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Expo ImagePicker

GitHub

npm

A library that provides access to the system's UI for selecting images and videos from the phone's library or taking a photo with the camera.

Android

iOS

Web

expo-image-picker provides access to the system's UI for selecting images and videos from the phone's library or taking a photo with the camera.

Installation

Terminal

- npx expo install expo-image-picker

If you are installing this in an existing React Native app, start by installing expo in your project. Then, follow the additional instructions as mentioned by the library's README under "Installation in bare React Native projects" section.

Known issues
iOS

On iOS, when an image (usually of a higher resolution) is picked from the camera roll, the result of the cropped image gives the wrong value for the cropped rectangle in some cases. Unfortunately, this issue is with the underlying UIImagePickerController due to a bug in the closed-source tools built into iOS.

Configuration in app.json/app.config.js

You can configure expo-image-picker using its built-in config plugin if you use config plugins in your project (EAS Build or npx expo run:[android|ios]). The plugin allows you to configure various properties that cannot be set at runtime and require building a new app binary to take effect.

Are you using this library in a bare React Native app?

Learn how to configure the native projects in the installation instructions in the expo-image-picker repository.

Example app.json with config plugin

app.json

{
  "expo": {
    "plugins": [
      [
        "expo-image-picker",
        {
          "photosPermission": "The app accesses your photos to let you share them with your friends."
        }
      ]
    ]
  }
}

Configurable properties

Name	Default	Description
`photosPermission`	`"Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to access your photos"`	Only for: iOS A string to set the `NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription` permission message.
`cameraPermission`	`"Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to access your camera"`	Only for: iOS A string to set the `NSCameraUsageDescription` permission message.
`microphonePermission`	`"Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to access your microphone"`	Only for: iOS A string to set the `NSMicrophoneUsageDescription` permission message.

Usage

Image Picker

import { useState } from 'react';
import { Button, Image, View, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';
import * as ImagePicker from 'expo-image-picker';

export default function ImagePickerExample() {
  const [image, setImage] = useState<string | null>(null);

  const pickImage = async () => {
    // No permissions request is necessary for launching the image library
    let result = await ImagePicker.launchImageLibraryAsync({
      mediaTypes: ['images', 'videos'],
      allowsEditing: true,
      aspect: [4, 3],
      quality: 1,
    });

    console.log(result);

    if (!result.canceled) {
      setImage(result.assets[0].uri);
    }
  };

  return (
    <View style={styles.container}>
      <Button title="Pick an image from camera roll" onPress={pickImage} />
      {image && <Image source={{ uri: image }} style={styles.image} />}
    </View>
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    flex: 1,
    alignItems: 'center',
    justifyContent: 'center',
  },
  image: {
    width: 200,
    height: 200,
  },
});

When you run this example and pick an image, you will see the image that you picked show up in your app, and a similar log will be shown in the console:

{
  "assets": [
    {
      "assetId": "C166F9F5-B5FE-4501-9531",
      "base64": null,
      "duration": null,
      "exif": null,
      "fileName": "IMG.HEIC",
      "fileSize": 6018901,
      "height": 3025,
      "type": "image",
      "uri": "file:///data/user/0/host.exp.exponent/cache/cropped1814158652.jpg"
      "width": 3024
    }
  ],
  "canceled": false
}

With AWS S3

AWS storage example

An example of how to use AWS storage can be found in with-aws-storage-upload.

See Amplify documentation guide to set up your project correctly.

With Firebase

Firebase storage example

An example of how to use Firebase storage can be found in with-firebase-storage-upload.

See Using Firebase guide to set up your project correctly.

