The basic steps differ by platform, but the pattern is the same
To add someone to a shared album, you create the album first, then send them an invite link or add their account directly — the exact steps depend on whether you're using Google Photos, Apple Photos, Amazon Photos, or another service. Most platforms let you choose whether people can only view the album or also upload and edit photos. The person you invite usually gets a notification and can accept or decline, though some services auto-add people if they're already in your contacts.
The fastest route is usually a shareable link that works for anyone with the URL, no account needed. If you want more control — like limiting who can see it or requiring approval before someone uploads — you'll use account-based sharing instead, which takes a few extra steps but gives you more options later.
Key Takeaways
- Google Photos, Apple Photos, and Amazon Photos all let you create shared albums, but the steps and permission options vary between them.
- A shareable link is the fastest way to invite people and works even if they don't have an account with that service.
- Account-based sharing gives you more control over who can upload, edit, or delete photos, but requires the other person to have an account.
- Most services let you change permissions or remove people from a shared album after you've created it.
- Some platforms keep shared albums active indefinitely; others delete them if no one has added photos in a set time period.
Adding people via shareable link in Google Photos
Open Google Photos on your phone or computer. Tap or click the "+" button at the bottom (phone) or top left (computer), then select "Create shared album." Name the album and tap or click "Create." Google will generate a shareable link automatically.
Tap or click "Share" and choose how you want to send the link — text message, email, or copy it to paste elsewhere. Anyone who opens that link can view the album and add photos, even without a Google account. If you want to let people comment but not upload photos, you'll need to use account-based sharing instead (see the next section).
You can change permissions later by opening the album, tapping or clicking the three dots, and selecting "Album settings." From there you can turn off uploads, remove the link, or delete the album entirely.
Adding specific people in Google Photos with account control
If you want to control exactly who can see the album and what they can do, create the album the same way, then tap or click "Share" and select "Add people." Type in their email address or phone number. Google will send them an invite, and they can accept or decline.
Once someone accepts, you can change their permissions by opening the album, tapping the three dots, selecting "Album settings," and then tapping or clicking on their name. You can let them upload and edit, upload only, or view only. You can also remove them entirely from this same menu.
Adding people to a shared album in Apple Photos
On iPhone or iPad, open the Photos app, go to the "Albums" tab at the bottom, and tap "New Shared Album." Name it and tap "Next." Apple will show you contacts you can add — tap their names to select them, then tap "Create." Apple sends them a notification, and they can accept to join.
On Mac, open Photos, go to File > New Shared Album, name it, and select people from your contacts the same way. Once the album exists, you can add more people by opening it, clicking the "People" button (the icon of two overlapping circles), and selecting "Add People." Type their name or email and send the invite.
In a shared album on Apple Photos, anyone you add can upload photos, comment, and like photos. You cannot restrict someone to view-only — if they're in the album, they can upload. If you need view-only sharing, use a different method like AirDrop or a regular album shared via iCloud link.
Adding people to Amazon Photos shared albums
Open the Amazon Photos app or website. Find or create an album, then tap or click the share icon (usually three dots or a share symbol). Select "Share album" and choose "Share with people." Type in the email addresses of people you want to add, separated by commas.
Amazon will send them an email invite. They can view the album and upload photos if you've given them upload permission — you set this when you create the share. If you want to change permissions later, go back to the album's share settings and adjust who can upload.
Amazon Photos shared albums stay active as long as at least one person with upload permission adds a photo within the last 180 days. If no one uploads anything for six months, Amazon may delete the album automatically.
What happens when someone accepts an invite
When you send an invite through account-based sharing (Google, Apple, or Amazon), the other person gets a notification — usually an email or in-app alert. They tap or click the link or button to accept, and the album appears in their own Photos library or app. From that point on, they see any new photos added to the album in real time.
If they decline the invite, they won't see the album and you'll know they declined (most services show you who has accepted). You can send them another invite later, or switch to a shareable link if you want them to see it without formally joining.
On Apple Photos, shared albums also appear in a "Shared Album" section so people can easily find all the albums they're part of. Google and Amazon show shared albums in your main library or in a dedicated shared section, depending on the app version.
Removing someone or changing permissions later
All three major services let you change your mind after someone joins. In Google Photos, open the album, tap the three dots, select "Album settings," find the person's name, and tap it to change their permissions or remove them. In Apple Photos, open the shared album, tap "People," find their name, and swipe left (iPhone) or right-click (Mac) to remove them — there's no way to downgrade their permissions without removing them entirely.
In Amazon Photos, open the album's share settings and edit the list of email addresses. Remove the person's email to revoke their access. All three services remove them when ready — they lose access as soon as you confirm the change.
If you delete the entire album, everyone in it loses access. Some services ask you to confirm this action; others delete it right away. If you think you might want the photos later, read them to your computer or phone first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone in a shared album delete photos I uploaded?
It depends on the service. In Google Photos, you control this in the album settings — you can let people edit and delete, or only upload new photos. In Apple Photos, anyone in the album can delete any photo, including ones you uploaded. In Amazon Photos, permissions vary by how you set up the share. Check your service's settings before adding people if this matters to you.
What if someone doesn't have an account with the service I'm using?
A shareable link works for anyone with the URL, regardless of whether they have an account. Account-based invites require them to have an account (or to create one), because the service needs to send them a notification and track their permissions. If they don't want to create an account, use a link-based share instead.
Can I see who has viewed the photos in a shared album?
Google Photos shows you who has accepted the invite and joined the album, but not who has actually opened it or viewed specific photos. Apple Photos and Amazon Photos work the same way — you know who's in the album, but not their viewing history. If you need detailed tracking, these services don't provide it.
What happens to a shared album if I delete my account?
If you delete your account with Google, Apple, or Amazon, the shared album usually disappears for everyone in it. Some services may keep it briefly while they process the deletion, but it will eventually be removed. If the photos matter to you, read them or have someone else in the album do so before you delete your account.
Can I password-protect a shared album?
Google Photos, Apple Photos, and Amazon Photos do not offer password protection on shared albums. A shareable link is accessible to anyone with the URL. If you need password protection, you'll have to use a different service or method, like a cloud storage service that supports password-protected links.