Can't upload and share photos on Windows Phone 7

Article ID: 2413571 - View products that this article applies to.
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The services or features discussed in this article may not be available in your region. Please review the Windows Phone Feature and service availability (http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/How-to/wp7/basics/feature-and-service-availability) website for details on the services and features available in your region.
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Symptoms



You can't upload or share photos from Windows Phone 7 to SkyDrive or Facebook, and you might receive one of the following error messages:

  • Pictures are not uploading

    We can't upload pictures right now. Try again later.
  • Can't upload picture

    Please try again later

Cause

This problem might occur for several reasons:

  • There might be a temporary service outage or service issue with SkyDrive or Facebook.
  • You may have a poor cellular data connection or no connection at all.
  • Airplane mode might be enabled.
  • You might be connected to a wireless signal that has no Internet connection.
  • Your Windows Live username and password credentials may have changed.
  • You haven't finished setting up your Windows Live SkyDrive account.

Things to Try

To resolve your issue, try one of the following solutions:

  • Update your phone by using the Zune software on your computer. For more information about how to update, see the following article on the Windows Phone 7 Help and how-to website:
    How do I update my phone software?
  • Check the status of the Windows Live service:

    Service Status (English only)
  • Try uploading the photo again, in case there was a temporary service problem.
  • Check your wireless signal strength (tap the upper-left corner of your phone screen). If it is low, try again when you are in an area with stronger cellular coverage.
  • Disable airplane mode. From the Start screen, flick left to the App list, tap Settings
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    and then tap Airplane mode. If the Status is displayed as On, tap the toggle switch to turn it Off.

    Note If airplane mode is enabled, a small airplane icon will appear in the upper-left corner of the phone's screen.
  • To disconnect Wi-Fi and use your cellular data connection, go to Start, flick left to the App list, tap Settings
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    ,
    and then tap Wi-Fi. Tap the Wi-Fi networking toggle switch to turn it Off.

    Note Connection to a Wi-Fi signal does not automatically mean that you have an Internet connection. You can check whether you have an Internet connection by opening the Internet Explorer app on the device. If you can successfully browse to a website, such as Windows Phone, then you have an Internet connection.
  • On the phone, go to Start, flick left to the App list, tap Settings
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    , and then tap Email+accounts. Tap Windows Live and re-enter your username and password information, and then tap Done.
  • If you are trying to use the Zune software to sync with your PC, the following Xbox support article may also help resolve the issue:  Can’t sync to Windows Phone 7 or Zune
If these solutions don't resolve your problem, try more steps for Facebook or SkyDrive:

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Facebook logo
Facebook


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Make sure that your password is correct, or try removing and then re-adding your Facebook account.

Note Removing and re-adding your Facebook account will remove any manually linked contacts with Facebook.
  • To update your Facebook password: From Start, flick left to the App list, tap Settings
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    , tap Email+accounts, tap Facebook, enter your current password, and then tap Done. Try uploading a picture. If you still receive an error, remove and then re-add the account.
  • To remove Facebook: From Start, flick left to the App list, tap Settings
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    , tap Email+accounts, tap and hold Facebook, and then tap Delete two times (once to confirm).
  • To re-add Facebook: From Email+accounts, tap Add an account, and then tap Facebook. Enter your Facebook email address and password, and tap Sign in. Tap Connect to go directly to Facebook.
  • Try resetting your phone back to the original factory settings.

    Important When you reset your phone, you erase all personal data and restore your phone to the state it was in when you purchased it. In other words, you are wiping your phone clean. The personal content that gets erased after a reset includes: Purchased and downloaded apps, ringtones, saved games, contact groups, any pictures, music, or videos, and text messages, which can’t be restored after they’re deleted. Items that can be restored to the phone include: Media content that you previously synced with the Zune software, purchased apps, and saved games.

    To reset your Windows Phone, and then restore media content, follow the steps in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

    2606900 Your Windows Phone 7 doesn't work or respond as expected
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Skydrive logo
SkyDrive


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Here are some common issues that occur when uploading or sharing photos on SkyDrive:

  • If the pictures hub is not displaying your entire set of SkyDrive picture folders it may be due to how the folder is configured on SkyDrive. The pictures hub only shows "Photo" folders. To change the folder type:
    1. Go to SkyDrive.
    2. Click the folder that is not displaying photos and from the right pane, expand Information.
    3. Under Folder type, click Change.
    4. Select Photos and then click Save.
  • You may notice a "Mobile uploads" and/or a "SkyDrive camera roll" folder in your Pictures hub. These are normal, depending on how you use your phone:
    • Mobile uploads: When you manually choose to share on SkyDrive, pictures are stored in this folder.
    • Skydrive Camera roll: These are where pictures are stored after you enable the Automatically upload to SkyDrive setting on the phone.
  • Pictures uploaded automatically or manually via the "share with Skydrive" menu are at low resolution. You can upload your pictures at full resolution using the SkyDrive app, which is available in Marketplace.
  • You are unable to delete SkyDrive photos from the Pictures hub. You can manage your SkyDrive photos using the SkyDrive app, which is available in Marketplace.
  • If the battery power is low, pictures will not automatically upload to SkyDrive. If this happens, your phone might be able to upload the pictures, later, when you can connect the phone to the charger and have a data connection.
  • If you still have trouble uploading or sharing pictures, try resetting the phone.

    Important When you reset your phone, you erase all personal data and restore your phone to the state it was in when you purchased it. In other words, you are wiping your phone clean. The personal content that gets erased after a reset includes: Purchased and downloaded apps, ringtones, saved games, contact groups, any pictures, music, or videos, and text messages, which can’t be restored after they’re deleted. Items that can be restored to the phone include: Media content that you previously synced with the Zune software, purchased apps, and saved games.

    To reset your Windows Phone, and then restore media content, follow the steps in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

    2606900 Your Windows Phone doesn't work or respond as expected
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Properties

Article ID: 2413571 - Last Review: February 25, 2013 - Revision: 14.0
Applies to
  • Windows Phone Consumer
  • Windows Phone 7 Consumer
Keywords: 
kbwp7pictures kbwp7 kbwp7camera kbwp7connectivity kbwp7liveservices kbwp7sync KB2413571

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