Apple’s iOS 27 update enhances iCloud Shared Albums in the Photos app, allowing full‑resolution photos and videos, broader reaction options, and new sharing controls.

The feature lets users create private collections that invited participants can view, add content, and comment. Previously, the albums were limited to Apple devices and offered only basic reactions.

The update enables full‑resolution media to be shared without compression. Users can now react with any emoji instead of only a ‘like’. Android and Windows users can contribute to albums through a web browser for the first time. A new tap‑to‑save option streamlines downloading shared media. Participant permissions can be set more precisely, and albums can be configured to expire after a chosen period.

The changes address previous usability concerns and broaden the feature’s accessibility. It remains to be seen how widely Android and Windows users will adopt the web‑based contribution capability.