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Ways to get photos from social networks
FaceMatch gives you three options for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google, and other networks. Use whichever fits — you can mix them.
| Option | Best for | Where in the app |
|---|---|---|
| Account Sign-In | Automated matching from official APIs when you connect an account | Settings → Account Sign-In |
| Import from Files | Exports you download yourself, or photos saved from Safari | Settings → Import from Files |
| Share from Safari | One-off profile photos when you do not have an export | Contact → Share Photo from Browser |
None of these are required. FaceMatch always matches from names, emails, phones, and profile URLs already saved on contact cards.
Before you start
1. Open Contacts in FaceMatch and pick a person.
2. Tap Edit Contact and add profile URLs or @handles (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.).
3. Return to the contact and run Find Photo for This Contact, or use Sync Social Photos for bulk matching.
4. Open the Review tab to approve suggestions before they update Apple Contacts.
Adding profile links to contacts gives the best results on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Account Sign-In
Use this when you want FaceMatch to call official APIs after you connect an account.
Steps
1. Open the Settings tab.
2. Tap Account Sign-In (also under Accounts & Activity).
3. Choose a platform (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google, Microsoft, Slack, X, Discord).
4. Tap Sign In and complete login in the browser sheet.
5. Return to FaceMatch — the platform should show Connected.
6. Go to Settings → Sync Preferences and ensure the platform is enabled.
7. Open Contacts → Sync Social Photos, or match one contact at a time.
8. Check the Review tab for suggestions.
Platform limits
- Settings → How to Get Photos — requirements per network (Instagram Business/Creator, Meta testers, etc.).
- From Account Sign-In, open Import from Files if sign-in is not available for your account type.
See Social sign-in for per-platform details.
Import from Files
Use this when you have a data export from a social network or a folder of named photos.
Steps
1. Open the Settings tab.
2. Tap Import from Files (also under Accounts & Activity or Help & Legal).
3. Choose an Import Type (photo folder, LinkedIn CSV, Google Takeout, Facebook JSON, Instagram JSON).
4. Tap Choose File… and select the export ZIP, CSV, vCard, or folder.
5. FaceMatch parses the file on your device — nothing is uploaded to a server.
6. When import finishes, tap Open Review Queue if photos were queued.
7. Approve matches in the Review tab before they update Contacts.
See Import from files for export download steps per network.
Share from Safari
Use this when you do not have an export:
1. Open a contact in FaceMatch.
2. Under Share Photo from Browser, tap the platform row to open Safari.
3. Long-press the profile photo → Share → FaceMatch.
4. Return to FaceMatch — the photo is applied to that contact automatically.
Fallback: save to Photos, then use Choose Photo from Library on the contact screen.
Which option for each network?
| Network | Account Sign-In | Import / manual |
|---|---|---|
| Graph API for profile links + app friends | Meta friends JSON; photo folder; Safari save | |
| Business Discovery for @handles (Business/Creator account) | Followers/following JSON; Safari save | |
| API for vanity URLs on contact cards | Connections.csv export; Safari save | |
| Google Contacts by email when signed in | Google Takeout vCard/CSV | |
| Microsoft / Slack | Workplace directory when emails match | Outlook CSV; photo folder |
| X / Discord | @handles on cards when signed in | Photo folder; Safari save |
| GitHub / Gravatar / Telegram / WhatsApp | Public lookup from card (no sign-in) | Photo folder |