How to Subscribe to Shared Album in Photos App?

The Photos app on iPhone and iPad allows you to create shared albums and invite others to view and contribute photos and videos to them. This is a great way to collaborate on albums with friends, family, or colleagues.

Subscribing to a shared album allows you to always stay up-to-date with new additions without needing an invitation. When someone shares an album with you or accepts your request to join, you are automatically subscribed. However, if you leave a shared album, you can subscribe again to start receiving updates.

Subscribing is useful if you don't frequently contribute but still want to periodically view the latest photos and videos others have added. This guide will show you how to subscribe to shared albums on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using the Photos app.

How to Subscribe to a Shared iCloud Album on iPhone or iPad

Here are the steps to subscribe to a shared iCloud photo album on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Photos App and Tap the Shared Tab

• Launch the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
• At the bottom, tap on the Shared tab. This shows you all your shared albums.

2. Locate the Shared Album and Tap on It

• Scroll and browse through the shared albums to find the specific one you want to subscribe to again.
• Tap on the shared album thumbnail to open it.

3. Tap the Share Icon in the Upper Right

• With the shared album open, tap on the share icon in the upper right corner (it looks like a box with an arrow coming out of it).

4. Choose "Subscribe" From the Menu

• A menu will appear. Tap on "Subscribe" to subscribe to updates for the shared album.

5. Confirm the Subscription

• A popup will appear to confirm you want to subscribe. Tap "Subscribe" to complete subscribing to the shared album.
• The shared album remains in your Shared tab and you'll now receive notifications when new photos or videos are added to it by others.

And that's all there is to it! You've successfully subscribed to the shared iCloud photo album on your iPhone or iPad. Now you can view the album anytime to see new contributions without needing an invitation.

How to Subscribe to a Shared Album Link on iPhone/iPad

If someone sends you a shared album link directly rather than sharing it with you in the Photos app, here is how to subscribe:

1. Tap the Shared Album Link in the Message

• When someone sends you a link to a shared album, tap on the link in the Messages app to open it.

2. Tap the Share Icon in the Upper Right

• With the shared album open from the link, tap the share icon in the upper right corner.

3. Choose "Subscribe"

• In the menu, tap on "Subscribe" to subscribe to the shared album associated with the link.

4. Confirm the Subscription

• A popup will confirm your subscription. Tap "Subscribe" to complete subscribing to the shared album.

Now the shared album will show up in your Shared tab in the Photos app so you can always access it. You'll get notifications when new items are added since you are subscribed.

How to Subscribe to Shared Albums on Mac

Here is how to subscribe to shared albums on your Mac in the Photos app:

1. Click the Shared Tab in Photos

• Launch the Photos app on your Mac and click on the Shared tab in the sidebar. This displays your shared albums.

2. Right-click the Shared Album and Choose Subscribe

• Browse to locate the shared album you want to subscribe to again.
• Right-click on the album and choose "Subscribe" from the menu.

3. Click Subscribe in the Prompt

• A prompt will appear to confirm subscribing to the album. Click the "Subscribe" button.

4. Album Updates in Shared Tab

• The shared album will now show up in your Shared tab with a subscribed indicator. New photos/videos added will display automatically.

Subscribing on the Mac is easy and keeps shared albums updated in the Shared tab. Use the steps above to always stay current with new additions from others.

How to View Shared Album Updates on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Once subscribed to a shared album, any new photos, videos, or other changes will be updated automatically for you to see. Here is how to view updates:

• On iPhone/iPad, open the Photos app and tap the Shared tab. Subscribe albums will be updated with new content added by others.
• On Mac, click the Shared tab in Photos. New shared album content will appear automatically for subscribed albums.
• Open the shared album to view details on the latest photos, videos, or other additions.
• Use the sorting options to switch between grid and list view or sort by date added.

There is no manual refresh needed. As long as you are subscribed, the shared album updates automatically on all devices so you can periodically check back on the latest photos and videos shared by others.

How to Unsubscribe From a Shared Album on iPhone or iPad

Follow these steps to unsubscribe from future updates to a shared album on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Photos App and Tap the Shared Tab

• Launch the Photos app and select the Shared tab at the bottom.

2. Tap the Shared Album

• Scroll to find the shared album you want to unsubscribe from and tap it to open the album.

3. Tap the Share Icon in the Upper Right

• With the album open, tap the share icon in the upper right corner.

4. Choose Unsubscribe

• In the menu, tap on "Unsubscribe" to unsubscribe from getting future updates.

5. Confirm Unsubscribing

• A popup will confirm unsubscribing from the album. Tap "Unsubscribe" to complete unsubscribing.

The shared album will remain in your Shared tab but you'll stop getting notifications on new content added to it since you are now unsubscribed.

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How to Unsubscribe on Mac

To stop getting updates for shared albums on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Click the Shared Tab in Photos

• In the Photos app on your Mac, click the Shared tab in the sidebar.

2. Right-click the Album and Select Unsubscribe

• Locate the shared album you want to unsubscribe from. Right-click on it and choose Unsubscribe.

3. Confirm Unsubscribing

• A prompt will confirm unsubscribing from the album. Click the "Unsubscribe" button.

The shared album remains in your Shared tab but will no longer display updates since you've unsubscribed. Use these steps to stop getting notifications on new content added to shared albums.

Conclusion

• Subscribing to shared albums allows you to passively follow along without needing new invites or constantly sharing photos.
• Enable subscriptions in the Photos app by tapping the "Subscribe" option for albums previously shared with you.
• New photos, videos, and edits made by contributors will automatically update on subscribed albums.
• View the Shared tab on iPhone, iPad, and Mac to see the latest shared album updates.
• Unsubscribe anytime to stop seeing updates from other contributors.
• Subscribing is useful for keeping up with albums you don't frequently contribute to but want to periodically check for new additions.

Subscribing to shared albums is an easy way to collaborate and stay up-to-date on photos and videos shared by others in the Photos app on all your devices.

FAQs About Subscribing to Shared Albums

Here are some frequently asked questions about subscribing to shared photo albums on iPhone, iPad, and Mac:

How do I know if I'm subscribed to a shared album?

Subscribed albums show a checkmark indicator in the Shared tab on iPhone/iPad and Mac. If you don't see the checkmark, you aren't currently subscribed.

Can I subscribe to shared albums created by others?

Yes, as long as the album has been shared with you, you can subscribe to it even if created by someone else originally.

Do I need to be invited again if I unsubscribe then resubscribe?

No, you can resubscribe anytime without needing another invitation as long as you've previously joined. Others will not be notified if you resubscribe.

If I add photos to a subscribed album, do subscribers see them?

Yes, your additions will be synced to subscribers so contributing photos/videos will notify and update subscribers.

Can subscribers add their own photos to my shared album?

Only if you've given permission for subscribers to post their own contributions. Check the album sharing settings.

How many shared albums can I subscribe to?

There is no limit on the number of shared albums you can subscribe to in the Photos app.

Can I subscribe on iPhone and view updates on my iPad?

Yes, shared album subscriptions are synced across your devices via iCloud Photos, so updates appear everywhere.