Open Photos, tap the Shared tab, and start a new album
A shared album on iPhone is a folder that multiple people can see and add photos to at the same time. You create it in the Photos app by going to the Shared tab at the bottom of your screen, tapping the plus sign, naming the album, and choosing which people to invite. Those people get a notification and can accept or decline — once they join, they see every photo you add and can add their own.
The album lives in iCloud, not on your phone's storage, so it does not take up space on your device. Everyone in the album sees the same photos in the same order, and you can all leave comments or react with emoji. If you stop wanting to share, you can delete the album and it disappears for everyone.
Key Takeaways
- Shared albums are created in the Photos app under the Shared tab, and you invite people by their phone number or email address.
- Everyone you invite gets a notification and must accept before they can see or add photos to the album.
- All photos in a shared album sync through iCloud, so changes appear for everyone within seconds.
- You can delete the entire album at any time, and it will disappear from everyone's phone, but individual photos cannot be removed by other members.
- Shared albums work across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and the iCloud website, so people do not need an iPhone to join.
Step-by-step: Creating your first shared album
Open the Photos app and tap the Shared tab at the bottom right of your screen. You will see any shared albums you are already part of. Tap the plus sign in the top right corner. A menu will appear asking you to name the album — type a name that describes what the photos are for, like "Beach Trip 2024" or "Baby Photos".
After you name it, tap Next. The app will ask you to choose people to invite. You can type a name, phone number, or email address. The person does not need to be in your contacts — if you have their phone number or email, you can type it in. Tap each person you want to add, then tap Create. Your phone will send them a notification asking if they want to join the album.
Once they accept, the album appears in your Shared tab and theirs. You can now add photos by tapping the plus sign inside the album, choosing photos from your library, and tapping Done. Everyone in the album will see those photos appear on their phone within a few seconds.
Who can see and add photos to a shared album
Everyone you invite to a shared album can see all the photos in it and add their own. They can also leave comments and react with emoji to photos other people added. However, only you (the person who created the album) can delete the entire album. Other members cannot remove individual photos that other people added — they can only delete photos they added themselves.
If someone leaves the album, they can no longer see new photos that get added, but they keep a copy of the photos that were there when they left. If you remove someone from the album, they lose access when ready and cannot see any new photos, but again, they keep copies of what they already saw.
Inviting more people after you create the album
You do not have to invite everyone at once. Open the shared album, tap People at the bottom of the screen, then tap the plus sign. Type in the phone number or email address of the person you want to add and tap Invite. They will get a notification just like the first group did, and once they accept, they can see all the photos that are already in the album plus any new ones going forward.
You can invite people one at a time or several at once. There is no limit to how many people you can add to a shared album, though in practice most people keep them to a small group — family, a friend group on vacation, or coworkers on a project.
What happens when someone accepts or declines your invitation
When you invite someone, they see a notification on their phone saying you have invited them to a shared album. They can tap the notification to open it and choose Accept or Decline. If they accept, the album appears in their Shared tab when ready and they can start seeing photos and adding their own.
If they decline, the album does not appear on their phone and you cannot re-invite them from the same album. You would have to create a new shared album and invite them again. If someone declines and you want to try again later, you can always ask them in person or by text and then send a new invitation.
Removing people or deleting the album entirely
To remove someone from a shared album, open the album, tap People at the bottom, find the person's name, and swipe left on it. A red Delete button will appear — tap it. That person loses access to the album when ready, though they keep copies of any photos they saw before you removed them.
To delete the entire album, open it and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap Delete Shared Album. A warning will appear asking you to confirm. Once you confirm, the album disappears from your phone and from everyone else's phone who was in it. This action cannot be undone, so make sure you want to delete it before you confirm.
Shared albums across different devices and platforms
A shared album you create on iPhone also appears on your iPad and Mac if you are signed in with the same Apple ID. Other people in the album can view and add photos from an iPad, Mac, or the iCloud website at iCloud.com — they do not need an iPhone. This makes shared albums useful for families or groups where people use different devices.
If someone uses an Android phone, they cannot join a shared album directly, but you can share individual photos with them through other methods like email, Google Photos, or a messaging app. Shared albums are an Apple-only feature, so the people you invite need either an Apple device or access to iCloud.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a shared album if I do not have iCloud turned on?
No. Shared albums require iCloud to work because the photos are stored in iCloud and synced to everyone's devices. You need to turn on iCloud in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Photos is toggled on. Once it is on, you can create shared albums.
What if someone adds a photo I do not want in the shared album?
You can delete photos that other people added to a shared album you created. Open the album, tap Edit in the top right, select the photos you want to remove, and tap Delete. The photos will disappear from the album for everyone. You cannot prevent people from adding photos — you can only remove them after they are added.
Do shared albums use my iCloud storage?
Yes. Photos in a shared album count toward your iCloud storage limit, just like photos in your personal library. If you are running out of storage, you may need to delete old shared albums or upgrade your iCloud plan. Everyone in the album sees the same photos, but the storage counts only toward the creator's account.
Can I make a shared album private so only certain people can see it?
Shared albums are only visible to people you invite — they are private by default. You cannot make them more private than that. If you want to share photos with only one person, you can create a shared album with just that person, or you can send individual photos through Messages or Mail.
What happens to a shared album if I delete my Apple ID?
If you delete your Apple ID, any shared albums you created will be deleted for everyone in them. Other people will lose access to those albums. If you are just leaving a shared album that someone else created, you can do that without affecting the album — it stays for everyone else.