How to Use iCloud Shared Albums to Share Photos with Anyone
Sharing photos shouldn’t require everyone to use the same device, app, or cloud service.
iCloud Shared Albums let you create private photo galleries that work across Macs, iPhones, iPads — and even non-Apple devices through a simple web link. You can invite people to contribute, control who can post, and share entire collections without using up your iCloud storage.
This guide walks through everything you need to know to confidently use Shared Albums on all your Apple devices.
🎓 What You’ll Learn
• What iCloud Shared Albums are and how they work
• How to create Shared Albums on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
• Multiple ways to add photos and videos to Shared Albums
• How to invite people and allow others to contribute
• How to create a public website for non-Apple users
• How notifications and activity tracking work
• Storage limits and important Shared Album restrictions
📸 Understanding iCloud Shared Albums
Shared Albums are separate from your personal photo library.
They allow you to:
• Share photos and videos without duplicating them locally
• Invite Apple ID users to view or contribute
• Create a public link viewable on any device or browser
Photos in Shared Albums live in iCloud but do not count toward your iCloud storage, making them ideal for long-term sharing.
🖥️ Creating Shared Albums on a Mac
On a Mac, Shared Albums can be created in several ways.
A common workflow is:
• Select the photos you want to share
• Click the Share button
• Choose Shared Albums
• Create a new album and name it
You can also create Shared Albums directly from the sidebar, then add photos later.
➕ Adding Photos to a Shared Album
Photos can be added in multiple ways:
• Drag photos directly into a Shared Album
• Use the Add Photos and Videos button
• Share selected photos into an existing Shared Album
This flexibility makes it easy to keep albums updated over time.
📱 Using Shared Albums on iPhone and iPad
Shared Albums work the same way across iOS and iPadOS.
From the Photos app, you can:
• View Shared Albums in the sidebar
• Add photos or videos directly
• Invite people or manage permissions
• See activity and comments
This makes Shared Albums perfect for trips or group events where everyone is taking photos.
🌐 Creating a Public Shared Album Website
One of the most powerful features is the Public Website option.
When enabled:
• iCloud generates a public web link
• Anyone can view the album in a browser
• No Apple ID or Apple device is required
This creates a private, shareable photo gallery without using social media.
👥 Inviting People and Managing Permissions
Shared Albums let you control how others interact.
You can:
• Invite people using email or phone number
• Allow subscribers to post photos
• Turn notifications on or off
• Remove subscribers at any time
Invited users receive notifications and can accept or decline access.
🔔 Notifications and Activity Tracking
Shared Albums include an activity feed that shows:
• When photos or videos are added
• Who joined an album
• Comments and likes
Notifications help keep everyone informed without needing separate messages.
⚠️ Shared Album Limits and Considerations
Shared Albums are generous, but not unlimited.
Key limits include:
• Up to 5,000 photos and videos per Shared Album
• Up to 200 Shared Albums per owner
• Upload rate limits to prevent abuse
While photos don’t count toward storage, they are not automatically saved to a subscriber’s library unless downloaded.
⚙️ Important Shared Album Preferences
Shared Albums must be enabled to work.
On Mac:
• Open Photos
• Go to Photos > Settings > iCloud
• Enable Shared Albums
On iPhone or iPad:
• Open Settings
• Tap your Apple ID
• Go to iCloud > Photos
• Turn on Shared Albums
Without this enabled, Shared Album features won’t appear.