Last updated: March 2026

How to Save BeReal Photos to iPhone Camera Roll

BeReal doesn't let you save photos to your camera roll in bulk. The in-app save button only works one photo at a time, and with hundreds of BeReals to save, that adds up to hours of tapping. There's a better way.

This guide covers the complete process: getting your photos out of BeReal, converting them into standard image files, and importing them into your iPhone camera roll with correct dates intact.

What You'll Need

• Your BeReal account
• BeReal app installed on your phone
• An email address to create a RealRetrieve account
• $7.99 (one-time fee to download your photos)
• The Apple Shortcuts app (free, pre-installed on iPhone)

Why You Can't Just Save from the App

BeReal stores your photos on their servers in a raw data format, not as standard image files. When you tap "Save to Camera Roll" in the app, it downloads and converts one photo at a time. There's no batch option. If you have 200 BeReals, that's 200 individual taps — roughly 2 minutes per photo if you're efficient, meaning over 6 hours of manual work.

The alternative: BeReal is required under EU law (GDPR) to give you a copy of all your data on request. This includes all your photos, in bulk, as a ZIP file. Once you have that file, you can convert it into proper photos using RealRetrieve.

Step-by-Step: Save All BeReal Photos to iPhone

Step 1: Request Your BeReal Data Export

Inside the BeReal app, navigate to: Profile → Settings → Help → Contact us → Ask a Question → Troubleshooting → Other → Still need help? → Select Topic, then choose "I'd like to request a copy of my data".

Send BeReal a message requesting your data. Use this template:

Under GDPR Article 15 and Article 20, I am requesting a complete copy of all personal data you hold about me, including all my BeReal photos and associated metadata. Please provide this data in a commonly used, machine-readable format (such as JSON or ZIP) within the 30-day period required by law. Thank you.

BeReal typically responds within 2–48 hours with a download link in the My Tickets section of the app. See our interactive tutorial with screenshots for help navigating these menus.

Step 2: Download the ZIP File

When you receive your data, download the ZIP file. You can do this directly on your iPhone — it'll be saved to the Files app. The ZIP contains your photo data in BeReal's raw format (not standard image files yet).

Step 3: Upload to RealRetrieve

Visit realretrieve.com on your iPhone or computer. Sign in with your email address (magic link — no password needed) and upload the BeReal Profile Activity&Data.zip file (BeReal sends two files; this is the one you need). RealRetrieve converts your BeReal data into standard JPG images, combining the front and back camera shots into BeReal's signature picture-in-picture format.

Step 4: Preview and Download

Once processing completes, you can browse your full gallery before paying. You'll see all your photos with their original dates and locations. When you're satisfied, pay the one-time $7.99 fee and download all your photos as a ZIP file.

Step 5: Transfer Photos to iPhone

If you downloaded on a computer, AirDrop the ZIP file to your iPhone. Open the Files app to extract the contents. You'll have a folder of JPG files named with their dates.

If you downloaded directly on iPhone, extract the ZIP using the Files app (long press the ZIP → Uncompress).

Step 6: Import to Apple Photos with Correct Dates

The photos in your download have their original timestamps embedded in the file metadata (EXIF data). To import them into Apple Photos while preserving those timestamps, use the Shortcuts app:

Or, do it manually:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone
2. Create a new Shortcut
3. Add the action "Get Files from Folder" — point it to your extracted BeReal photos folder
4. Add the action "Save to Photo Album" — choose your target album
5. Run the Shortcut

Your photos will be imported into Apple Photos with their original BeReal dates, so they'll appear in the correct chronological position in your camera roll — not all dumped on today's date.

Alternative: Import via Mac

If you have a Mac, you can also connect your iPhone and use the Photos app to import all photos from a folder at once. Photos.app respects the EXIF timestamp embedded by RealRetrieve.

1. Download your RealRetrieve photos to your Mac
2. Extract the ZIP
3. Open Photos.app and go to File → Import
4. Select the folder of photos
5. Import all — photos will be sorted by date automatically

Does This Work for Android Too?

Yes. The same process works on Android. The data export and RealRetrieve conversion steps are identical. For importing to your Android camera roll, use your file manager app to move the JPG files into your DCIM folder, or import them into Google Photos by opening the app and tapping Library → Photos on Device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my photos be in the right order after importing?

Yes. RealRetrieve preserves the original timestamp in each photo's EXIF data. When imported via Shortcuts or Photos.app, they appear in chronological order in your camera roll — not sorted by import date.

What format are the photos in?

Standard JPG files in BeReal's signature picture-in-picture format. You get both orientations: front-camera-main with back-camera in the corner, and vice versa. These are full resolution images you can share, edit, or print normally.

Is there a free option?

You can preview your entire gallery before paying. The $7.99 fee unlocks the download. There's no subscription — it's one payment for your complete photo archive.

How long does it take?

The BeReal data export takes 2–48 hours. The RealRetrieve conversion takes roughly 20 minutes per 1,000 photos. The iPhone import via Shortcuts is instant regardless of how many photos you have.

See also: Complete BeReal export guide · What's in your BeReal data export · All guides · FAQ