| UPDATE: Normally, when Facebook updates the photos/album user experience, I just update this post.
However, recent changes have been pretty big, so I went ahead and wrote a new post with updated instructions, which you can find here. Cheers! Please note: Some of the links in my posts are affiliate links. I get commissions for purchases made through those links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases when you buy something from those links. –Sean |
With the rollout of the new Facebook timeline to most users, there has been a lot of confusion about how you used to do things in Facebook and how you do them now.
For me, one of the most confusing has been the organization of photos.
Because I upload a lot of photos to Facebook from my phone, every photo lands in my “Mobile Uploads” folder (also known as an album) by default. In the past, I would go into Facebook and edit the photo and choose which folder I want the photo to live in going forward.
With the new Facebook timeline, there has been a LOT of confusion, with some people arguing that you can’t re-organize photos at all with Timeline. The good news is that is false.
You can still organize your photos, it’s just a little different.
If you have tried to move photos around to a different folder, you have likely noticed that there is no way to do this by editing the photo. As seen in the image below, you can edit all kinds of image attributes like description, location, and who was with you when the photo was taken.
Dropping down the little gear icon in the upper-right corner will even allow you to rotate the photo or set it as your profile photo. What it doesn’t allow you to do, however, is move it to a new folder.
Editing a photo within the new Facebook timeline allows you to adjust the description, who was with you when you took and the place where it was taken.
So, once you have edited the photo, how do you move it to a specific folder? You actually do that by editing the folder information. So, to move the photo of my angry bird I do the following:
1) First, decide on which album you want to move the existing photo out from. You can see the full listing of your current albums by clicking the “Albums” link next to your name (see image).
2) Next, click the album where the image currently resides. In my case, I am moving an image out of the “Mobile Uploads” album and into a new one I have created.
3) Click the “Edit Album” link which will change the view of the album, giving you more control over the album and the ability to move photos.
4) Find the photo you want to move and locate the small drop-down image in the upper-right corner. Click that and choose “Move To Another Album”
You can move an image to another album with this new dropdown menu.
5) Select the new album and then click “Move Photo” and you should be all set!
Select your new target album, where you want the photo located
Clear as mud? It’s a little awkward, but Facebook is still working out all the kinks of timeline and all the changes it brings.
Hopefully, they will realize that this is a user-experience nightmare and will adjust the process to make it easier.
In the meantime, I hope this tips helps you better organize your Facebook photos.
Know of a better/faster way or is this not working for you? Feel free to leave a comment!
Cheers!
–Sean
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Lynnette
Thursday 4th of August 2022
Edit album is not an option for Timeline Photos or Mobile uploads. Wish I had known that earlier and I would have uploaded directly to an album instead of to my Timeline.
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Tuesday 8th of June 2021
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Lisa
Sunday 6th of June 2021
Ugh, so annoying! June 2021 and still no way that I can see how to move photos to a different album. This was changed when facebook did an update, as most of you know now but for anyone not wanting to scroll up and read previous comments ... as of today there is no way to change a photos album so if you accidentally shared something to a wrong album, you cannot move it. Hopefully this changes soon. If you want to keep it there and wait until facebook fixes this issue, you could always put a particular photo you don't want there on "me only" so nobody else can see it but you and when/if facebook changes this issue you can move it then and change the view but at least for now it cannot be seen ... just an idea if this is an issue for anyone.
Jordan styles
Saturday 6th of March 2021
Has there ever been a solution? It’s March of 2021, and I still can’t seem to move photos. I uploaded some photos at the pumpkin patch last October I just want to sort into albums for my designated children and because I didn’t upload them individually I can’t separate them? Has anyone found a loop hole yet?
Roger
Tuesday 6th of April 2021
No. They haven't made the adjustment and it's been months now.
MetalLaires
Monday 15th of February 2021
FB doesnt have an 'edit album' button for certain folders so you cant mov the photo. It is impossible. I even have uploaded 3 pictures at the same time, 2 of them come in "timeline"folder, the 3rd in "uploads from my phone" folder.
I hate FB, they make everything difficult to do things your own way! I only use it because of contact with my oversea family.