API

import * as ImagePicker from 'expo-image-picker';

Hooks

Android

iOS

Web

`useCameraPermissions(options)`

Parameter	Type
options (optional)	`PermissionHookOptions<object>`

Returns:

[null | PermissionResponse, RequestPermissionMethod<PermissionResponse>, GetPermissionMethod<PermissionResponse>]

Android

iOS

Web

`useMediaLibraryPermissions(options)`

Parameter	Type
options (optional)	`PermissionHookOptions<{ writeOnly: boolean }>`

Returns:

[null | MediaLibraryPermissionResponse, RequestPermissionMethod<MediaLibraryPermissionResponse>, GetPermissionMethod<MediaLibraryPermissionResponse>]

Methods

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePicker.getCameraPermissionsAsync()`

Checks user's permissions for accessing camera.

Returns:

Promise<CameraPermissionResponse>

A promise that fulfills with an object of type CameraPermissionResponse.

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePicker.getMediaLibraryPermissionsAsync(writeOnly)`

Parameter	Type	Description
writeOnly (optional)	`boolean`	Whether to request write or read and write permissions. Defaults to `false` Default:`false`

Checks user's permissions for accessing photos.

Returns:

Promise<MediaLibraryPermissionResponse>

A promise that fulfills with an object of type MediaLibraryPermissionResponse.

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePicker.getPendingResultAsync()`

Android system sometimes kills the MainActivity after the ImagePicker finishes. When this happens, we lost the data selected from the ImagePicker. However, you can retrieve the lost data by calling getPendingResultAsync. You can test this functionality by turning on Don't keep activities in the developer options.

Returns:

Promise<(ImagePickerResult | ImagePickerErrorResult)[]>

On Android: a promise that resolves to an array of objects of exactly same type as in ImagePicker.launchImageLibraryAsync or ImagePicker.launchCameraAsync if the ImagePicker finished successfully. Otherwise, to the array of ImagePickerErrorResult.
On other platforms: an empty array.

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePicker.launchCameraAsync(options)`

Parameter	Type	Description
options (optional)	`ImagePickerOptions`	An `ImagePickerOptions` object. Default:`{}`

Display the system UI for taking a photo with the camera. Requires Permissions.CAMERA. On Android and iOS 10 Permissions.CAMERA_ROLL is also required. On mobile web, this must be called immediately in a user interaction like a button press, otherwise the browser will block the request without a warning.

Note: Make sure that you handle MainActivity destruction on Android. See ImagePicker.getPendingResultAsync. Notes for Web: The system UI can only be shown after user activation (e.g. a Button press). Therefore, calling launchCameraAsync in componentDidMount, for example, will not work as intended. The cancelled event will not be returned in the browser due to platform restrictions and inconsistencies across browsers.

Returns:

Promise<ImagePickerResult>

A promise that resolves to an object with canceled and assets fields. When the user canceled the action the assets is always null, otherwise it's an array of the selected media assets which have a form of ImagePickerAsset.

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePicker.launchImageLibraryAsync(options)`

Parameter	Type	Description
options (optional)	`ImagePickerOptions`	An object extended by `ImagePickerOptions`. Default:`{}`

Display the system UI for choosing an image or a video from the phone's library. Requires Permissions.MEDIA_LIBRARY on iOS 10 only. On mobile web, this must be called immediately in a user interaction like a button press, otherwise the browser will block the request without a warning.

Animated GIFs support: On Android, if the selected image is an animated GIF, the result image will be an animated GIF too if and only if quality is explicitly set to 1.0 and allowsEditing is set to false. Otherwise compression and/or cropper will pick the first frame of the GIF and return it as the result (on Android the result will be a PNG). On iOS, both quality and cropping are supported.

Notes for Web: The system UI can only be shown after user activation (e.g. a Button press). Therefore, calling launchImageLibraryAsync in componentDidMount, for example, will not work as intended. The cancelled event will not be returned in the browser due to platform restrictions and inconsistencies across browsers.

Returns:

Promise<ImagePickerResult>

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePicker.requestCameraPermissionsAsync()`

Asks the user to grant permissions for accessing camera. This does nothing on web because the browser camera is not used.

