Have you ever tried texting a bunch of photos to someone, only for it to fail or take forever to send? Or emailed a few favorites from a recent trip… but they arrived blurry or out of order? There’s an easier way to share photos on iPhone!
If you use an iPhone, iCloud Link is a simple, free, and efficient way to share full-size photos and videos…. with both iPhone and Android users!
Let’s break it down.
what is an icloud link?
iCloud Link is a newer sharing feature built right into the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It creates a temporary web link that lets someone view and download your selected photos or videos… even if they don’t use Apple devices.
Unlike using a Shared Album, you don’t have to worry about diminished file size or image quality!
how to use an icloud link
Here’s how to share photos using iCloud Link on your iPhone:
- Open your Photos app.
- Select the photos or videos you want to share or create an Album with your selections.
- Tap the Share icon (the square with the up arrow).
- Tap Copy iCloud Link (you may need to scroll down to find it).
- Wait a moment while your iPhone creates the link.
- Paste the link into a text, email, or wherever you want to share it!
That’s it!
What the Recipient Sees When Using an iCloud Link to Share Photos on iPhone
When someone clicks your link, they’ll be taken to a simple web gallery. They can scroll through the photos and download them, all in full quality.
And they don’t need an Apple device or account. It works in any browser!
Pros of Using iCloud Link
✅ Quick & Easy. Share multiple photos or videos in seconds.
✅ Full Size. Keep the full size and resolution through transfer!
✅ Cross-Platform. Works with non-Apple users too!
✅ Temporary. The link automatically expires after 30 days.
A Few Things to Know
✅ iCloud Link shares a copy of the photos, so any edits you make afterward won’t update the shared version.
✅ Unlike a Shared Album, an iCloud Link is not collaborative. It is a one-way transfer. There is no way for a recipient to edit/delete your photos through this sharing, or add their own photos into to iCloud Link.
✅ Currently, iCloud Link is not available in all countries or regions according to Apple Help.
When I Recommend Using an iCloud Link to Share Photos on iPhone
I love using iCloud Link when I need to transfer photos to someone, but don’t need to receive photos from them. If I need a collaborative space, I’ll use a Shared Album instead. Learn more about Shared Albums here.
I use iCloud Links all the time to collect photos from clients who hire me to design photo books.
iCloud Link is a hidden gems- a tool that makes photo sharing easy. It’s perfect when you want to transfer full-sized photos to someone or share with non-iPhone users.
Give it a try next time you want to share a group of photos. I think you’ll love how easy it is!
