How to add art to a Samsung Frame TV from an iPhone
Updated September 17, 2026
Everything about the Samsung Frame is designed around the SmartThings app, and it works well on iPhone – the one snag is that iOS keeps downloaded files in Files, while SmartThings only looks in Photos. Once you know that, adding art from an iPhone takes a couple of minutes.
Setup (once)
- Install SmartThings from the App Store.
- Sign in with the same Samsung account that is signed in on the TV (Settings → General → System Manager → Samsung Account on the TV).
- Put the iPhone on the same Wi-Fi network as the Frame. The TV should appear on the SmartThings home screen; if not, tap + → Add device → Samsung → TV.
Get the art into Photos
- Downloaded from Etsy, email or this site: open the Files app → Downloads. If it is a ZIP, tap it to unzip. Open a JPEG, tap Share → Save Image. To do many at once: tap Select, choose the files, Share → Save Images.
- From a Mac: AirDrop the JPEGs to the iPhone; they arrive in Photos directly.
- Your own photos: already in Photos – nothing to do.
Upload from the iPhone
SmartThings → your Frame TV → Art Mode
The Art Mode screen shows the Art Store, Favourites and My Collection.
Add your photos
Tap Add your photos, allow Photos access if asked, and select the images.
Matte and filter
For art that is already 16:9 choose matte None for full screen, or a warm-white matte for a framed look. Photo filters are optional and mostly for snapshots.
Upload, then Display on TV
Uploads take a few seconds each. Tap the new piece in My Collection → Display on TV.
Changing art later is the same screen: tap any piece → Display on TV. That is how to change Frame TV art from your phone without touching the remote.
If the upload fails
- TV not listed: wrong Samsung account, or the phone is on the 5 GHz band and the TV on 2.4 GHz with client isolation – join the same band, or add the TV manually.
- Upload stuck: file over ~20 MB, or the TV is fully powered off (hold Power to turn it fully off/on; Art Mode counts as on).
- HEIC error on an older Frame: export as JPEG from Photos (Share → Options → Most Compatible) and retry.
- Art looks cropped: it is not 16:9 – see size and dimensions.
Alternatives to the app
If SmartThings is being difficult, a USB stick in the One Connect box is the reliable fallback – Art Mode → My Collection → Photos → USB. Details in the upload guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which app do I use to put art on a Frame TV from an iPhone?
Samsung SmartThings (free, App Store). There is no separate 'Frame TV app'; Art Mode lives inside SmartThings under your TV.
Why can't SmartThings see my downloaded art?
The picker only shows the Photos library. Files downloaded in Safari, Mail or Etsy sit in the Files app – open them there and use Share → Save Image.
Do HEIC iPhone photos work on the Frame?
On 2021-and-newer Frames yes. On older models, convert to JPEG (Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible for new photos, or export from Photos as JPEG).
Can I AirDrop art to the Frame TV?
Not directly – the Frame is not an AirDrop target. AirDrop the files from a Mac to your iPhone (they land in Photos), then upload with SmartThings. Or use AirPlay to mirror temporarily, which does not save the art.
