The fastest way depends on which app you're using

Adding someone to a shared album takes different steps depending on whether you're using Apple Photos, Google Photos, Amazon Photos, or another service. All of them let you share by sending a link or inviting specific people, but the buttons and menus are in different places. The method also changes slightly depending on whether you're on a phone, tablet, or computer.

The good news: once you know where to look in your app, the actual process takes under a minute. You don't need to email files or use a separate service — the app handles sending the invitation and syncing photos automatically once someone accepts.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Photos, Google Photos, and Amazon Photos all have a share button or menu option inside the album itself — look for a person icon or a three-dot menu.
  • You can share by sending a link (anyone with the link can view) or by inviting specific people by email or contact name.
  • The person you invite will see a notification and can accept or decline; they don't automatically see your photos until they accept.
  • On a phone, the share option is usually at the top or bottom of the album; on a computer, check the toolbar or right-click the album name.
  • Some apps let the other person add photos to the shared album too, while others make it view-only — check your app's settings if you want collaboration.

Adding someone in Apple Photos

Open the Photos app and go to the album you want to share. Tap the Add People button — it looks like a person with a plus sign and is usually at the top right of the screen. On a Mac, click the share icon (it looks like an arrow pointing out of a box) in the toolbar instead.

You'll see options to share via link or to invite specific people. If you choose to invite people, type their name or email address. Apple will send them a notification, and once they accept, they can see all the photos in that album. If you turn on Collaborate, they can also add their own photos and videos to the shared album.

On an iPhone or iPad, you can also swipe left on the album name from the main Albums tab and tap the share icon that appears. On a Mac, right-click the album name in the sidebar and select Share Album.

Adding someone in Google Photos

Open Google Photos and find the album you want to share. Tap the Share button at the top — it looks like a person with a plus sign. You can then choose to create a shareable link (which you can send to anyone) or invite specific people by typing their email address.

If you invite someone by email, Google sends them a notification. They can view the album right away without needing to accept anything. If you create a link instead, anyone who has that link can view the album, even if they don't have a Google account.

On a computer, the share button is in the top toolbar. On a phone or tablet, it's also at the top of the album view. Google Photos does not currently let shared people add photos to the album — it's view-only unless you give them editor access to the entire Google Drive folder instead.

Adding someone in Amazon Photos

Open the Amazon Photos app or website and select the album. Look for a Share button, usually near the top right. You can create a shareable link or invite people by email address.

If you invite someone by email, they'll receive a notification and can view the album once they accept. Amazon Photos also lets you set permissions — you can choose whether people can only view photos or can also upload their own. This makes it useful if you want family members to contribute photos to the same album.

On a phone, the share button is typically at the top of the album. On a computer, look in the toolbar or use the three-dot menu next to the album name.

Sharing by link versus inviting by email

A shareable link is a URL you can send to anyone — via text, email, social media, or any other way. Anyone who has the link can view the album, even if they don't have an account with that service. The downside is that anyone with the link can see it, so it's less private than inviting specific people.

Inviting by email sends a notification directly to the person's email address. They have to accept the invitation before they can see the album, and only people you specifically invite can view it. This is more private and also lets you track who has access.

If you're sharing with family or close friends, inviting by email is usually the better choice. If you're sharing with a large group or people you don't have email addresses for, a shareable link is faster.

What happens after you send an invitation

When you invite someone by email, they'll receive a notification from the app or service. The notification includes a link to view the album. They click the link, and depending on the app, they may need to sign in or create an account to see the photos.

Once they accept, the album appears in their own app under a "Shared with Me" or similar section. Any new photos you add to the album will show up for them automatically — they don't need to do anything else. If you remove a photo from the album, it disappears for them too.

If the app allows collaboration (like Apple Photos does), the other person can add their own photos, and you'll see them in real time. If it's view-only, they can only look at what you've added.

Changing who can see the album or removing access

To stop sharing with someone, go back to the album's share settings. In Apple Photos, tap Add People again and look for the person's name — you should see an option to remove them. In Google Photos, tap Share and find their name in the list of people with access, then tap the X or remove option next to it.

In Amazon Photos, the process is similar: open the share settings and look for a remove or delete button next to the person's name. Once you remove them, they can no longer see the album, even if they had already accepted the invitation.

You can also change permissions after sharing. For example, in Apple Photos, you can turn collaboration on or off. In Amazon Photos, you can switch someone from view-only to upload access, or vice versa. These changes take effect when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share an album with someone who doesn't have the same app?

It depends on the app. Google Photos and Amazon Photos let you share with anyone via a link, even if they don't have the app installed. Apple Photos requires the other person to have an Apple device and an Apple ID. If you're sharing with someone on Android, Google Photos or Amazon Photos is a better choice.

What if the person I'm inviting doesn't receive the notification?

Check that you typed their email address correctly. Ask them to check their spam or promotions folder — the invitation email sometimes ends up there. You can also try sending them the shareable link directly instead of using the invite-by-email option.

Can I share a single photo instead of a whole album?

Yes. In most apps, you can select a single photo and tap share to send it via link or email. However, if you want to share multiple photos but not an entire album, you may need to create a new album with just those photos and then share that album instead.

What if I want to stop sharing but keep the album?

Remove all the people from the share settings. The album stays in your app, but no one else can see it anymore. You can always re-share it later if you change your mind.

Do shared photos take up storage space on the other person's device?

No. Shared albums are stored on the service's servers (Apple's, Google's, or Amazon's), not on the other person's phone or computer. They can view the photos in the app, but the photos don't count toward their device storage or their account storage limit.