How to Share a Photo Album With Family on Google Photos

Google Photos shared albums let family members add, view, and comment on photos together — perfect for family events, grandkids, and holiday memories.

In this guide (4 steps):

1.Create a new shared album
2.Invite family members to the album
3.Add photos and view contributions
4.Manage or stop sharing the album

Create a new shared album

~21s

Open Google Photos on your phone or at photos.google.com on a computer. Tap the "+" or "Create" button → choose "Shared album." Give the album a title (example: "Thanksgiving 2026" or "Emma's Birthday"). Select photos you want to include from your library — tap each photo to select it, then tap "Add." Tap "Share" or "Next" to continue to the sharing step.

Invite family members to the album

~34s

After creating the album, tap "Invite people" or the share icon. Type in the email addresses of family members you want to invite (they need a Google account). Optionally, turn on "Collaborate" so the people you invite can also add their own photos to the album (recommended for family events). Tap "Send." Each person receives an email invitation with a link to view the album.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: You can also tap "Get link" to copy a shareable link. Anyone with that link can view the album — useful if some family members don't have Google accounts or you want to share via text message.

Add photos and view contributions

~23s

Open the shared album and tap the "Add photos" button (camera or + icon) to add more of your own photos. When other family members add photos to the album, you'll see a notification. The album shows who added each photo. Tap any photo to see it full-size, swipe through the album, or download photos you want to keep. You can also "like" photos (a heart icon) and leave comments.

Manage or stop sharing the album

~34s

To remove someone from the album: open the album → tap the three-dot menu (⋮) → "Options" or "Sharing settings" → tap the person's name → "Remove." To stop sharing with everyone: tap the three-dot menu → "Sharing options" → turn off sharing. The album remains in your Google Photos library — it just becomes private again. You can also delete the album entirely from the same menu.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: You can print photos directly from Google Photos through its partner services. Open any photo → tap the three-dot menu → "Order photo." Printed photos make wonderful gifts for family members who prefer physical pictures.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Share a Photo Album With Family on Google Photos

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Google Photos makes it possible to create shared albums where multiple family members can view and add photos. Once you set up a shared album for, say, a grandchild's birthday party or a family reunion, you can invite everyone who attended to add their photos — so the album automatically grows with everyone's pictures from the same event. Family members can also comment on photos within the album.

Google Photos is free (up to 15GB of storage, shared with your Google account), and shared albums are part of the free service. Anyone you invite can view the album from their own Google account — including family members on iPhones, since Google Photos works on both iPhone and Android.

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