Unable to see photos in iCloud Shared Photo Library

Question

DeMille1979 Author

Level 1

4 points

Unable to see photos in iCloud Shared Photo Library

We took photos during our vacation using four iPhones, and all of them were saved in a shared iCloud photo library. Now we’re facing a problem: not everyone in the group can see the photos taken by other members. Also, the library has been syncing for days without any progress.

I'm using an iPhone 16 with the latest update, iOS 18.6, installed.

Can someone help us?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Issues with shared photo library

iPhone 16, iOS 18

Posted on Aug 5, 2025 09:47 AM

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Answer 1

markwmsn

Level 6

16,613 points

Aug 5, 2025 10:02 PM in response to DeMille1979

I have not tried a four way shared library, just sharing with my wife (and a rarely active test user), but maybe I can help you think through the issue.

Let's work through this methodically.

Which phones cannot see photos from which other phones?

If there are multiple phones with problems seeing photos, is it with the same sources? Can anybody see photos from those sources?

If there are multiple phone with problems getting to other phones, is it the same destinations? Can anybody send photos to those destinations?

Is the problem consistent or sporadic?

Do any of the phones show unusual status messages, or do they all show "Synced with iCloud Just Now" under the counts of photos and videos? (On iOS 18.5, that can be found by tapping on your avatar icon at the top right corner of the Photos or Library view.)

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Answer 2

DeMille1979 Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 6, 2025 11:07 AM in response to markwmsn

Thank you for your reply.

We work with 4 phones: mine, my wife's, my daughter's and my son's. I created the shared library on my phone, and invited them.

All the phones are showing the message "Synced with iCloud just now", but mine's shows the message "477 items are synchronising to iCloud", but that stays continously on the screen, without any progress.

The photos of the beginning of our vacation are synced well, but those of the second part of the vacation that are taken with my Iphone cannot be seen on the phones of the others.

What do you mean with sources?

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