Free tool
QR code for an iCloud shared album
Get the album's public link, turn it into a print-ready QR code, and know what guests can do once they scan it.
In Photos: open the shared album → People → turn on Public Website → Share Link.
Static code: it never expires and has no scan limit. Generated in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Need it on a printable sign? Use the photo-sharing sign generator.
Design
PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG. It stays on your device, and the code switches to the highest error correction so it still scans.
Getting a link for a shared album
On iPhone, open Photos, go to the shared album, tap the People icon and turn on Public Website. Then tap Share Link to copy the address — it starts with https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/ — and paste it into the generator above. On a Mac, the same switch sits in the album's People settings in the Photos app.
The public website lets anyone with the link see the album's photos in a browser, on any phone or computer, without an Apple Account.
Why guests cannot add photos through the link
The public website is view-only. To add photos to a shared album, a guest has to be invited as a subscriber with an Apple Account, and the owner has to allow subscribers to post. Guests on Android cannot subscribe at all. So a QR code on an iCloud album works well for showing photos after the event, and poorly for collecting them during it.
Shared albums also have limits worth knowing: up to 5,000 photos and videos per album, and Apple stores shared photos at reduced resolution — 2,048 pixels on the long edge — with videos capped at 720p. Fine for a quick look, not for keeping the originals.
Collect with a link, show with the album
Many couples and hosts end up using both: an upload page to collect everyone's originals during the event, then a curated album or gallery to show the best ones afterwards. The first job needs a link that works on every phone with no account; the second can be anything your guests can open.
EventUploader covers both: guests upload originals from any phone, and on paid plans you publish a public gallery or shareable albums from what came in — each with its own link and QR code.
Common questions
Can guests add photos to an iCloud shared album from a QR code?
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No. The public link is view-only. To add photos, a guest must be invited as a subscriber with an Apple Account, which rules out Android users.
Can Android users see an iCloud shared album?
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Yes, through the public website link, in any browser — viewing only.
Why do the photos look lower quality?
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According to Apple, shared albums store photos at 2,048 pixels on the long edge and videos at up to 720p. The originals stay on the device of whoever took them.
How many photos can an iCloud shared album hold?
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Up to 5,000 photos and videos per album.
Does the QR code expire?
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No. It works as long as the album exists and its Public Website setting stays on.
What is a good way to collect photos from both iPhone and Android guests?
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An upload page that works in any browser. With EventUploader, guests scan a QR code and upload originals from any phone, with no app and no account.