Where shared album invites show up
A shared album invite is a notification asking you to join a photo album that someone else created. The location of that invite depends on which app sent it — most commonly Photos on iPhone and iPad, Google Photos on Android, or email if the person used a different service.
On iPhone and iPad, invites appear in the Photos app itself, usually in a dedicated section or as a notification at the top of the screen. On Android with Google Photos, you'll see them in the app's "Sharing" tab. If the invite came through email, check your inbox for a message from the person who created the album — the message will contain a link you can tap to join.
The invite typically stays visible for a limited time before disappearing, so if you're looking for one you received days ago, it may no longer appear in the notification area. In that case, you can ask the person who sent it to resend the invite, or look for an email they may have sent alongside it.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone and iPad, shared album invites appear in the Photos app, often in a notifications section or at the top of the screen.
- On Android, open Google Photos and look in the "Sharing" tab to find pending invites.
- If you received an invite by email, the link to join the album is in that email message.
- Invites expire or disappear after a period of time, so ask the sender to resend if you cannot find the original.
Finding invites in the Photos app on iPhone and iPad
Open the Photos app and look at the bottom of the screen for a row of tabs. Tap the tab labeled "Sharing" — this is where all shared album activity appears. At the top of the Sharing tab, you should see a section for invites you haven't yet joined, usually labeled "Invitations" or "Pending Invitations."
If you don't see an invitations section, scroll down in the Sharing tab — sometimes it appears below your active shared albums. If you still don't see it, the invite may have expired. Shared album invites on iPhone typically remain visible for about two weeks before they disappear.
Once you find the invite, tap it to see the album name, who created it, and how many photos are in it. Tap "Join" or a similar button to accept the invite and add the album to your Photos app.
Finding invites in Google Photos on Android
Open the Google Photos app and tap the "Sharing" tab at the bottom of the screen. This tab shows all your shared albums and any invites you've received. Pending invites usually appear at the top of the Sharing tab, sometimes in a section labeled "Invitations" or "Shared with you."
Tap the invite to see details about the album and who created it. You'll see a button to join the album — tap it to accept. Once you join, the album will appear in your main Sharing tab alongside other shared albums you're part of.
If you don't see any invites in the Sharing tab, check whether the invite came through email instead. Some people send shared album links via email rather than through the Photos app itself.
Checking email for shared album links
If you can't find an invite in your Photos or Google Photos app, search your email for messages from the person who created the album. Search for their name or for keywords like "shared album," "photo album," or "join album."
When you find the email, look for a link or button labeled "View Album," "Join Album," or "Open in Photos." Tapping that link will open the album in your Photos app or web browser and give you the option to join. Some services also include the album link in the email body as plain text — you can copy and paste that into your browser if the button doesn't work.
Check your spam or promotions folder if you don't find the email in your inbox. Some email services filter photo-sharing notifications into these folders automatically.
What to do if the invite has expired
Shared album invites don't last forever. On iPhone, invites typically expire after about two weeks. On Android and other services, the timeframe varies — some expire after 30 days, others after 90 days. Once an invite expires, it disappears from your notifications and you can no longer join using that invite.
If you missed the invite window, contact the person who created the album and ask them to send you a new invite. They can do this through the Photos app by finding the album, tapping "Share," and selecting your name or contact information again. It takes only a few seconds on their end.
Alternatively, if you know the person well enough, you could ask them to send you the album link directly via text or email, which sometimes works even after the original invite has expired — though this depends on the service and the album's privacy settings.
Joining a shared album from a web browser
If you received a shared album link in an email or message, you can join the album using a web browser on your computer instead of waiting to do it on your phone. Open the link in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or another browser, and you'll see the album displayed on the web.
Look for a "Join" button or similar option on the page. Click it to join the album. You may need to sign in with your Apple ID, Google account, or the account associated with the service that created the album. Once you're signed in and have joined, the album will sync to your phone's Photos app within a few minutes.
This method is useful if you're at a computer and want to join right away, or if the invite has expired in your phone's app but the link itself still works.
Troubleshooting when you can't find the invite
If you've looked in all the places above and still can't find the invite, try these steps. First, make sure you're signed in to the correct account — if you have multiple email addresses or Apple IDs, the invite may have been sent to a different one. Check the email address the person used when they sent the invite.
Second, restart your Photos or Google Photos app. Close it completely and open it again. Sometimes invites don't display until you refresh the app. On iPhone, you can also check Settings > Photos to make sure the app has permission to send you notifications.
Third, ask the person who created the album to check their end — they can see whether the invite was actually sent and to which email or account. If they see that it was sent, they can resend it to make sure you receive a fresh copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a shared album invite stay active?
On iPhone, invites typically remain visible for about two weeks. On Android and other services, the window is usually 30 to 90 days. After that, the invite disappears and you'll need to ask the person who created the album to send a new one.
Can I join a shared album if I don't have the Photos app?
Yes. If you received a link in an email, you can open it in any web browser on your phone or computer. You'll see the album and can join from there. The album will then appear in your Photos app if you install it later.
What if the person who invited me deleted the album?
If the album was deleted before you joined, the invite link will no longer work and you won't be able to join. Ask the person who created it to recreate the album and send you a new invite.
Do I need to accept an invite to see the photos?
It depends on the service and the album's privacy settings. Some shared albums let you view photos without joining, while others require you to join first. If you can see the photos in the link but haven't joined yet, you can usually view them without accepting — but joining adds the album to your app for easier access later.