How to check if a photo is AI-generated on iPhone

1. Save the strongest copy you can find

If the image came through Messages, Mail, a website, or a social app, first look for an option to save or download the actual image. A direct file is usually more useful than a screenshot because it may retain its original dimensions, encoding, and some metadata. If the sender can share the original as a file instead of a pasted preview, ask for that version.

Do not assume that a file in Photos is untouched. Apps may resize, convert, or strip data during sharing. That does not make the image suspicious; it only limits what the file itself can tell you.

2. Open AICheck and choose the photo

1. Open the AICheck detector in your browser.
2. Select Image or video, then choose Quick photo scan or Choose an image or video.
3. When iPhone shows the photo picker, select only the image you want to review.
4. Wait while the bundled model and file-evidence checks run on your device.

Standard AICheck analysis is on-device by default. On the web, optional cloud model analysis is separate, requires an active Pro subscription, and only runs when you tick its consent box for that specific check.

3. Read each result as a separate clue

The model signal describes how the bundled detector responded to this copy of the image. A high signal is a reason to verify the source. A weak signal does not clear the photo as authentic, because newer generators, unfamiliar subjects, edits, compression, and screenshots can all affect model behavior.

Metadata may include dimensions, camera-related fields, dates, or editing-software text. Compare those details with the story attached to the image, but remember that metadata is editable and commonly removed. “No metadata found” is not a finding that the image was AI-generated.

AICheck may also report the presence of certain C2PA/JUMBF marker structures. It does not validate a credential's signature, signer, claim, or connection to the file. If a credential matters to your decision, use a signature-validating Content Credentials viewer.

4. Account for screenshots and exports

Sometimes a screenshot is the only copy available. You can still check it, but interpret the result as a check of the screenshot—not the original image. The new screen frame can have different dimensions, compression, color processing, and metadata. Interface elements or added text may also influence visual patterns.

Similarly, cropping in Photos, exporting through another app, or sending through a platform can create a new file. Keep notes about which version you tested so another person can reproduce the review.

5. Verify outside the phone checker

Return to the page or conversation where you found the image. Look for the earliest post, the account's history, a caption change, related frames, other camera angles, or independent reporting. A longer video or a sequence of photos may reveal context that one still image cannot.

If you plan to repost the image, describe uncertainty accurately. Saying “I could not locate the original source” or “one detector returned a high model signal” is more responsible than declaring the image fake. If the conclusion could harm a person, affect access, or influence a legal, school, employment, moderation, or safety decision, do not rely on AICheck as the sole basis.

Quick iPhone checklist

• Prefer a downloaded original over a screenshot.
• Check one known file version and note where it came from.
• Read model, metadata, and marker results separately.
• Do not interpret missing metadata or a low score as authenticity.
• Find the original source and independent context before sharing a conclusion.