How to use iCloud Shared Photo Library on iPad

After you set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library, you can share photos and videos with friends and family in the Photos app. You and up to five other participants can add photos and videos to the library, and any edits, comments, or other adjustments made to them are seen by everyone in real time. Content in a shared library is also added to everyone’s memories, featured photos, and the Photos widget.

Photos and videos in the shared library are kept separate from your personal library, and you can switch between viewing the shared library, your personal library, or both. You can also move shared content to your personal library.

Switch between viewing your iCloud Shared Photo Library and personal library

1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Sort and Filter button and select the following:
   • View your Photos content and iCloud Shared Photo Library content: Tap Both Libraries.
   • View only your personal Photos content: Tap Personal Library.
   • View only iCloud Shared Photo Library content: Tap Shared Library.

If you’re viewing both your personal and shared library, a badge in the top-right corner of the thumbnail marks content that’s part of the shared library.

Make edits and changes to content in an iCloud Shared Photo Library

Any of the following changes you make to photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library show up for all participants:

• Edits; see Edit photos and videos on iPad.
• Favorites, captions, keywords, or date and time adjustments; See photo and video information on iPad.
• Deleted content; see Delete or hide a photo or video.

  Note: You receive notifications if content you added to the shared library is deleted. To turn off notifications, tap your account in the top-right corner of the screen in Photos, tap Shared Library, then turn off Deletion Notifications. If content you added is deleted, you can move it from Recently Deleted back to your personal library within 30 days.

Move shared content from an iCloud Shared Photo Library to your personal library

A badge in the top-right corner also marks photos stored in your shared library. Photos and videos you contributed to the shared library can be moved back to your personal library.

1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
2. Open a photo or video in your shared library.
3. Tap the More button at the top of the screen. Tap Move to Personal Library.

Add storage space to your iCloud Shared Photo Library

The content in an iCloud Shared Photo Library is available to every participant, while the iCloud storage used to store it counts against the library organizer’s storage space.

If the shared library content exceeds the organizer’s available storage space, the organizer can upgrade to iCloud+ or add additional storage to their existing iCloud+ subscription. See Subscribe to iCloud+.

See also

• Set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library on iPad
• Add content to an iCloud Shared Photo Library on iPad