's 3–5 hours of manual tapping.

Pros

Free
Full resolution
No additional tools needed
Works offline

Cons

One photo at a time — very slow for large archives
Saves today's date, not original post date
Saves only one camera angle (not the combined format)
No location data preserved

Method 2: Screenshots

Not recommended

Screenshot each BeReal as you view it

Press the power + volume button on your iPhone (or power + home on older models) to screenshot a BeReal. This captures whatever is on screen at that moment.

Pros

Free
Captures both cameras in BeReal format

Cons

Lower quality than actual photos
Includes phone UI elements (time, battery) unless cropped
Still one photo at a time
Date is screenshot date, not post date
No location data

Method 3: BeReal Data Export + RealRetrieve

Best for: saving all your photos

Request your data from BeReal, convert with RealRetrieve

BeReal's GDPR data export gives you all your photos and metadata in a ZIP file. RealRetrieve converts this raw data into organized, standard JPG files with original dates and locations.

Your time cost: About 4 minutes of active effort (submitting the data request and uploading to RealRetrieve), plus waiting time (2–48 hours for BeReal to send your data, and 20 min/1000 photos for conversion).

Pros

Saves all photos in one batch — no manual work per photo
Full resolution
Both cameras combined in BeReal picture-in-picture format
Original post date preserved in EXIF metadata
On iPhone, a free pre-built Shortcut imports all photos into Apple Photos in one tap
Location data preserved where available
Preview before paying

Cons

$7.99 one-time cost
Requires waiting 2–48 hours for BeReal data
Requires internet connection for upload

Comparison at a Glance

Factor	Manual Save	Screenshot	RealRetrieve
Cost	Free	Free	$7.99
Photo quality	Full resolution	Screen resolution (lower)	Full resolution
BeReal format	Single camera angle	Combined (as shown)	Combined
Original dates	No — today's date	No — screenshot date	Yes — original post date
Location data	No	No	Yes
Effort (200 photos)	~4 hours	~4 hours	~4 minutes
Bulk export	No	No	Yes

Our Recommendation

If you have more than about 20 photos to save: use RealRetrieve. The $7.99 cost pays for itself very quickly in time saved. You also get correct timestamps, the proper BeReal format, and location data — none of which the manual methods offer.

If you only need a handful of specific photos: the in-app Save button is perfectly fine. It's free, immediate, and requires no setup.

Screenshots are never the right choice if you care about quality. The resolution is noticeably worse and you're capturing your phone's UI alongside the photo.

How to Get Started with RealRetrieve

Open BeReal and request your data: Profile → Settings → Help → Contact us → Ask a Question → Troubleshooting → Other → Still need help? → Select Topic → "I'd like to request a copy of my data"
Wait for BeReal to send you two files (2–48 hours): BeReal Profile Activity&Data.zip and BeReal Data Export.json.gz
Upload the Activity&Data.zip to RealRetrieve (ignore the .json.gz)
Preview your gallery — free
Pay $7.99 and download everything

For detailed instructions on each step, see our complete BeReal export guide or the interactive tutorial with screenshots.

Preview Your BeReal Photos Free →

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