You can open Procreate files on an iPhone with Procreate Pocket, the iPhone version of the app. Open its Gallery, tap the Files or Photos icon, and pick the file to import it as a new canvas. Procreate stores artwork locally inside the app and has no gallery sync, so files made on an iPad reach your iPhone only if you export them (AirDrop, iCloud Drive, or another cloud service) and import them into Pocket.

Which Procreate Are You Dealing With?

Procreate comes in two versions: Procreate for iPad and Procreate Pocket for iPhone. They are separate apps with separate galleries. Procreate does not have an account system. Your artwork is tied to the device and Apple ID, and it lives inside the app on that device.

That explains the most common frustration. If you painted on an iPad and open Procreate Pocket on your phone, the gallery will be empty. Nothing moves between the two automatically, even if both devices use the same Apple ID. Getting a file onto the iPhone is always a manual export-and-import step.

Three common situations call for different approaches:

• Files already on your iPhone in Pocket, Files, or Photos
• Files on an iPad or Mac that you want on your phone
• Files in Pocket that you want on a computer or in another app

Import Files and Images Into Procreate Pocket

If the file is already on your phone, importing takes a few taps.

Import From the Files App

1. Open Procreate Pocket and go to the Gallery.
2. Tap the Files icon in the bottom Gallery menu.
3. Browse to the folder where the file is stored (iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or a connected cloud provider).
4. Tap the file to import it. It appears in the Gallery as a new canvas.

Import From Photos

1. In the Gallery, tap the Photos icon in the bottom menu.
2. Choose the album and tap the image you want.

Importing an image creates a new canvas from it. This is useful for bringing in reference frames, stills from a video, or renders you want to paint over on your phone.

Drag and Drop

You can also drag an image into Procreate Pocket from another app, using iOS multitasking gestures, to create a canvas directly.

Move Procreate Files From an iPad to an iPhone

To get artwork from an iPad onto an iPhone, export the .procreate format from the iPad first. That format keeps layers, settings, and Time-Lapse Replay data. Flattened formats such as PNG or JPEG are fine if you only need a reference image.

Option 1: AirDrop

1. In Procreate on the iPad, open the Gallery and tap Select.
2. Tap the artworks you want. A tick marks each selection.
3. Tap Share, choose the Procreate format, then choose AirDrop.
4. Pick your iPhone from the device list. If it doesn't appear, check the AirDrop receiving settings on the phone.
5. Tap Accept on the iPhone.

Received files usually land in Files → Downloads. Tap a file to open it in Procreate Pocket, or import it from the Gallery using the Files icon.

Option 2: Cloud Storage or iCloud Drive

1. On the iPad, select the artwork in the Gallery and tap Share.
2. Choose the Procreate format, then Save to Files.
3. Pick iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or another location available in Files.
4. On the iPhone, open Procreate Pocket and import the file from Files.

If you save to iCloud Drive, the file appears in the Files app on your other devices once it syncs, which makes this a reasonable route when the devices aren't in the same room.

A Compatibility Note

Pocket and the iPad app are different products, and features differ between them. Brushes, canvas sizes, and certain tools may not carry over identically. If an imported .procreate file looks different from what you expect, export a PSD or PNG from the iPad as a fallback. Test with one file before moving a whole project library.

Access Pocket Files From a Mac

If you want your iPhone artwork on a computer, there are two routes.

Share to a Folder or Cloud Service

From the Pocket Gallery, swipe a thumbnail to the left to reveal Share, or use Select to pick several canvases. Then choose your format and destination. Using Save to Files puts the export in iCloud Drive or On My iPhone. Anything in iCloud Drive can be opened from Finder or the Files app on your other devices once it syncs.

Connect With a Cable

1. Plug the iPhone into the Mac with a suitable USB cable and open a Finder window.
2. Select the iPhone under Locations in the sidebar.
3. Click Files in the top navigation to see apps that expose files.
4. Open the Pocket entry. You'll see folders such as Fonts, ACC, and Inbox.
5. In Pocket, share one or more images and choose the iTunes destination. The files then appear in the Pocket directory on the Mac, ready to drag out like any other file.

This route is quick for bulk transfers when you don't want to rely on cloud sync.

Export Formats and Sharing From Pocket

When you share from Pocket, you choose the file format at the share step. Pick the one that matches where the artwork is going:

• Procreate format to keep layers and settings for editing in Procreate
• PSD for layered editing in other software
• PNG for flat images with transparency
• JPEG for quick previews or client review
• PDF for documents or stacks

You can share a single canvas from its thumbnail, or enter Select mode to export multiple artworks at once. The share sheet also reaches AirDrop, AirPrint, and any app that provides a document extension. Format availability can vary by app version, so check the share menu on your device.

Why Your Files Seem to Be Missing

Several quirks cause confusion when you're trying to find Procreate files on a phone.

Files are stored inside the app. Procreate keeps artwork in its own storage, not in a visible folder. If you delete the app, overwrite storage, or lose the device, the artwork can be lost permanently unless you backed it up.

There is no gallery sync. The only ways to get a gallery to another device are a full-device restore from backup or manual export and import.

