Level 2

278 points

See shared albums on iCloud.com?

I often work on a Windows 7 PC and sometimes like to see my iPhone's iOS documents via my browser pointing to icloud.com. When I click on the Photos button, however, there doesn't seem to be any way to see my shared albums. The 'albums' that I can see are only the albums local to my iPhone in my Photo Library, not the shared albums in iCloud.

I know I can go into Windows Explorer and click on 'iCloud Photos' and then click on 'Shared', and it does show me my shared albums. But I'd like to use my browser to see them. Any thoughts on this?

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Jul 25, 2016 10:38 PM

Top-ranking reply

Beau1k

Level 1

33 points

Posted on Aug 14, 2017 9:53 AM

I think it'd ridiculous that I have to SEND MYSELF a link in order to view a shared album via web browser instead of being to access it from my iCloud account. Absolutely insane that we have to do a dumb workaround like this to see shared albums via browser. Why on earth isn't there a "shared album" folder under the Albums folder tree.

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20 replies

rick7 Author

Level 2

278 points

Jul 26, 2016 1:20 PM in response to LACAllen

I think I'm understanding you. Even though I can easily view my shared album in my web browser at URL

icould.com/sharedalbum/#whateverURL

and my non-Apple users would be viewing it via the exact same URL, those are two separate "spaces"

You're saying that even though I can view my shared album on my web browser, the shared album "feature" is not available.

Is that right?

The roundabout is in bypassing the fact that the shared album "feature" is not available and simply using my web browser like anyone else would to view my album. I'm sure the fact that I have to use this roundabout to see my shared album in my browser is by design.

LACAllen

Level 8

43,688 points

Jul 26, 2016 1:42 PM in response to rick7

You're saying that even though I can view my shared album on my web browser, the shared album "feature" is not available.

Is that right?

No. It's not visible from within your iCloud.com account.

Shared albums are managed from within the Photos app. You can create and manage regular albums on icloud.com, but not shared albums.

The bottom line is, in order to manage, in whatever way you wish, Shared Albums, you do that in your Photos app, not from within your iCloud.com account.

LACAllen

Level 8

43,688 points

Aug 14, 2017 3:18 PM in response to Beau1k

Not sure a lot of people are asking for it to be automatic.

Control and security are likely why Apple does not make a public website for your photos by default. It is a choice you make for yourself.

LACAllen

Level 8

43,688 points

Sep 13, 2017 5:04 PM in response to Kenn19

is the real answer that is is due to security, or is it a nudge to get people to alter all their devices to be an apple that can then run the iPhoto app?

I have explained this three times. I hate to ruin a good conspiracy theory but...

When you send someone to a shared album it is not on YOUR iCloud space. It is hosted on free communal space offered to you by Apple.

So when you sign in to iCloud.com, your shared albums aren't there.

Beau1k

Level 1

33 points

Aug 14, 2017 11:53 AM in response to LACAllen

So...being that this is a feature that people obviously want...I mean it's on the phone...why wouldn't we want it on iCloud? Why do you think they don't just do this for us automatically?

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See shared albums on iCloud.com?