How to Share Photos With Family on iPhone and Android

Photos are one of the nicest things to share with family, whether it is a new grandbaby, a garden in bloom or a holiday table. Your phone can send pictures one at a time, but a shared album is often easier: everyone in the family sees the same collection, and new photos show up for them on their own.

This guide walks through the two most common ways to do it: Shared Albums on an iPhone, and Google Photos on an Android phone. Steps are based on Apple’s and Google’s help pages as of October 2026. Menus can look a little different on your phone, so go slowly and look for the words in quotes.

Before You Start: Which Version Do You Have?

Apple changed Shared Albums in iOS 27, its newest iPhone software, so a few steps depend on your version. To check, open Settings, tap General, then About, and look at the iOS version number. Where steps differ, this guide gives both.

Part 1: Shared Albums on an iPhone

Step 1: Turn On Shared Albums

Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
Tap iCloud, then Photos.
Scroll down and turn on Shared Albums.

On iOS 27, Apple says iCloud Photos also needs to be turned on to use regular shared albums. Make sure you are signed in with the same Apple Account on all your Apple devices.

Step 2: Create a Shared Album

Open the Photos app.
Go to Collections, find Shared Albums, and tap the Add (+) button.
Give the album a name, such as “Family Photos 2026,” and choose the photos you want to add.
On iOS 26 or earlier: invite people from your contacts, or by email or phone number, then tap Done and Create.
On iOS 27: tap Sharing Options to invite people or share a link, then tap Done.

The people you invite get a message asking them to join. Once they accept, they can see the album on their own devices.

Step 3: Add More Photos Later

In the Photos app, select the photos you want to share.
Tap the Share button (a square with an arrow).
Tap Add to Shared Album and choose your album.
Tap Post on iOS 26 or earlier, or Done on iOS 27.

Family members in the album can add their own photos and videos and leave comments. iOS 27 also lets people react with emoji.

Step 4: Invite Someone New

On iOS 26 or earlier: open the album, tap More, tap the album name, then Add Participants.
On iOS 27: open the album and tap Manage Shared Album, then Invite Participants or Copy Album Link.

Sharing With Family Who Do Not Have an iPhone

Not everyone in the family uses Apple products. On iOS 26 or earlier, you can open the album, tap More, then Shared Album Details, and turn on Public Website. Anyone with the web link can then view the album in a web browser. Apple says that starting with iOS 27, people can join and add photos on the web without an Apple Account or Apple device.

Keep in mind that a public link can be passed along. Only share it with people you trust.

Limits and Storage

According to Apple, albums created on iOS 26 or earlier can hold up to 5,000 photos and videos and up to 100 subscribers, and they do not use up your iCloud storage. Photos in them are saved at a smaller size, though, so keep your originals.

Albums created on iOS 27 work differently: there is no limit on the number of photos, but they count toward the album owner’s iCloud storage at full quality. Apple also offers temporary albums that hold up to 5,000 items and do not use your storage.

Removing a Person or Deleting an Album

On iOS 26 or earlier, to remove someone, open the album, tap More, tap the album name, tap the person, then Remove Subscriber. To delete the whole album, tap More, then Delete Shared Album.

Be careful: Apple says deleting a shared album permanently removes its photos. Save any pictures you want to keep first. Open the photo, tap Share, then Save Image.

A Note on iCloud Shared Photo Library

Apple also offers something different called iCloud Shared Photo Library. Instead of one album, it is a whole separate photo library shared by up to six people, and everyone can add, edit and delete pictures in it. It uses the creator’s iCloud storage. It suits a household that wants all its photos in one place. For sending pictures to the wider family, a shared album is usually simpler.

Part 2: Google Photos on an Android Phone

Many Android phones come with the Google Photos app. These steps follow Google’s instructions for Android. The Google Photos app on iPhone works in a similar way, though buttons may be in slightly different places.

Send Photos to One Person

Open Google Photos and touch and hold a photo to select it. Tap more photos to add them.
Tap Share.
Under “Send in Photos,” choose the people you want, then tap Send.

You can also tap Create link to get a link you can send by text or email. Anyone who has that link can see the photos, so share it carefully.

Create a Shared Album

Touch and hold to select the photos you want.
Tap Create (or Add), then Album.
Type a title for the album and tap Done.
Tap Share and choose who to send it to.

See What You Have Shared

To review everything you have shared, tap your profile picture, then Photos settings, Sharing and Manage sharing activity.

Stop Sharing an Album

To remove a person: open the album, tap More, then Sharing. Tap More next to the person, then Remove person.
To turn off the link: in the same Sharing screen, turn off Link sharing. Google notes that people you removed could rejoin through the link otherwise.
To stop others adding photos: turn off Collaborate in the album’s sharing settings.

Stopping sharing does not delete copies that people already saved or downloaded.

Partner Sharing

Google Photos also has Partner sharing, which automatically shares your photos with one other person who has a Google Account, such as a spouse. You can share all your photos or only photos of certain people, starting from a date you choose. To find it, tap your profile picture, then Photos settings, Sharing and Partner sharing.

Privacy Tips for Sharing Photos

Location: Photos can hold the place they were taken. On an iPhone, after you tap Share, tap Options at the top and turn off Location. Check that it says “Location Not Included” before you send.
Links travel: Anyone with a shared link can usually view the album, and in Google Photos they may be able to add photos too. Share links only with people you know.
Check before you post: Think twice before sharing photos that show your home address, house number, car license plate or travel dates.
Watch for fake messages: Scammers sometimes send texts or emails pretending to be a photo or cloud service. If a message asks you to sign in from a link, open the Photos app yourself instead.

If You Get Stuck

It is fine to ask a family member to sit with you the first time. Once a shared album is set up, adding new photos takes only a few taps. You can also visit Apple’s and Google’s help pages listed below for pictures of each screen.

How to Share Photos With Family on iPhone and Android

Before You Start: Which Version Do You Have?