Share Photo Album via iCloud Link on macOS 13

Sharing an entire photo album using an iCloud link in macOS 13 Ventura is a secure way to distribute high-resolution photos and videos to anyone, regardless of whether they use an Apple device. This guide explains how to generate a temporary, encrypted iCloud link directly from the Photos app on your Mac, allowing recipients to view and download your media without granting them permanent access to your personal photo library.

  1. Open the Photos app on your Mac running macOS 13.
  2. In the sidebar on the left, navigate to My Albums and click the album you want to share.
  3. Select all the photos in the album by pressing Command + A on your keyboard.
  4. Click the Share button (a square with an upward-pointing arrow) in the toolbar at the top right of the window.
  5. Select Copy iCloud Link from the dropdown menu.
  6. Wait a few moments while your Mac prepares the media and generates the secure link. A notification will appear once the link is copied to your clipboard.

Once copied, paste the link (Command + V) into an email, text message, or any messaging platform. When recipients open the URL, they are directed to a secure, private webpage on iCloud.com where they can view the album or download the original, full-resolution files.

Security and Expiration Details

  • Automatic Expiration: iCloud links automatically expire after 30 days. After this period, the link becomes invalid and the media is no longer accessible via that URL.
  • No Apple Account Required: Recipients do not need an Apple ID or an Apple device to view or save the content.
  • Revoking Access Early: To stop sharing before the 30-day limit, open Photos, click iCloud Links under the Library section in the sidebar, select the shared collection, click the three-dot menu icon, and select Stop Sharing.