iOS 17 iCloud Family sharing not working

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Level 1

24 points

iOS 17 iCloud Family sharing not working

This seems impossible to set up here w/ iOS 17.1.1 on iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 13 (wife's phone). And yes I am aware of the instructions, have career ICT knowledge etc. I'm suspecting that the instructions leave out an important requirement:

That the family /receiving phone needs to also have iCloud photos turned on [?] Otherwise there is nothing to indicate on my wife's phone that see can see my Family iCloud photos library. At setup I am loath to therefore interfere with her phone and where to enable a shared iCloud+ or her, this deletes her local photos library & then uploads & syncs to cloud ...

The literature would have it that this is not necessary and that she should be able to see my Family libary without any such alterrations to her phone; & that her local library should remain local, but she can see my iCloud + photos.

However this does not seem to be the case. Can anyone advise?

Posted on Nov 9, 2023 1:42 PM

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Answer 1

Phil0124

Level 10

214,933 points

Nov 9, 2023 2:00 PM in response to profdraper

You should not log in with your Apple ID on her device for any reason.
Unless you have a shared album set up already, she should not and will not see your own iCloud Photo Library at all. Photos are not shared automatically, and are kept private and independent from other users sharing iCloud storage.
You must enable a shared album with your photos so she can see them. click here ➜ How to use Shared Albums in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Phil0124

Level 10

214,933 points

Nov 10, 2023 5:58 AM in response to profdraper

Just, pointing out what should not be done. And no, the answer is not unrelated, it is entirely related to your question.

Family Sharing does not directly share photos. It shares the iCloud Storage.

Photos need to be manually shared. If you turned on the option for iCloud Shared Photo Library on your iPhone, that has nothing to do with Family Sharing (unless a participant is under 13 years of age, in which case, they can. only share photos with participants of the Family Group they are in).

iCloud Photo Sync is not necessary to see shared Photos.

You need to invite your wife to the shared Album, and the choose photos to add to the shared album for her to see them once she accepts the invitation.

click here ➜ How to use iCloud Shared Photo Library - Apple Support

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Answer 3

profdraper Author

Level 1

24 points

Nov 9, 2023 2:43 PM in response to Phil0124

Thanks for this but I never indicated that I logged in on her device with my Apple ID. This answer appears completelyunrelated to my question, ie:

I have enabled Family Sharing for my Photos library on my phone; my wife is set as family member.

Still, there is nothing available on her phone (no shared selection etc).

Her phone is not using iCloud photo sync. Is that necessary for us to use Family Sharing of Photos?

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iOS 17 iCloud Family sharing not working

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