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Sharing my entire library

How can I share my entire library or few albums I've made with my Family?

I would like that every photo I take would be available for them rather than adding them to a shared album.


Thanks

iMac, macOS 10.12

Posted on May 8, 2020 3:08 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 8, 2020 10:04 AM

As you had said the complete photo library can't be shared ( agreed ) , still the photos can be shared setting up photo library and its preferences in Mac and turning on photo box in iPhone https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph961b96c4d/ios

And moving complete photo library to an external hard drive , then https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/photos/phtae4e05c67/4.0/mac/10.14

The photos will get transferred to system photo library folder of Mac photo application and iCloud photo library has to be turned off , as in normal signing with same credentials the albums along with photos will also be shared , it would not be risky , but what op desires share photos and don't want to share previously created albums ( that is not sure ) perhaps ignored to transfer photos using shared albums between iPhone / Macs .

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 8, 2020 10:04 AM in response to léonie

As you had said the complete photo library can't be shared ( agreed ) , still the photos can be shared setting up photo library and its preferences in Mac and turning on photo box in iPhone https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph961b96c4d/ios

And moving complete photo library to an external hard drive , then https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/photos/phtae4e05c67/4.0/mac/10.14

The photos will get transferred to system photo library folder of Mac photo application and iCloud photo library has to be turned off , as in normal signing with same credentials the albums along with photos will also be shared , it would not be risky , but what op desires share photos and don't want to share previously created albums ( that is not sure ) perhaps ignored to transfer photos using shared albums between iPhone / Macs .

May 8, 2020 3:54 AM in response to MichaelKribus

Photos supports only the sharing of photos, but not the complete library.

To give other family access to your library, create a copy of of your Phots Library on an external volume. Prepare the volume as described here with the "ignore Ownership" flag enabled: (Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support)

Others can use this copy to browse your photos in turn.


You cannot share your system photo library directly, you need a copy of the library for sharing. The problem is, that your main Photos Library will be your system photo library, and the System Photo Library will always be in use by system processes, while you are signed into your user account, even if you are not using Photos. And it is not possible to set the "Ignore Ownership" flag on your system volume.


May 8, 2020 9:25 AM in response to MichaelKribus

Complete photos are shared between devices if they are signed in with same Apple ID and password on the same network see this https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT201302

If you are talking about family sharing account https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208147

When you share a storage plan, your photos and documents stay private and everyone keeps using their own accounts with iCloud , and you have already cleared don't want to share photos using shared album .

If you have set family sharing account it has be disband or the family members have to leave the group https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT201081

And then start syncing the photos between devices .

Sharing my entire library

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