Create a temporary shared album on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro

Starting in version 27 or later of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, you can create temporary shared albums on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro or on iCloud.com to share photos and videos for 30 days.

How Temporary Shared Albums work

To create or view a temporary shared album, you need to update your device to version 27 or later of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, or visionOS. Temporary shared albums:

• Don't use your iCloud storage.

• Don't require iCloud Photos to be turned on.

• Expire after 30 days. Any photos or videos not saved to your library will be deleted.

You can store up to 5,000 photos and videos in a temporary shared album.

Create a temporary shared album on iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro

1. Open the Photos app and tap Collections.

2. Scroll down to Shared Albums, then tap Shared Albums.

3. Tap the Add button.

4. Give the temporary shared album a name, and choose some images to add to the shared album. Tap Sharing Options to choose whether to invite and approve participants, or share the album with a link.

5. Turn on Make Album Temporary.

6. Tap the Done button.

   

7. To invite people, tap the Share button. You can send invites through Messages or Mail, or by copying the link.

If you decide that you want to keep the temporary shared album, you can tap the Manage Shared Album button and turn off Make Album Temporary. When you turn off Make Album Temporary, the shared album counts toward your iCloud storage limit.

Create a temporary shared album on Mac

1. Open the Photos app.

2. In the Sharing section of the sidebar, control-click Shared Albums and select New Shared Album. Or hover your mouse over Shared Albums then click the Add button.

3. Type a name for the temporary shared album. Next to Who Can Access, you can choose whether to invite and approve participants, or share the album with a link.

4. Turn on Make Album Temporary.

5. Click Create.

To invite people, click the Manage Shared Album button. Then click Invite Participants. You can send invites through Messages or Mail, or by copying the link.

If you decide that you want to keep the temporary shared album, you can click the Manage Shared Album button and turn off Make Album Temporary. When you turn off Make Album Temporary, the shared album counts toward your iCloud storage limit.

Create a temporary shared album on iCloud.com

1. Go to icloud.com/photos, then sign in to your Apple Account (if necessary).

2. In the sidebar, select Shared Albums. Click the More button, then click New Shared Album.

3. Type a name for the temporary shared album. Next to Who Can Access, you can choose whether to invite and approve participants, or share the album with a link.

4. Turn on Make Album Temporary.

5. Click Create.

If you decide that you want to keep the temporary shared album, you can click the Manage Shared Album button and turn off Make Album Temporary. When you turn off Make Album Temporary, the shared album counts toward your iCloud storage limit.