Returns:

Promise<CameraPermissionResponse>

A promise that fulfills with an object of type CameraPermissionResponse.

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePicker.requestMediaLibraryPermissionsAsync(writeOnly)`

Parameter	Type	Description
writeOnly (optional)	`boolean`	Whether to request write or read and write permissions. Defaults to `false` Default:`false`

Asks the user to grant permissions for accessing user's photo. This method does nothing on web.

Returns:

Promise<MediaLibraryPermissionResponse>

A promise that fulfills with an object of type MediaLibraryPermissionResponse.

Interfaces

Android

iOS

Web

`PermissionResponse`

An object obtained by permissions get and request functions.

PermissionResponse Properties

Name	Type	Description
canAskAgain	`boolean`	Indicates if user can be asked again for specific permission. If not, one should be directed to the Settings app in order to enable/disable the permission.
expires	`PermissionExpiration`	Determines time when the permission expires.
granted	`boolean`	A convenience boolean that indicates if the permission is granted.
status	`PermissionStatus`	Determines the status of the permission.

Types

Android

iOS

Web

`CameraPermissionResponse`

Type: PermissionResponse

Alias for PermissionResponse type exported by expo-modules-core.

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePickerAsset`

Represents an asset (image or video) returned by the image picker or camera.

Name	Type	Description
assetId (optional)	`string \| null`	Only for: Android iOS The unique ID that represents the picked image or video, if picked from the library. It can be used by expo-media-library to manage the picked asset. This might be `null` when the ID is unavailable or the user gave limited permission to access the media library. On Android, the ID is unavailable when the user selects a photo by directly browsing file system.
base64 (optional)	`string \| null`	When the `base64` option is truthy, it is a Base64-encoded string of the selected image's JPEG data, otherwise `null`. If you prepend this with `'data:image/jpeg;base64,'` to create a data URI, you can use it as the source of an `Image` element; for example: `<Image source={{ uri: 'data:image/jpeg;base64,' + asset.base64 }} style={{ width: 200, height: 200 }} />`
duration (optional)	`number \| null`	Length of the video in milliseconds or `null` if the asset is not a video.
exif (optional)	`Record<string, any> \| null`	Only for: Android iOS The `exif` field is included if the `exif` option is truthy, and is an object containing the image's EXIF data. The names of this object's properties are EXIF tags and the values are the respective EXIF values for those tags.
file (optional)	`File`	Only for: Web The web `File` object containing the selected media. This property is web-only and can be used to upload to a server with `FormData`.
fileName (optional)	`string \| null`	Preferred filename to use when saving this item. This might be `null` when the name is unavailable or user gave limited permission to access the media library.
fileSize (optional)	`number`	File size of the picked image or video, in bytes.
height	`number`	Height of the image or video.
mimeType (optional)	`string`	The MIME type of the selected asset or `null` if could not be determined.
pairedVideoAsset (optional)	`ImagePickerAsset \| null`	Only for: iOS Contains information about the video paired with the image file. This property is only set when `livePhotos` media type was present in the `mediaTypes` array when launching the picker and a live photo was selected.
type (optional)	`'image' \| 'video' \| 'livePhoto' \| 'pairedVideo'`	The type of the asset. `'image'` - for images. `'video'` - for videos. `'livePhoto'` - for live photos. (iOS only) `'pairedVideo'` - for videos paired with photos, which can be combined to create a live photo. (iOS only)
uri	`string`	URI to the local image or video file (usable as the source of an `Image` element, in the case of an image) and `width` and `height` specify the dimensions of the media.
width	`number`	Width of the image or video.

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePickerCanceledResult`

Type representing canceled pick result.

Name	Type	Description
assets	`null`	`null` signifying that the request was canceled.
canceled	`true`	Boolean flag set to `true` showing that the request was canceled.

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePickerErrorResult`

Name	Type	Description
code	`string`	The error code.
exception (optional)	`string`	The exception which caused the error.
message	`string`	The error message.

