Share iCloud Folders in iOS 12 Files App

You cannot share entire folders stored in iCloud Drive directly from the Files app in iOS 12. While Apple allowed users to share individual documents and files during this operating system generation, full folder sharing was not yet supported. Users looking to collaborate on whole directories in iOS 12 must rely on alternative methods, as native iCloud Drive folder sharing was not officially implemented until the release of iOS 13.4.

The Limitation in iOS 12

In iOS 12, the Files app allows you to view, organize, and open folders stored across various cloud providers, including iCloud Drive. However, the sharing options for iCloud Drive are restricted strictly to individual files. When you tap and hold a folder or open the share sheet for a directory, the option to add people or generate a collaborative iCloud share link simply does not exist.

Apple did not introduce iCloud Drive folder sharing until iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 in March 2020.

Workarounds for iOS 12 Users

If your device cannot be updated past iOS 12, you have a few practical workarounds to share multiple items or collaborate with others:

  • Share Files Individually: Open the folder, select each file manually, tap the Share button, and use the "Add People" option to send individual iCloud collaboration links.
  • Compress the Folder: Use a third-party file manager or an Apple Shortcut to compress the folder into a single .zip archive. You can then share that single archive file via iCloud Drive.
  • Use Third-Party Cloud Storage: Cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive supported native folder sharing during the iOS 12 lifecycle. Moving your files to one of these services enables full folder-sharing capabilities directly through their respective apps or through the integrated locations in the Files app.
  • Update Your Device: If your hardware supports it, updating to iOS 13.4 or later will permanently resolve this limitation and add the native "Add People" option directly to iCloud Drive folder menus.