Shared Family Album: Two things to do before you get started

Step 1. Set up your family

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

Step 2. Turn on iCloud Shared Albums

How to find the Shared Family Album on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

On iPhone or iPad: 

  • Launch the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap on the Albums tab. Scroll down to the Shared Albums and select the Shared Family Album. Don’t see it? Tap on See All and browse until you find it.

On your Mac:

  • Launch Photos on your Mac. Under the Shared section of the Sidebar, click Shared Albums. Select the Shared Family Album.

How to add photos to the Shared Family Album on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

  • Don’t see it? Tap on See All and browse until you find it.

On your iPhone or iPad:

  • Launch the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap on the Albums tab. Scroll down to the Shared Albums and select the Shared Family Album.    Don’t see it? Tap on See All and browse until you find it. Tap on the plus sign. Tap the photos and videos you want to add. Tap Done in the upper corner. Type a description if you want, and then tap Post in the next window.

 On your Mac:

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

How to remove photos to the Shared Family Album on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

  • Shift-click or command-click to select multiple

On your iPhone or iPad:

  • Launch the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap on the Albums tab. Scroll down to the Shared Albums section and select the Shared Family Album. ( Don’t see it? Tap on See All and browse until you find it. Tap Select in the upper corner. Tap the photos or videos you want to remove. Tap the Trash icon in the bottom corner. Tap Delete Photos to confirm that you want to remove the selected photos.

  • Launch the Photos app on your Mac. Click on Shared Albums in the sidebar. Select the Shared Family Album. Select the images you want to remove. Press the Delete key on your keyboard. Click on Delete to confirm that you want to remove the photo from the Shared Family Album.

Want to know more?

iCloud

  • What is Apple iCloud Drive and how does it work?  What is iCloud Plus, how much is it, and what’s included? Messages in iCloud: How it works, how to turn it on or off What is Apple’s Family Sharing feature and what is shared?

Apple Photos

  • Apple Photos tips and tricks How to delete and create photo albums on iPhone

iOS and MacOS

  • iOS 16: Release date and all the features coming to your iPhone macOS Ventura: Release date and features coming to your Mac

  • How to watch the Apple Far out livestream and witness the iPhone 14 launch event