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePickerOptions`

Name	Type	Description
allowsEditing (optional)	`boolean`	Only for: Android iOS Whether to show a UI to edit the image after it is picked. On Android the user can crop and rotate the image and on iOS simply crop it. Cropping multiple images is not supported - this option is mutually exclusive with `allowsMultipleSelection`. On iOS, this option is ignored if `allowsMultipleSelection` is enabled. On iOS cropping a `.bmp` image will convert it to `.png`. Default:`false`
allowsMultipleSelection (optional)	`boolean`	Only for: Android iOS 14+ Web Whether or not to allow selecting multiple media files at once. Cropping multiple images is not supported - this option is mutually exclusive with `allowsEditing`. If this option is enabled, then `allowsEditing` is ignored. Default:`false`
aspect (optional)	`[number, number]`	An array with two entries `[x, y]` specifying the aspect ratio to maintain if the user is allowed to edit the image (by passing `allowsEditing: true`). This is only applicable on Android, since on iOS the crop rectangle is always a square.
base64 (optional)	`boolean`	Whether to also include the image data in Base64 format.
cameraType (optional)	`CameraType`	Only for: Android iOS Selects the camera-facing type. The `CameraType` enum provides two options: `front` for the front-facing camera and `back` for the back-facing camera. On Android, the behavior of this option may vary based on the camera app installed on the device. Default:`CameraType.back`
exif (optional)	`boolean`	Only for: Android iOS Whether to also include the EXIF data for the image. On iOS the EXIF data does not include GPS tags in the camera case.
legacy (optional)	`boolean`	Only for: Android Uses the legacy image picker on Android. This will allow media to be selected from outside the users photo library. Default:`false`
mediaTypes (optional)	`MediaType \| MediaType[] \| MediaTypeOptions`	Choose what type of media to pick. Default:`'images'`
orderedSelection (optional)	`boolean`	Only for: iOS 15+ Whether to display number badges when assets are selected. The badges are numbered in selection order. Assets are then returned in the exact same order they were selected. Assets should be returned in the selection order regardless of this option, but there is no guarantee that it is always true when this option is disabled. Default:`false`
preferredAssetRepresentationMode (optional)	`UIImagePickerPreferredAssetRepresentationMode`	Only for: iOS 14+ Choose preferred asset representation mode to use when loading assets. Default:`ImagePicker.UIImagePickerPreferredAssetRepresentationMode.Automatic`
presentationStyle (optional)	`UIImagePickerPresentationStyle`	Only for: iOS Choose presentation style to customize view during taking photo/video. Default:`ImagePicker.UIImagePickerPresentationStyle.Automatic`
quality (optional)	`number`	Only for: Android iOS Specify the quality of compression, from `0` to `1`. `0` means compress for small size, `1` means compress for maximum quality. Note: If the selected image has been compressed before, the size of the output file may be bigger than the size of the original image. Note: On iOS, if a `.bmp` or `.png` image is selected from the library, this option is ignored. Default:`1.0`
selectionLimit (optional)	`number`	Only for: Android iOS 14+ The maximum number of items that user can select. Applicable when `allowsMultipleSelection` is enabled. Setting the value to `0` sets the selection limit to the maximum that the system supports. Default:`0`
videoExportPreset (optional)	`VideoExportPreset`	Deprecated See `videoExportPreset` in Apple documentation. iOS 11+ Specify preset which will be used to compress selected video. Default:`ImagePicker.VideoExportPreset.Passthrough`
videoMaxDuration (optional)	`number`	Maximum duration, in seconds, for video recording. Setting this to `0` disables the limit. Defaults to `0` (no limit). On iOS, when `allowsEditing` is set to `true`, maximum duration is limited to 10 minutes. This limit is applied automatically, if `0` or no value is specified. On Android, effect of this option depends on support of installed camera app. On Web this option has no effect - the limit is browser-dependant.
videoQuality (optional)	`UIImagePickerControllerQualityType`	Only for: iOS Specify the quality of recorded videos. Defaults to the highest quality available for the device. Default:`ImagePicker.UIImagePickerControllerQualityType.High`

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePickerResult`

Literal Type: multiple types

Type representing successful and canceled pick result.