The iCloud Drive document storage setting is not a backup. Users on Procreate's own forums have reported that switching the document storage option to iCloud Drive doesn't change where Procreate keeps its files. Treat it as unreliable and export copies instead.

Device backups restore everything or nothing. A full iCloud or computer backup can include Procreate if it's enabled, but you can't pull out a single artwork from it. You'd restore the whole device. For individual access, export .procreate files to external storage.

Exports to Photos may sync elsewhere. If you share an Apple ID with someone and use iCloud Photos, a JPEG or PNG you save to Photos can show up on their devices too.

A sensible routine: before an OS or app update, select your key canvases, export them in the Procreate format, and save them to a location outside the phone. Keep copies in more than one place.

Bringing Procreate Artwork Into a Motion Pipeline

For motion designers and animators, Procreate often serves as a fast sketching and concepting tool, and the files then move into After Effects, Photoshop, Blender, Cinema 4D, or Nuke. A few habits make that handoff smoother:

• Export layered PSDs when you need to animate pieces separately in After Effects. Name and organize layers before export.
• Export PNG with transparency for single elements, textures, or matte painting pieces.
• Keep the .procreate original as your editable master and treat exports as deliverables.
• Use consistent canvas sizes that match your comp resolution so you aren't rescaling hand-painted work.

Troubleshooting

The imported file won't open. Confirm the file extension is .procreate or a supported image format. If it came through AirDrop, look in Files → Downloads and open it from there.

AirDrop doesn't show the iPhone. Check that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, and that the iPhone's AirDrop setting allows receiving from the sending device.

The Pocket folder doesn't appear in Finder. Make sure the iPhone is unlocked and trusted, then reselect it under Locations. Finder only lists apps that expose files.

The file looks different on the phone. Check whether Pocket supports the brushes, canvas size, or tools used. Re-export as PSD or PNG if you only need the image.

The gallery is empty on a new phone. Procreate has no account to log into. You'll need to restore from a device backup or re-import exported files. Remember that restoring a full backup onto a device with content you want to keep will overwrite that content.

FAQ

Can I open Procreate for iPad on my iPhone? No. Procreate for iPad is iPad-only. On an iPhone you use Procreate Pocket.

Can I see my iPad artwork on my iPhone automatically? No. Procreate does not sync galleries between devices. Export and import manually.

What's the safest way to keep my artwork? Export .procreate copies to cloud storage, a drive, or another device, in addition to any full-device backup.

Can I view Procreate files without Procreate? Not as editable files. Export to PSD, PNG, JPEG, or PDF from the app and open those in any compatible software or viewer.

You can open Procreate files on an iPhone with Procreate Pocket, the iPhone version of the app. Open its Gallery, tap the Files or Photos icon, and pick the file to import it as a new canvas. Procreate stores artwork locally inside the app and has no gallery sync, so files made on an iPad reach your iPhone only if you export them (AirDrop, iCloud Drive, or another cloud service) and import them into Pocket.

Which Procreate Are You Dealing With?

Procreate comes in two versions: Procreate for iPad and Procreate Pocket for iPhone. They are separate apps with separate galleries. Procreate does not have an account system. Your artwork is tied to the device and Apple ID, and it lives inside the app on that device.

That explains the most common frustration. If you painted on an iPad and open Procreate Pocket on your phone, the gallery will be empty. Nothing moves between the two automatically, even if both devices use the same Apple ID. Getting a file onto the iPhone is always a manual export-and-import step.

Three common situations call for different approaches:

• Files already on your iPhone in Pocket, Files, or Photos
• Files on an iPad or Mac that you want on your phone
• Files in Pocket that you want on a computer or in another app

Import Files and Images Into Procreate Pocket

If the file is already on your phone, importing takes a few taps.

Import From the Files App

1. Open Procreate Pocket and go to the Gallery.
2. Tap the Files icon in the bottom Gallery menu.
3. Browse to the folder where the file is stored (iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or a connected cloud provider).
4. Tap the file to import it. It appears in the Gallery as a new canvas.

Import From Photos

1. In the Gallery, tap the Photos icon in the bottom menu.
2. Choose the album and tap the image you want.

Importing an image creates a new canvas from it. This is useful for bringing in reference frames, stills from a video, or renders you want to paint over on your phone.

Drag and Drop

You can also drag an image into Procreate Pocket from another app, using iOS multitasking gestures, to create a canvas directly.

Move Procreate Files From an iPad to an iPhone

To get artwork from an iPad onto an iPhone, export the .procreate format from the iPad first. That format keeps layers, settings, and Time-Lapse Replay data. Flattened formats such as PNG or JPEG are fine if you only need a reference image.

Option 1: AirDrop

1. In Procreate on the iPad, open the Gallery and tap Select.
2. Tap the artworks you want. A tick marks each selection.
3. Tap Share, choose the Procreate format, then choose AirDrop.
4. Pick your iPhone from the device list. If it doesn't appear, check the AirDrop receiving settings on the phone.
5. Tap Accept on the iPhone.

Received files usually land in Files → Downloads. Tap a file to open it in Procreate Pocket, or import it from the Gallery using the Files icon.

