{"id":"icloud.does-the-shared-photo-library-use-my-storage","url":"/faq/icloud/does-the-shared-photo-library-use-my-storage","category":{"id":"icloud","title":"iCloud & iCloud Photos"},"subcategory":{"id":"icloud-sharing","title":"Sharing folders and photo libraries"},"question":"Does iCloud Shared Photo Library use my iCloud storage?","alt_questions":["Shared Library storage who pays","Does the shared photo library count against everyone?","iCloud Shared Library storage usage","shared photo library takes my icloud space"],"short_answer":"It uses only the iCloud storage of the person who created it; participants add photos without using their own space. On each Mac the photos still take local disk space, which Optimize Mac Storage can reduce.","answer_markdown":"Only the storage of the person who **created** the Shared Library. Everyone else can add to it without using their own iCloud space. If the creator's iCloud fills up, new items stop syncing to the Shared Library for everyone.\n\nOn each Mac, shared photos also take local space like the rest of your library; **Optimize Mac Storage** in Photos settings keeps smaller versions to save room. See [reducing the space Photos uses](/faq/icloud/how-do-i-reduce-the-space-icloud-photos-uses-on-my-mac).","answer_html":"

Only the storage of the person who created the Shared Library. Everyone else can add to it without using their own iCloud space. If the creator's iCloud fills up, new items stop syncing to the Shared Library for everyone.

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On each Mac, shared photos also take local space like the rest of your library; Optimize Mac Storage in Photos settings keeps smaller versions to save room. See reducing the space Photos uses.

","answer_text":"Only the storage of the person who created the Shared Library. Everyone else can add to it without using their own iCloud space. If the creator's iCloud fills up, new items stop syncing to the Shared Library for everyone.\n\nOn each Mac, shared photos also take local space like the rest of your library; Optimize Mac Storage in Photos settings keeps smaller versions to save room. See reducing the space Photos uses.","tags":["shared library","icloud storage","photos"],"related":[{"id":"icloud.what-is-icloud-shared-photo-library","question":"What is iCloud Shared Photo Library?","url":"/faq/icloud/what-is-icloud-shared-photo-library"},{"id":"icloud.how-do-i-reduce-the-space-icloud-photos-uses-on-my-mac","question":"How do I reduce the space iCloud Photos uses on my Mac?","url":"/faq/icloud/how-do-i-reduce-the-space-icloud-photos-uses-on-my-mac"},{"id":"icloud.do-shared-albums-count-against-icloud-storage","question":"Do Shared Albums count against my iCloud storage?","url":"/faq/icloud/do-shared-albums-count-against-icloud-storage"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Does iCloud Shared Photo Library use my iCloud storage? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It uses only the iCloud storage of the person who created it; participants add photos without using their own space. On each Mac the photos still take local disk space, which Optimize Mac Storage can reduce.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"iCloud & iCloud Photos","path":"/faq/icloud/"},{"name":"Does iCloud Shared Photo Library use my iCloud storage?","path":"/faq/icloud/does-the-shared-photo-library-use-my-storage"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/does-the-shared-photo-library-use-my-storage","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Does iCloud Shared Photo Library use my iCloud storage?","alternateName":["Shared Library storage who pays","Does the shared photo library count against everyone?","iCloud Shared Library storage usage","shared photo library takes my icloud space"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Only the storage of the person who created the Shared Library. Everyone else can add to it without using their own iCloud space. If the creator's iCloud fills up, new items stop syncing to the Shared Library for everyone.\n\nOn each Mac, shared photos also take local space like the rest of your library; Optimize Mac Storage in Photos settings keeps smaller versions to save room. See reducing the space Photos uses.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/does-the-shared-photo-library-use-my-storage"}}]},"fragment":"
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iCloud & iCloud Photos · Sharing folders and photo libraries

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Does iCloud Shared Photo Library use my iCloud storage?

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Short answer: It uses only the iCloud storage of the person who created it; participants add photos without using their own space. On each Mac the photos still take local disk space, which Optimize Mac Storage can reduce.

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Only the storage of the person who created the Shared Library. Everyone else can add to it without using their own iCloud space. If the creator's iCloud fills up, new items stop syncing to the Shared Library for everyone.

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On each Mac, shared photos also take local space like the rest of your library; Optimize Mac Storage in Photos settings keeps smaller versions to save room. See reducing the space Photos uses.

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Last reviewed

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