Acceptable values are: ImagePickerSuccessResult | ImagePickerCanceledResult

Android

iOS

Web

`ImagePickerSuccessResult`

Type representing successful pick result.

Name	Type	Description
assets	`ImagePickerAsset[]`	An array of picked assets.
canceled	`false`	Boolean flag set to `false` showing that the request was successful.

Android

iOS

Web

`MediaLibraryPermissionResponse`

Extends PermissionResponse type exported by expo-modules-core, containing additional iOS-specific field.

Type: PermissionResponse extended by:

Name Type Description

Name	Type	Description
accessPrivileges (optional)	`'all' \| 'limited' \| 'none'`	Indicates if your app has access to the whole or only part of the photo library. Possible values are: `'all'` if the user granted your app access to the whole photo library `'limited'` if the user granted your app access only to selected photos (only available on Android API 34+ and iOS 14.0+) `'none'` if user denied or hasn't yet granted the permission

accessPrivileges
(optional)

'all' | 'limited' | 'none'

Indicates if your app has access to the whole or only part of the photo library. Possible values are:

'all' if the user granted your app access to the whole photo library
'limited' if the user granted your app access only to selected photos (only available on Android API 34+ and iOS 14.0+)
'none' if user denied or hasn't yet granted the permission

Android

iOS

Web

`MediaType`

Literal Type: string

Media types that can be picked by the image picker.

'images' - for images.
'videos' - for videos.
'livePhotos' - for live photos (iOS only).

When the livePhotos type is added to the media types array and a live photo is selected, the resulting ImagePickerAsset will contain an unaltered image and the pairedVideoAsset field will contain a video asset paired with the image. This option will be ignored when the allowsEditing option is enabled. Due to platform limitations live photos are returned at original quality, regardless of the quality option.

When on Android or Web livePhotos type passed as a media type will be ignored.

Acceptable values are: 'images' | 'videos' | 'livePhotos'

Android

iOS

Web

`OpenFileBrowserOptions`

Name	Type	Description
allowsMultipleSelection	`boolean`	Only for: Web Whether or not to allow selecting multiple media files at once.
base64	`boolean`	Whether to also include the image data in Base64 format.
capture (optional)	`boolean`	-
mediaTypes (optional)	`MediaType \| MediaType[] \| MediaTypeOptions`	Choose what type of media to pick. Default:`'images'`

Android

iOS

Web

`PermissionExpiration`

Literal Type: multiple types

Permission expiration time. Currently, all permissions are granted permanently.

Acceptable values are: 'never' | number

Android

iOS

Web

`PermissionHookOptions`

Literal Type: multiple types

Acceptable values are: PermissionHookBehavior | Options

Enums

Android

iOS

Web

Deprecated To set media types available in the image picker use an array of MediaType instead.

Android

iOS

Web

Android

iOS

Web

Android

iOS

Web

iOS

`UIImagePickerPresentationStyle`

Picker presentation style. Its values are directly mapped to the UIModalPresentationStyle.

UIImagePickerPresentationStyle Values

Only for:

iOS

Android

iOS

Web

Android Permission	Description
`CAMERA`	Required to be able to access the camera device.
`READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`	Allows an application to read from external storage.
`WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`	Allows an application to write to external storage.

iOS

The following usage description keys are used by the APIs in this library.

Info.plist Key	Description
`NSMicrophoneUsageDescription`	A message that tells the user why the app is requesting access to the device’s microphone.
`NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription`	A message that tells the user why the app is requesting access to the user’s photo library.
`NSCameraUsageDescription`	A message that tells the user why the app is requesting access to the device’s camera.