How to Share an iCloud Photo Link in iOS 12

[codemonkey85]

This has enabled itself automatically when I want to send more than three images at once via iMessage. But I don’t want this, I just want to send them via iMessage directly.

Instead of using the Photo button in iMessage go directly to the Photos app and select and Copy the images from there from the share sheet. It then pastes them in the old way and doesn’t do the iCloud link.

I don't understand why you would want to do this. Sending a link instead means less data sent over the wire, which is faster and more efficient. That also means fewer attachments in the thread, which are stored on the devices (and possibly iCloud if iCloud messages is turned on). The photos are also shared at full quality, whereas I believe iMessage (and definitely SMS) compresses them. If the recipient wants to add the photos to their library, it's done on the back end, which again is more efficient for them. And if nothing else, sending them as a link means the recipient can browse the photos in a gallery view, as opposed to multiple messages taking up viewing space in a thread.

Why would you want to disregard all that?

 

[NotSafeForWork]

Why would you want to disregard all that?

I have had two recipients tell me it required them to log in to view the photos and they just gave up. YMMV.

 

[codemonkey85]

I have had two recipients tell me it required them to log in to view the photos and they just gave up. YMMV.

Weird. In my experience, if I open such a link a non-iOS device, it only asks you to log in if you want to add the photos directly to your iCloud photo library.

(I do now see that you can't get a bigger preview than the thumbnail for images on a non-iOS device.)

https://imgur.com/gallery/QaJxfEM

 

[magicschoolbus]

I hate this feature so much. Is there a way to turn it off?

 

[JennyPenny]

This has enabled itself automatically when I want to send more than three images at once via iMessage. But I don’t want this, I just want to send them via iMessage directly. Can’t find out how to disable this function.

Yes! Anyone know how to disable this feature?

EDIT: Found it!

How to Bypass the iCloud Photo Link when Sending Messages
• Instead of starting with the Photos app and then selecting multiple photos to send, start first with the Message App
• Choose the recipient, craft your message and then tap on the “>” icon
• Next, tap on the camera icon and then click on the Photos icon on the top left corner of your screen OR
• Tap on the app icon and then tap on the Photos icon
• Now you can choose the photos that you want to send from Recent Photos or tap on All Photos and then browse and select.
• As you select these photos, it will add each of the individual photos the body of the message and then send it as opposed to creating the iCloud photo link
• These Photos are then individually sent to the recipient

https://appletoolbox.com/2018/10/ho...hoto-link-when-sending-photos-on-your-iphone/

 

[NotSafeForWork]

Yes. I also found if you just "Copy" the photos you want from the Photos app and then "Paste" them in to iMessage it does the same thing.

 

[lilly_1467]

I don't understand why you would want to do this. Sending a link instead means less data sent over the wire, which is faster and more efficient. That also means fewer attachments in the thread, which are stored on the devices (and possibly iCloud if iCloud messages is turned on). The photos are also shared at full quality, whereas I believe iMessage (and definitely SMS) compresses them. If the recipient wants to add the photos to their library, it's done on the back end, which again is more efficient for them. And if nothing else, sending them as a link means the recipient can browse the photos in a gallery view, as opposed to multiple messages taking up viewing space in a thread.

Why would you want to disregard all that?

If I send a shared link to my friend only my friend can view that link right ? No other person can see the link ?

 

[codemonkey85]

If I send a shared link to my friend only my friend can view that link right ? No other person can see the link ?

Anyone who has the link can see the photos, not just the person you sent the link to. If that’s a concern then I get it, although the link is private and it would be practically impossible for someone to guess the link (which also expires after 30 days). If you’re worried about your friend giving someone the link, they could just as easily give out the photos if you sent them directly.

 

[Maximumboo]

This new feature is infuriating to me.
I don’t want to sent expiring links to my iCloud account.
I just want to send the photo.
The End.
How do I turn this annoyance OFF??

 

[Hopeful:D]

Has the expiring link always been a part of this? I thought that, in the past, iCloud albums had a persistent link I could share. Is that not (or no longer) the case? Is it different for albums than for a (or a handful of) picture(s)?

Has anyone found a way to have a link last beyond the 30 day limit? I have some photos I want to keep available indefinitely. This is related to the Camp Fire in CA. Thanks for your help!

 

[reggoboy]

What do you mean? If you tap on a photo or video, it downloads it to your device temporarily just like it would for your own iCloud Photo Library items... just like it would if it were an image on a web page.

Clicking a link to one of my shares now, I see a different layout than I saw when I made my post. Now the preview photos are almost full screen. Before, they were truly thumbnails, laid out as tiles.

Since this is a web app, Apple can change it at will. Perhaps they read my post