How does Shared Family Album work on iPhone, iPad, and Mac?

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(Pocket-lint) – When you create or join a family group on your Apple device, a shared family album is automatically created in the Photos app on all family members’ devices.

All family members can add photos and videos to this album. They can also comment and be notified when a new item is added. It comes in handy when you have just celebrated Christmas or gone on vacation and want to share the moments and memories you have captured with everyone. But instead of creating a Facebook album or a multiple post on Instagram with a few selected snaps, you can directly share all your photos and videos with your family members through a shared family album. So they can pick the ones they want to grab and post on social media themselves if they want.

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Not sure how Shared Family Album works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac? Do not worry. Pocket-lint has made it all easy to understand below.

Shared Family Album: Two Things to Do Before You Begin

Before we see how to find, add, and delete photos in your shared family album, you’ll need to make sure you’ve created or are part of a family group and turned on iCloud Shared Albums. This is a one-time operation.

Step 1. Create your family

An adult in the family – the family organizer – can set up Family Sharing for the group from their iPhone, iPad or Mac. The family organizer pays for purchases for family members and must have a valid payment method.

• On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Tap your name > Tap Family Sharing, then tap Set Up Your Family. Follow the instructions on the screen.
• On your Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Family Sharing. Confirm the Apple ID you want to use for Family Sharing.

Want to join an existing family group instead? Visit Apple’s support page for advice on how to join a group.

Step 2. Enable iCloud Shared Albums

Finally, to add photos to a shared family album, you need to make sure that iCloud Shared Albums is enabled on your device. On an iPhone, just go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Photos, then turn on Shared Albums.

How to find the shared family album on your iPhone, iPad or Mac?

If you want to see what your family members have added to the shared family album, open the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and navigate to the Shared section.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Launch the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the Albums tab.
3. Scroll down to Shared Albums and select Shared Family Album.
   • Do not you see it ? Tap See All and browse until you find it.

On your Mac:

1. Launch Photos on your Mac.
2. Under the Shared section of the sidebar, click Shared Albums.
3. Select the shared family album.

How to add photos to the shared family album on your iPhone, iPad or Mac?

When you want to add pictures to the shared family album, you’ll be happy to know that the operation is very similar to adding photos and videos to a normal album on your device.

On your iPhone or iPad:

1. Launch the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the Albums tab.
3. Scroll down to Shared Albums and select Shared Family Album.
   • Do not you see it ? Tap See All and browse until you find it.
4. Tap the plus sign.
5. Touch the photos and videos you want to add.
6. Tap Done in the top corner.
7. Enter a description if you want, then tap Post in the next window.

On your Mac:

1. Launch the Photos app on your Mac.
2. Click on the photos you want to share with your family.
   • Shift-click or command-click to select multiple photos.
3. Click the share button at the top right of the window (box with an arrow).
4. Click Shared Albums.
5. Click Family.

How to Delete Photos from Shared Family Album on Your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

If you want to delete an image or video from your Shared Family Album, it’s easy. In fact, any family member can delete the contents of the album at any time.

On your iPhone or iPad:

1. Launch the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the Albums tab.
3. Scroll down to the Shared Albums section and select the Shared Family Album. (
   • Do not you see it ? Tap See All and browse until you find it.
4. Tap Select in the top corner.
5. Touch the photos or videos you want to delete.
6. Tap the trash can icon in the bottom corner.
7. Tap Delete Photos to confirm that you want to delete the selected photos.

On your Mac:

1. Launch the Photos app on your Mac.
2. Click Shared Albums in the sidebar.
3. Select the shared family album.
4. Select the images you want to delete.
5. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.
6. Click Remove to confirm that you want to remove the photo from the shared family album.

You want to know more ?

Apple has a support page for Shared Albums in general if you need additional instructions or information.

Pocket-lint also offers the following guides for further reading:

iCloud

Apple Photos

iOS and macOS

Finally, be sure to check out the pocket-lint apple hub for all the latest information. The company typically announces new hardware and software in the fall, which means updates to how its apps and services work are likely to arrive.

Written by Maggie Tillman.