Photos
Shared Albums
Most people call this albums other people can see and add to.
A Shared Album lets chosen people view, comment on and optionally add photos, without using your iCloud storage allowance.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 18 and later
- Settings
- Apps
- Photos
- Shared Albums
What it does
Shared photos are stored at reduced resolution and do not count against your iCloud storage. A public website link can be created, which anyone with the address can open.
What changes
When it is on
The Shared Albums feature is available in Photos.
When it is off
Shared albums disappear from your library.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Does not consume your iCloud storage.
- Others can contribute their own photos.
- Works for people without an Apple device through a link.
Good reasons to turn it off
- A public link can be forwarded to anyone.
- Shared photos are not full resolution.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
Depends how you use it
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
Helps
Out of the box: On.
Worth reading first
Where this setting used to live
Apple moves settings between releases. This is every location we have on file.
-
iOS 18 and later
Settings > Apps > Photos > Shared Albums
-
iOS 13 to iOS 17
Settings > Photos > Shared Albums
Questions people actually ask
- Do shared albums use my iCloud storage?
- No. Shared Album photos are stored separately and do not count against your allowance.
If it is not working
- Turning the feature off removes shared albums from your device. Save anything you want to keep first.
- Public Website creates a link that needs no account, so treat it as public.
- Shared Library is a different feature with full resolution and shared ownership.