Apple is finally tackling a major annoyance in its Photos app: iPhone users will soon be able to share photo albums with Android users. This feature arrives with iOS 27 this fall.
During Apple’s WWDC 2026 keynote, the company announced this long-awaited change. iPhone owners have often complained about sharing albums with friends or family who use Android. Until now, shared albums in Apple Photos only worked with Apple devices. That meant anyone without an iPhone, iPad, or Mac missed out.
What’s Actually Changing
With iOS 27, anyone can access shared albums via a web link. This means that anyone with a browser — whether they’re on Android, Windows, or any other platform — can see the photos and videos you share. Imagine it like Google Photos’ existing sharing links, now integrated into Apple’s ecosystem.
This change is more significant than it may seem. Currently, if you want to share a vacation album with a family member on Android, you either have to send photos individually, use a third-party app like Google Photos, or just accept that they won’t see the full album. The new feature completely removes those hurdles.
Apple is also rolling out several other enhancements with iOS 27. A new AI-powered “Reframe” editing tool will let users adjust photo perspectives after taking them — great for fixing slightly awkward compositions. Plus, Apple is adding a proper slideshow maker, allowing you to create a slideshow from any collection of photos and videos right in the app.
Why This Took So Long
Apple has typically kept its services locked to its hardware. This strategy keeps users within the Apple ecosystem but often frustrates those with even one non-Apple device. Google Photos has allowed cross-platform sharing since 2015. In contrast, iCloud shared albums required recipients to have an Apple ID.
This shift aligns with Apple’s trend of opening some apps and services to non-Apple platforms, partly due to regulatory pressure in Europe and user requests. The company has already made Apple Music and Apple TV+ available on Android and Windows devices.
| Apple (AAPL) — By The Numbers | |
|---|---|
| Stock Price | $301.54 (-1.89%) |
| CEO | Tim Cook |
| Headquarters | Cupertino, CA |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Sector | Big Tech |
| iOS 27 Release | Fall 2026 (expected) |
What Else Is Coming to Apple Photos
AI Reframe
The new Reframe tool uses on-device AI, meaning the processing happens on your phone instead of in the cloud. It intelligently adjusts the perspective of a photo. If you took a shot from an odd angle or want to recompose without cropping important details, Reframe can fill in the edges with AI-generated content. This feature is similar to Google’s “Magic Editor,” which has been available on Pixel phones since 2023.
Slideshow Maker
Apple Photos is also getting a built-in slideshow tool. This lets you take any selection of photos and videos and play them back as a polished presentation. While this has been a basic feature in Google Photos and even Windows Photos for years, its arrival in Apple’s app feels more like catching up than making a big leap forward.
What This Means for You
If you’re an iPhone user who’s ever had to explain to a parent or friend on Android why they can’t see your shared album, that frustration will end this fall. You can create a shared album in Apple Photos, send a link, and anyone — no matter what phone they use — can view it in their browser.
For families with both iPhone and Android users, this is genuinely helpful. There’s no need for a separate app to share photos in the group chat. While the AI editing features are nice bonuses, cross-platform sharing is the main attraction.
Keep in mind that Android users will likely view albums in a browser instead of through a dedicated app, so the experience might not be as smooth as it is for Apple users. Apple hasn’t confirmed if it plans to create an Android companion app for Photos.
Community Reaction
“Finally. I’ve been sending Google Photos links to my family for three years because half of them are on Android. This should have existed years ago.”
— u/tarheelblue42, Reddit r/apple
“Cool but I’ll believe it when I see it work smoothly. Apple’s sharing features always have some weird catch.”
— YouTube comment on Apple’s WWDC 2026 keynote stream
What To Watch
- iOS 27 Developer Beta: Now available for developers, with a public beta expected in July 2026. This is where early adopters will get a first look at how the cross-platform sharing actually works.
- iOS 27 Public Release: Expected in September 2026, alongside new iPhone hardware. That’s when everyday users will get access to the feature.
- Android companion app: Apple hasn’t indicated whether it will create an Android app for a more integrated Photos experience. Keep an eye out for any announcements, as it would greatly enhance the experience for Android users receiving albums.
- Competitor response: Google Photos and Samsung Gallery will likely roll out their own feature updates around the time of or shortly after iOS 27’s release.
Ava Mitchell
Ava Mitchell is a digital culture journalist at Explosion.com covering social media platforms, streaming services, and the creator economy. With 4 years reporting on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and the apps that shape daily life, Ava specializes in explaining platform policy changes and their impact on everyday users. She previously managed social media strategy for a tech startup, giving her firsthand experience with the platforms she now covers.
