---
id: icloud.does-the-shared-photo-library-use-my-storage
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/does-the-shared-photo-library-use-my-storage
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["shared library", "icloud storage", "photos"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/what-is-icloud-shared-photo-library", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-reduce-the-space-icloud-photos-uses-on-my-mac", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/do-shared-albums-count-against-icloud-storage"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Does iCloud Shared Photo Library use my iCloud storage?

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.

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](https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-reduce-the-space-icloud-photos-uses-on-my-mac).