Quick Steps to Turn Off iCloud Link When Sending Photos

iCloud Automatically Links Photos When Sharing

When you share photos from your iPhone or iPad, iCloud often automatically links them, creating a convenient way for recipients to view and download your images. However, there are instances where disabling this feature might be beneficial. Let's explore why you should turn off iCloud link when sending photos and how to do it.

Why You Should Turn Off iCloud Link When Sending Photos

While iCloud links offer a straightforward sharing method, there are several reasons why you might prefer to disable this feature.

• Privacy concerns: iCloud links can be shared publicly, potentially exposing your photos to unwanted viewers. If you value privacy, turning off iCloud link ensures that your photos are only accessible to the intended recipients.

• Control over downloads: When you send photos as iCloud links, recipients can download them at their convenience. If you want to maintain control over when and how your photos are accessible, disabling iCloud link allows you to share the images directly, giving you more say in the process.
• Reduced storage usage: iCloud links can consume storage space on your device, especially if you share a large number of photos. By turning off iCloud link, you can free up storage for other purposes.

Benefits of Direct Photo Sharing Over iCloud Links

Direct photo sharing offers several advantages over iCloud links:

• Enhanced privacy: When you share photos directly, you have greater control over who can access them. You can choose specific recipients and avoid accidental public sharing.
• More efficient sharing: Direct photo sharing often results in faster transfer speeds, especially for large files. This is because the photos are sent directly from your device to the recipient's device, without relying on cloud storage.
• Greater flexibility: Direct photo sharing allows you to choose the format and quality of the photos you send. You can adjust the resolution and compression settings to suit your needs.

Steps to Stop iCloud Link When Sending Photos Permanently

To prevent iCloud from automatically linking photos when you share them, follow these steps:

Turning Off iCloud Link for Single Photos

Step 1. Open the Photos app. Select the photo(s) or videos you want to share.

Step 3. Tap the Share button as you usually do.

Step 4. Scroll down and tap "Message." Then iOS will determine when it will create an iCloud link versus just sending the files individually.

Step 5. In the message thread, if they load individually, you don't need to do anything else. Just click on "Send" icon to send the message.

Step 6. But if you see the "Preparing iCloud Link" pop-up, tap "Cancel" instead to go back. You'll need to change a setting as the following note before you try again.

In the Share sheet, tap on "Options" at the top under items you selected. Next, tap "Individual Items" from the list, which means the chosen files will be shared as their original files. Tap "Done" to finish.

 

Ensuring iCloud Link is Disabled for All Future Photos

Step 1. Open the Settings app.

Step 2. Scroll down and tap "Photos."

Step 3. Toggle off the "iCloud Photos" switch.

Step 4. Tap "Keep Photos" to confirm.

By following these steps, you can effectively disable iCloud link for both individual photos and future shares, giving you more control over your photo privacy and sharing preferences.

Wrapping Up

While iCloud links offer a convenient way to share photos, there are situations where disabling this feature is preferable. By understanding the benefits of direct photo sharing and following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your photos are shared securely and on your terms.

Bonus Tip: Share iCloud Photo via MultCloud [Easy Share and Cancel] 

Last but not least, we would like to share you with a powerful multi-cloud management tool named MultCloud.  Trusted by over 3 million users, It facilitates the basic management, advanced transfer or synchronization of files between various cloud services. This service allows you to create either public share and private share (set password to protect the shared data). Moreover, you can easily cancle it at any time.

Besides, it also allows for seamless file transfers from cloud drives like Google Drive to OneDrive without the need to download and then re-upload files. MultCloud also enables you to access and manage all your cloud accounts via a single application. Currently, it supports more than 30 different cloud services, including Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, Google Photos, iCloud Photos, FTP, WebDav, and more.