Sharing albums with friends and family on your iPhone is a breeze! With just a few taps, you can select photos, create a new album, and send it off to your loved ones. They’ll be able to view, comment, and even add their own photos if you allow it. Let’s dive into the step-by-step tutorial so you can start sharing those precious memories.
Step by Step Tutorial: Sharing Albums on iPhone
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s understand what we’re aiming to achieve. By following these steps, you’ll create a shared album that can be accessed by the people you choose. They’ll receive an invitation, and once accepted, they can start enjoying and contributing to your album.
Step 1: Open the Photos app
Open the Photos app on your iPhone to begin the process of sharing an album.
When you open the Photos app, you’ll see your photos and videos organized by Years, Months, Days, and All Photos. To share an album, we’ll need to create one first.
Step 2: Select the photos you want to share
Tap ‘Select’ in the top right corner, then choose the photos you want to include in your shared album.
It’s important to note that you can select as many or as few photos as you want. If you accidentally select a photo you didn’t mean to, simply tap it again to deselect it.
Step 3: Tap the share icon
After selecting your photos, tap the share icon (a square with an upward-pointing arrow) at the bottom of the screen.
The share icon is your gateway to many actions in the Photos app, including sharing photos individually, but in this case, we’re focusing on creating a shared album.
Step 4: Choose ‘Add to Shared Album’
From the share sheet that appears, scroll down and choose ‘Add to Shared Album.’
If you’ve never created a shared album before, you might be prompted to ‘Get Started.’ Just follow the on-screen instructions to enable shared albums.
Step 5: Create a new shared album
Tap ‘Shared Album’ and then ‘New Shared Album.’ Give your album a name and tap ‘Next.’
Be creative with your album name! It’s how your friends and family will identify this collection of photos.
Step 6: Invite people to your shared album
Enter the contact information of the friends and family you want to share the album with, then tap ‘Create.’
You can input email addresses or phone numbers, and if the person is in your contacts, simply start typing their name and suggestions will appear.
Once you’ve completed these steps, your friends and family will receive an invitation to join your shared album. They can accept the invite and start viewing your photos right away. If you’ve allowed it, they can also add their own photos to the album, making it a collaborative space for sharing memories.
Tips for Sharing Albums on iPhone
- Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi or have a stable data connection before starting. This ensures a smooth process and prevents any interruptions.
- Be mindful of the privacy settings of your shared album. You can choose to allow subscribers to post their own photos or to make the album public on a link.
- Regularly curate your shared album by adding new photos and removing outdated ones to keep it fresh and interesting.
- Use the ‘People’ feature to tag individuals in photos within the shared album for a more personalized experience.
- Remember, you can share your album with anyone, even if they don’t have an iPhone. They’ll receive a link to view the album in a web browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can I share an album with?
You can share an album with up to 100 people.
Can I share videos in a shared album?
Yes, you can include videos in your shared albums along with photos.
What if someone doesn’t have iCloud? Can they still view the shared album?
Absolutely! They’ll receive a link to view the album in a web browser.
Can people I share the album with download the photos?
Yes, they can download the photos to their own device if they wish.
How do I know if someone has viewed or commented on a photo in the shared album?
You’ll receive a notification when someone views, likes, or comments on a photo in your shared album.
Summary
- Open the Photos app.
- Select the photos to share.
- Tap the share icon.
- Choose ‘Add to Shared Album.’
- Create a new shared album.
- Invite people to the album.
Conclusion
Sharing albums with friends and family on iPhone is a fantastic way to keep everyone connected, no matter the distance. It’s incredibly user-friendly and makes for a seamless experience. Whether you’re sharing holiday snaps, baby photos, or just everyday moments, the process is straightforward and takes just a few moments of your time. Remember to keep your shared albums lively by updating them regularly, and don’t forget to engage with the photos shared by others. It’s not just about the pictures; it’s about the interactions and memories you’re creating together. So go ahead, give it a try, and watch as your shared albums become a hub of joyful connection for you and your loved ones.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.