Shared Album on iPhone: Set It Up and Fix Problems (2026)

To make a shared album on your iPhone, open the Photos app. Tap Collections, open Shared Albums and tap the plus button. Give the album a name, add some photos and use Sharing Options to choose who can join. Then share the link. Since iOS 27, even people with an Android phone or no Apple Account can add photos through that link.

Apple has shaken things up quite a bit with iOS 27. New albums keep your photos at full resolution, but everything that goes into them counts towards your iCloud storage. Here's how to set one up, what to do when it won't work and where Apple draws the line.

How to create a shared album on iPhone

In iOS 27, it works like this:

1. Go to Settings and tap your name, then iCloud, then Photos. Turn on Shared Albums.
2. Open the Photos app, tap Collections and then Shared Albums.
3. Tap the plus button and type a name in the Shared Album Name field.
4. Tap Add Photos, pick your photos and videos, then tap Done.
5. Tap Sharing Options and select People You Choose or Anyone with the Link.
6. Tap Done to create the album.
7. Open the album, tap Manage Shared Album and then Invite Participants. Send the invitation via Messages, Mail or another app, or tap Copy Album Link.

With People You Choose, anyone who gets the link second-hand can only request access. You'll get each request as a notification. They also show up in the Photos app. Go to Collections, tap your profile in the top right, then tap Invitations and Access Requests. If you pick Anyone with the Link, people can join straight away without your approval.

Only need the album for a short while, say a weekend away or a party? Turn on Make Album Temporary. A temporary album doesn't count towards your iCloud storage and holds up to 5,000 photos and videos. It disappears after 30 days, so save the photos you want to keep to your own photo library before then.

Shared album on iPhone not working? Here's how to fix it

The invitation hasn't arrived

Check Notification Centre first. You'll also find pending invitations in the Photos app: go to Collections and tap your profile in the top right. Still nothing? Ask which email address the invitation went to, and search that inbox for the album's name. Declined it by mistake? Then the owner has to invite you again. It's often quicker just to ask for the link. They can copy it in seconds with Copy Album Link.

You can't see the album

Albums made in iOS 27 only open in the Photos app if your iPhone is on iOS 27 or later too. The update is available for iPhone 11 and later, and for iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later. On an older iPhone, or if you haven't updated yet, go to iCloud.com in your browser instead. It's also worth checking that you're signed in with the same Apple Account on all your devices. Children with a Child Account can only join if an adult from their Family Sharing group is in the album too.

Shared Albums is turned off in your iCloud settings

While this setting is off, you won't see any invitations and you can't make an album of your own. Open Settings, tap your name and go to iCloud, then Photos. Scroll down and turn on Shared Albums. Was it off when you were invited? Then ask the owner to invite you again. In iOS 27, you also need iCloud Photos switched on, unless it's a temporary album. On the same screen, turn on Sync this device.

Your guests have Android phones

If the album was made in iOS 27, that's no longer a problem. Just send them the link, say by WhatsApp or email. They open it in their browser and join, even without an Apple Account. Apple does say they may have to request access, give an email address or sign in first. With an older album, people without iCloud can only look at the photos on a public website. They can't add any of their own. So upgrade that album first. Open it, tap the More button and choose Upgrade Shared Album.

You can't add photos

Photos not being shared after you add them? Ask whoever made the album to check they've still got enough iCloud storage. Everything participants add comes out of the owner's storage. Can't add anything at all? You probably only have permission to view. The owner can change that in Manage Shared Album by tapping your name and choosing Can Add Photos.

The limits of a shared album

iOS 27 has got rid of most of the best-known drawbacks. Photos are no longer shrunk, and people without an iPhone can simply join in. But new limits have taken their place.

• Your own storage fills up. New albums keep everything in original quality, including what other people add. All of it counts towards your iCloud storage. You get 5 GB free. For more space, you'll need a monthly iCloud+ subscription.
• No more than 100 participants. That includes you, and it won't go far at a wedding or a big party.
• Anyone with an Apple device has to update. Without iOS 27, they can only open the album on iCloud.com.
• A temporary album really is temporary. After 30 days it's gone. It holds up to 5,000 photos and videos.
• Old albums keep the old limits. Albums from iOS 26 or earlier shrink photos to 2048 pixels on the long edge. Videos are capped at 15 minutes and 720p. These albums hold up to 5,000 photos and videos, and people without iCloud can only view them. The new rules only kick in once you upgrade the album.
• Apple doesn't say where your photos are stored. iCloud uses Apple's own data centres as well as third-party ones, and Apple doesn't name a country. Shared albums aren't end-to-end encrypted either, not even with Advanced Data Protection turned on.

An alternative without Apple's limits

For your family or a few friends with iPhones, a shared album is fine. As long as your storage holds out, it won't cost you a penny either. At a wedding, birthday or company party with lots of guests, you'll soon run into the limits. That's where a service like Momentshare makes life easier. You create an event and get a QR code and a link. Guests scan the code and upload their photos and videos from their browser, on an iPhone or an Android phone. They don't need an app or an account.

Everything stays in original quality and is stored on servers in the EU. There's no limit on the number of guests, and you don't need any iCloud storage. You pay once per event, not every month. See how Momentshare works or try it out first with the free demo. Curious about other options? Our guide on how to share photos via link compares five of them, from WeTransfer to WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions about shared albums on iPhone

How do you create a shared album on iPhone?

Open the Photos app, tap Collections and then Shared Albums. Tap the plus button, give the album a name and add some photos. Use Sharing Options to choose who can join, then tap Done. To invite people, open the album, tap Manage Shared Album and then Invite Participants. You can also copy the link and send it round. Can't see Shared Albums? Turn it on first in Settings: tap your name, then iCloud, then Photos.

Why is my shared album not working?

Most of the time, Shared Albums is simply switched off in your iCloud settings. It could also be that someone isn't on iOS 27 yet, or that the owner has run out of iCloud storage. To check, go to Settings and tap your name, then iCloud, then Photos. Not on iOS 27 yet? Update your iPhone or open the album on iCloud.com. Someone can't add anything? The owner can fix that in Manage Shared Album by tapping that person's name and choosing Can Add Photos.

Can Android users add photos to an iPhone shared album?

Yes, as long as the album was made in iOS 27 or later. Android users open the link in their phone's browser and join, even without an Apple Account. They may need to request access, give an email address or sign in first. With an older album, they can only view the photos on a public website. Once the owner upgrades that album, they can add photos too.

Does a shared album count towards your iCloud storage?

Yes, since iOS 27. Everything in an album you've created counts towards your iCloud storage, including other people's photos and videos. You get 5 GB free. A temporary album doesn't count, but it disappears after 30 days. Albums from iOS 26 or earlier didn't count either, but they did shrink photos to 2048 pixels.