cclift1
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Can non-Apple users truly share a Photo album - eg, adding images to it - or can they merely view it via a web link I send them?

I have iCloud Photos enabled and fully working / syncing across my Mac, iPhone, iPad and even iCloud on a PC.  I have created a Shared folder and sent invites to 2 PC-only users. They either never receive the invite (re-sent several times) or get a Not Available on your System message if they try and accept the invite.  Sending them the web link the Share window offers me enables them to see images in the Shared folder via a browser- but they can't comment, or add new images.

 

So, is full sharing limited to the Apple world, or am I missing something?

iPad, iOS 9.2, + Airbook, iPhone, iCloud for PC

Posted on Jan 19, 2016 7:32 AM

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cclift1

Q: Can non-Apple users truly share a Photo album - eg, adding images to it - or can they merely view it via a web link I send them?

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  • by brenden dv,

    brenden dv brenden dv Jan 20, 2016 12:55 PM in response to cclift1
    Community Specialists
    Jan 20, 2016 12:55 PM in response to cclift1

    Hi cclift1,

     

    Welcome to the Apple Support Communities! I apologize for any confusion regarding the Shared Albums. While any user can view a Shared album via the web link, you are correct that to work with that album (post photos/video, make comments, etc) they would need to either be on an Apple device or have iCloud installed on their Windows machine, as noted in this article:

     

    What do I need to see and share videos, contribute to someone else's shared album, and add comments or like photos and videos?

    • iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 7 or later
    • Mac with OS X Mavericks v10.9 or later and iPhoto 9.5 or Aperture 3.5
    • Apple TV (2nd generation) with Apple TV software 6.0 or later
    • PC with Windows 7 or later and iCloud for Windows (or iCloud Control Panel 3.1 or later)

    If the owner of a shared album turns on the Public Website option and shares the link with you, you can use any up-to-date browser to see photos and videos added by the owner and all contributors.

     

    Get help using iCloud Photo Sharing and shared albums - Apple Support

     

    Regards

  • by cclift1,

    cclift1 cclift1 Jan 21, 2016 6:13 AM in response to brenden dv
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2016 6:13 AM in response to brenden dv

    Hi Brenden,

     

    Thanks for the info.  But I'm still a little confused:

     

    While any user can view a Shared album via the web link, you are correct that to work with that album (post photos/video, make comments, etc) they would need to either be on an Apple device or have iCloud installed on their Windows machine.....

     

    But - at least as I presently understand - they need not only to have iCloud on the PC, but also to be a Apple user with an AppleID plus a functioning iCloud account.   One of my invitees does have an AppleID (for iTunes, I guess), and has now put iCloud on her PC.  But when she tries to accept my full Sharing invite, she's told by iCloud for PC to first set up her iCloud account on her Apple device (which she doesn't have, being a MS and Android girl....).....

     

    So, having iCloud installed on their Windows machine isn't enough for full sharing - she needs to be an Apple owner/user too.  Or am I missing something?

     

    Thanks in advance!

  • by brenden dv,

    brenden dv brenden dv Jan 21, 2016 12:34 PM in response to cclift1
    Community Specialists
    Jan 21, 2016 12:34 PM in response to cclift1

    Hi cclift1,

     

    Sorry about that, I should have clarified. To work with a shared album they would need to have iCloud on their Windows machine, but to fully setup iCloud on their Windows machine, they would need to have set their Apple ID up as an iCloud account, which can only be done from a Mac or iOS device. While they wouldn't need to still have that device presently, they would need access at least initially:

     

    What you'll need

    Before you download iCloud for Windows, you'll need an iCloud account. You can sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID. Just follow the set up instructions for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5 or later or Mac with OS X Lion v10.7.4 or later.

    Depending on what information you want to keep up to date in iCloud, you might need a few other things: 

    • Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders: Outlook 2007 through Outlook 2016.
    • Bookmarks: Safari 5.1.7 or later, Internet Explorer 10 or later, Firefox 22 or later, or Google Chrome 28 or later.
    • Documents: iCloud Drive set up on each of your devices.

     

    Set up and use iCloud for Windows - Apple Support

     

    Regards

  • by cclift1,

    cclift1 cclift1 Jan 22, 2016 10:01 AM in response to brenden dv
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 22, 2016 10:01 AM in response to brenden dv

    Thanks again.  But we couldn't get that to work either......

     

    Just to recap, my friend is not a Apple user or owner, but she does have an Apple ID, and had installed iCloud for PC on her desktop (Win7).

     

    Following your suggestions, here's what we tried.

     

    - She borrowed an iPad, signed out of that iPad user's iCloud account, and signed into iCloud using her Apple ID. She also set up an email account on that iPad.

     

    - I resent a Photos Share Invite to her email.  On the iPad she hit the Subscribe option in that email.  That gave her access to the shared folder on the iPad, and she could comment, upload, download etc, ie full 2-way sharing. Great.

     

    - She now signed into iCloud for PC on her desktop, and that all worked: full access to her newly enable iCloud account.

     

    - I resent the Share Invite to her.  On the email now received on the PC, she again hit Subscribe (BTW: she was still signed in on the borrowed pad). But that just took her to a page that says:

     

     

    iCloud Photo Sharing is not available for this device

     

    To subscribe to Catherine Clift’s “Shared with G” shared album on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, open your invitation in the Mail app, and click the Subscribe button in the message.

     

    To subscribe you need to be signed in to iCloud on:

     

    • an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 6 or later, or
    • a Mac with OS X 10.8.2 or later and iPhoto 9.4 or Aperture 3.4 or later

     

    [Embedded in that was also a public link to browser-viewing of the Share Album: but that's view and download only, not two-way sharing, and needs no iCloud or Apple ID; nor a password of any type]

     

    Looking anyway in the Photos folders iCloud creates in Windows, she has her own Up and Down folders, but no sign of any shared folders.

     

    Anyway, no big deal in a way.  But I do think the assorted info pages that suggest that non-Apple folks can fully share, two-way, iCloud photo albums just seem plain wrong.  Happy to be told different and to try more ideas!

  • by brenden dv,

    brenden dv brenden dv Jan 29, 2016 1:50 PM in response to cclift1
    Community Specialists
    Jan 29, 2016 1:50 PM in response to cclift1

    Hi cclift1,

     

    Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities. I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you, and for the lack of clarity in the documentation. If you have gone through the above linked articles completely without reaching a resolution or a direction for further troubleshooting, you may be better served by reaching out to one of Apple's other available resources for more direct assistance - https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action

     

    Regards