Option 2: Cloud Storage or iCloud Drive

1. On the iPad, select the artwork in the Gallery and tap Share.
2. Choose the Procreate format, then Save to Files.
3. Pick iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or another location available in Files.
4. On the iPhone, open Procreate Pocket and import the file from Files.

If you save to iCloud Drive, the file appears in the Files app on your other devices once it syncs, which makes this a reasonable route when the devices aren't in the same room.

A Compatibility Note

Pocket and the iPad app are different products, and features differ between them. Brushes, canvas sizes, and certain tools may not carry over identically. If an imported .procreate file looks different from what you expect, export a PSD or PNG from the iPad as a fallback. Test with one file before moving a whole project library.

Access Pocket Files From a Mac

If you want your iPhone artwork on a computer, there are two routes.

Share to a Folder or Cloud Service

From the Pocket Gallery, swipe a thumbnail to the left to reveal Share, or use Select to pick several canvases. Then choose your format and destination. Using Save to Files puts the export in iCloud Drive or On My iPhone. Anything in iCloud Drive can be opened from Finder or the Files app on your other devices once it syncs.

Connect With a Cable

1. Plug the iPhone into the Mac with a suitable USB cable and open a Finder window.
2. Select the iPhone under Locations in the sidebar.
3. Click Files in the top navigation to see apps that expose files.
4. Open the Pocket entry. You'll see folders such as Fonts, ACC, and Inbox.
5. In Pocket, share one or more images and choose the iTunes destination. The files then appear in the Pocket directory on the Mac, ready to drag out like any other file.

This route is quick for bulk transfers when you don't want to rely on cloud sync.

Export Formats and Sharing From Pocket

When you share from Pocket, you choose the file format at the share step. Pick the one that matches where the artwork is going:

• Procreate format to keep layers and settings for editing in Procreate
• PSD for layered editing in other software
• PNG for flat images with transparency
• JPEG for quick previews or client review
• PDF for documents or stacks

You can share a single canvas from its thumbnail, or enter Select mode to export multiple artworks at once. The share sheet also reaches AirDrop, AirPrint, and any app that provides a document extension. Format availability can vary by app version, so check the share menu on your device.

Why Your Files Seem to Be Missing

Several quirks cause confusion when you're trying to find Procreate files on a phone.

Files are stored inside the app. Procreate keeps artwork in its own storage, not in a visible folder. If you delete the app, overwrite storage, or lose the device, the artwork can be lost permanently unless you backed it up.

There is no gallery sync. The only ways to get a gallery to another device are a full-device restore from backup or manual export and import.

The iCloud Drive document storage setting is not a backup. Users on Procreate's own forums have reported that switching the document storage option to iCloud Drive doesn't change where Procreate keeps its files. Treat it as unreliable and export copies instead.

Device backups restore everything or nothing. A full iCloud or computer backup can include Procreate if it's enabled, but you can't pull out a single artwork from it. You'd restore the whole device. For individual access, export .procreate files to external storage.

Exports to Photos may sync elsewhere. If you share an Apple ID with someone and use iCloud Photos, a JPEG or PNG you save to Photos can show up on their devices too.

A sensible routine: before an OS or app update, select your key canvases, export them in the Procreate format, and save them to a location outside the phone. Keep copies in more than one place.

Bringing Procreate Artwork Into a Motion Pipeline

For motion designers and animators, Procreate often serves as a fast sketching and concepting tool, and the files then move into After Effects, Photoshop, Blender, Cinema 4D, or Nuke. A few habits make that handoff smoother:

• Export layered PSDs when you need to animate pieces separately in After Effects. Name and organize layers before export.
• Export PNG with transparency for single elements, textures, or matte painting pieces.
• Keep the .procreate original as your editable master and treat exports as deliverables.
• Use consistent canvas sizes that match your comp resolution so you aren't rescaling hand-painted work.

Troubleshooting

The imported file won't open. Confirm the file extension is .procreate or a supported image format. If it came through AirDrop, look in Files → Downloads and open it from there.

AirDrop doesn't show the iPhone. Check that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, and that the iPhone's AirDrop setting allows receiving from the sending device.

The Pocket folder doesn't appear in Finder. Make sure the iPhone is unlocked and trusted, then reselect it under Locations. Finder only lists apps that expose files.

The file looks different on the phone. Check whether Pocket supports the brushes, canvas size, or tools used. Re-export as PSD or PNG if you only need the image.

The gallery is empty on a new phone. Procreate has no account to log into. You'll need to restore from a device backup or re-import exported files. Remember that restoring a full backup onto a device with content you want to keep will overwrite that content.

FAQ

Can I open Procreate for iPad on my iPhone? No. Procreate for iPad is iPad-only. On an iPhone you use Procreate Pocket.

Can I see my iPad artwork on my iPhone automatically? No. Procreate does not sync galleries between devices. Export and import manually.

What's the safest way to keep my artwork? Export .procreate copies to cloud storage, a drive, or another device, in addition to any full-device backup.

Can I view Procreate files without Procreate? Not as editable files. Export to PSD, PNG, JPEG, or PDF from the app and open those in any compatible software or viewer.