You might run into this error if you have a weak internet connection, Low Power Mode is active, there are temporary glitches, storage problems, or if your phone’s software is outdated.
iCloud is like a digital space provided by Apple where you can save your important stuff like photos, documents, and more. It’s been around since 2011, and it quickly became a hit with iPhone users.
The great thing is, it’s not just for iPhones. You can use it on iPads, Macs, and even Apple Watches.
What’s super handy is that once you create your iCloud account on one device, you can use it on others too. No need to start from scratch or fuss with moving data around.
Over time, Apple kept making iCloud even better. It’s not just for storing things; it can do more than that.
However, there’s a catch: the free version only gives you 5GB of storage. To be honest, that’s not much, and most of us need more space.
But Apple has a solution: iCloud+. It’s a paid version of iCloud that gives you more storage and some cool extra features.
Why Won’t My Photos On iCloud Share As Expected?
If you’ve been using iOS and have set up your iCloud account, you might have encountered a frustrating issue. This issue can make you feel confused and even a little upset.
Essentially, what happens is when you try to share a document, whether it’s a file, a photo, or a video from iCloud, things don’t go as planned. Instead of successfully sharing it, a message pops up saying, “There was an error while preparing to share.”
This situation can be particularly distressing if you need to share something urgently. There can be several reasons why this message appears, and I’ve outlined some of them in the table below for your understanding:
| REASON | EXPLANATION |
| Poor Internet Connection | Because iCloud relies on the internet to function, it’s logical that if you have a weak or unreliable internet connection, you’ll face difficulties when sharing photos, leading to the appearance of this error. |
| Low Power Mode | When you activate Low Power Mode to conserve your phone’s battery, it can restrict certain functions of your device. This might be why you’re facing difficulties when trying to share your photos. |
| Temporary Issues | Occasionally, both iCloud and your app can have short-term glitches that disrupt their normal operation, leading to errors like the one you’re experiencing. |
| Storage Issues | I hope you know that when you want to share photos from iCloud, you typically need to download them first. However, this could be a problem if your storage space is running low or insufficient. Such situations can lead to errors like the one you’re facing. |
| Outdated Software | Older software can cause problems for multiple apps on your phone and isn’t good for your device. If your phone isn’t updated, it’s likely that this error is connected to that issue. |
Is There A Way To Troubleshoot And Make iCloud Photo Sharing Work?
I understand your eagerness to fix this error and get back to sharing effortlessly from your iCloud. To assist you, I’ve provided several methods for troubleshooting and getting back to sharing:
Fix Your Internet Connection
To avoid encountering this error, you need a stable internet connection. Thus, you can:
- Switch from cellular data to Wi-Fi, and vice versa.
- Restart your router.
- Contact your internet service provider (ISP) if you’re experiencing issues.
Turn Off Low Power Mode
To share from iCloud, it’s important to disable Low Power Mode.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to your device’s settings.
- Click on “Battery.”
- Toggle off “Low Power Mode.”
Once you’ve done this, your error should be resolved, and you’ll be able to share from iCloud without any issues.
Turn On DFU Mode
You can use DFU mode to restore your iPhone. However, it’s essential to know that in this process, you’ll lose all your data, so be sure to back up your data first.
DFU mode clears all the code from your device, updates your firmware, and then restores all the code, which can help eliminate errors.
To use DFU mode, follow these steps:
- Connect your device to a computer.
- Open iTunes.
- Depending on your device, power it off.
- With your phone turned off, hold these buttons for 10 seconds:
- For iPhone 7 or newer, press and hold the power button and volume button.
- For iPhone 6 or older, press and hold the power button and the home button.
- Release the power button but continue to press the home button or the volume button for an additional 5 seconds.
- If your device’s screen is black, then it’s in DFU mode.
These steps are important because if you hold the buttons for too long, DFU mode won’t activate.
Restart The Photo Library
You can also try restarting just the Photo Library if it seems like it might be causing the problem, rather than the entire app.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Go to your device’s settings.
- Click on your Apple ID name.
- Then, go to “iCloud.”
- Click on “Photos.”
- Toggle off “iCloud Photo Library.”
- Wait for a little while.
- Then, toggle it back on.
Make Space For Storage
If you don’t have enough space on your device, it can prevent your photos from downloading, and you might see this error. To free up space on your device, you can “offload” apps.
Offloading removes the app’s data, but the app itself stays on your device, creating more available storage.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to your device’s settings.
- Click on “General.”
- Find “iPhone Storage” and select it.
- Click on “Offload App.”
- Choose the app you want to offload.
Update Software
Outdated versions of your device can be really annoying and can cause issues with your apps. So, it’s a good idea to make a habit of updating your device as soon as new updates become available.
Here’s how you can update your iPhone:
- Go to your device’s settings.
- Click on “General.”
- Scroll down until you find “Software Updates.” Click on it.
- You can even set up “Automatic Updates” to ensure your phone gets updated as soon as a new one is available.
Restart The App
Restarting your app is like giving it a little “refresh” to clear away any temporary issues that might be causing errors.
To restart your app, follow these steps:
- Return to your home screen.
- Click your home button multiple times or swipe up the screen to access app previews.
- Find the iCloud app in the previews and remove it from there.
- Wait for a short while.
- Open the iCloud app again. Hopefully, the error will have disappeared.
Restart Your Device
Restarting your iPhone can also be a helpful step in getting rid of any temporary issues that might be causing problems with your phone or iCloud, and preventing you from sharing photos.
How you restart your iPhone depends on the model you have:
- For iPhone 5 or earlier: Press and hold the power button at the top of your phone until a slider appears.
- For iPhone 6, 7, or 8: Press and hold the power button on the side of the phone until the slider appears.
- For iPhone 10 or later: Press and hold the power button and either of the volume buttons until a slider shows up.
Then, Slide the slider to turn off your phone. Wait briefly, then press and hold the power button to switch your phone on.
Perform A Factory Reset
Resetting your iPhone to its original settings can be a very effective way to troubleshoot and fix issues with iCloud, allowing you to share your photos without any problems.
It might seem like a bit of work because you need to back up your data first, but trust me, it can eliminate glitches or viruses that may be causing the problem.
To reset your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Go to your phone’s settings.
- Click on “General.”
- Scroll down to find “Transfer or Reset iPhone.” Click on it.
- You’ll see two options: “Reset” (you can reset only certain aspects, and your data won’t be lost) or “Erase All Content and Settings” (it will wipe everything from your iPhone and make it like a brand-new device.)
- Click on “Erase All Content and Settings.”
- A pop-up window will appear, asking if you’re sure. Click on “Continue.”
- Provide your Apple ID password, and your device will restart.
Contact Apple Support
If you’ve given your best shot but still can’t get things working, no matter what you try, it might be a good idea to reach out to Apple Support.
They’re there to assist you, and by reporting the problem to them, you’re giving them a chance to help you find a solution. With their help, you can hopefully get your issue sorted out without much hassle.
Sum Up
- iCloud is a cloud storage service by Apple for storing and syncing data across devices.
- Photos not sharing on iCloud can be frustrating and due to various reasons like poor internet, Low Power Mode, glitches, storage, outdated software.
- Troubleshooting steps like updating your device, using DFU mode, managing storage, etc help make iCloud photo sharing work smoothly.