How to Share iCloud Album with Android—2 Easy Ways

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. . *

The iCloud Photo Library lets you view and share all your photos and videos on every Apple device you own. But can you share iCloud photos with non-Apple users? You can!  Here’s how to share your photos, videos, and albums with Android and other non-Apple phones. 

Why You'll Love This Tip

  • Your friends and family with Android phones can join in the fun of iCloud photo sharing.
  • You can share iCloud pictures, videos, and even albums with Android users.  

How to Share Photos & Videos with an iCloud Link

System Requirements

This tip works on iPhones running iOS 16 or later. Learn how to update to the latest operating system.

While it is possible to view iCloud Photos on Android devices, it requires a few extra steps compared to when you share photos between iPhones. Before you begin, make sure to turn on iCloud Photos on your iPhone or iPad. For more great photo-sharing tutorials, check out our free Tip of the Day. Now, here's how to share iCloud pictures and videos with people who use Android or other non-Apple phones:

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  1. Open the Photos app or visit icloud.com and choose the photo or video you want to share.

    photos app
  2. Tap your choice, then tap the Share icon.

    apple share icon
  3. Scroll up and tap Copy iCloud Link.

    copy icloud link
  4. You'll see a notification that the link is being prepared.

    peparing icloud link
  5. Once the notification disappears, exit Photos and open Messages, Mail, or a third-party app.

  6. Touch and hold the text field in the Messages, Mail, or a third-party app and tap Paste.

    Tap Paste
  7. The link will appear, and you can send the message.

    icloud photo sharing link

That's how to send an iCloud link to Android. Now the recipient can simply tap on this link to see the image or video on their Android or another non-Apple device.

How to Share Albums with an iCloud Link

If you want to share an entire album, you can do that too. However, keep in mind that this only works if you are the owner of the shared album. Here's how to share an iCloud shared album with Android phones:

  1. To share an entire album, open the Photos app, and tap the Albums tab.

    Tap Albums
  2. Scroll down to Shared Albums, and tap a shared album you created.

    tap the shared album you want to save.
  3. Tap the Person icon at the top of the page.

    tap the person icon
  4. Toggle on Public Website

    toggle on public website
  5. Wait a few seconds for the shared album to publish.

  6. Tap Share Link.

  7. Choose a contact or an app that you want to share the album with.

  8. You will automatically be taken to the contact with the link already in the text field. Tap Send.

You can then send the public website link to any of your friends or family with Android phones. Now, if you ever need to know how to access iCloud Photos on Android, you have two easy ways to share your pictures.

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Author Details

Sarah Kingsbury's picture

Author Details

Sarah Kingsbury

As the Editorial Director at iPhone Life, Sarah Kingsbury manages the online editorial team and oversees all website content. She is a long-time Apple enthusiast who never goes anywhere without her Apple Watch and owns way too many HomePods. Since joining iPhone Life in 2013, Sarah has done everything from writing hundreds of how-to articles to founding the Daily Tip newsletter. She even co-hosted the early episodes of the iPhone Life Podcast. When not at work, Sarah can be found hiking in the mountains and canyons around Las Vegas, where she lives with her partner and dogs.