iOS 16 includes a long-awaited new feature: the shared photo library. We can now share all our photos with other people, and all can add or remove. That’s how it’s set up and that’s how it works.
Configure shared photo library
To configure the shared photo library, you need be updated to iOS 16.1 on your iPhone or iPadOS 16 on your iPad. Those you share your library with will also need to be updated to these versions. In the case of macOS, you need be updated to macOS Ventura. Another requirement is that have photos synced with iCloud. You won’t be able to share your library if your photos aren’t stored in the Apple cloud. If you want to use this feature and you don’t have enough space in iCloud, you will need to expand the space by paying 50GB, 200GB or 2TB and sync your photos. Once they are uploaded to iCloud, you can use the Shared Photo Library option.
On your iPhone or iPad, go to device settingstap on your account and go to iCloud > Photos. At the bottom of the screen, you will find the Shared Photo Library option. There you can enable it and configure who you want to have access to it. You can share it with up to 6 people in total. On Mac, you need to access the same menu in the Photos app settings, under the “Shared Photo Library” tab.
How the shared photo library works
You can share the photo library with five other people to make a total of six people with access to this photo library. Anyone with access will be able to add, delete and edit photos. The photos you share are up to you, it can be from all your photos to just a few, it’s your decision when setting up the shared photo library. Of course, keep in mind that you can only have one. Photos you share only take up space in the organizer’s iCloud account from the photo library
Once you’ve shared your photo library, you can switch to the Photos app if you want to see your personal or shared photo library. You can keep adding photos to the shared one if you want, you can even do it automatically if you prefer. You have the settings for this function in the Settings of your iPhone and iPad, in the section dedicated to the Photos application. You can also choose in the camera where you want the photos you are going to take to be saved, for which you need to click on the icon at the top of the screen with silhouettes of people. if enabled in yellow, photos will go to the shared photo library, if crossed out in black and white, they will go to the personal photo library. In the Photos app, you can also move images from one photo library to another by tapping on the photo to bring up the context menu.
Apple TV and iCloud.com
We’ve always talked about iPhone, iPad and Mac, but what about Apple TV and iCloud on the web? While you can’t set up any of these features on Apple TV or iCloud on the web, you can. you can see the pictures from the shared photo library.
