Why does it pause after I select a photo?

The phone is downloading the full-quality original from the cloud before it can upload.

Does uploading affect my cloud library?

No. It copies the photo to the album and leaves your library untouched.

Can I upload a shared album from iCloud?

Select the photos through the normal picker. Anything visible in your library can be chosen.

It is taking a long time.

See [what to do if an upload is slow or stuck](/help/fix-a-problem/upload-stuck-or-slow).

Can guests upload from iCloud or Google Photos?

Q: Can guests upload from iCloud or Google Photos?

Yes. When a guest taps Upload Photos, the phone picker includes their cloud libraries alongside anything stored locally. The one thing worth knowing is that a photo kept only in the cloud has to download to the phone before it can upload, and that gap looks like the upload has stalled when it has not.

Updated 26 July 2026

1
Tap Upload Photos and choose from the library
iCloud Photos and Google Photos both appear in the picker.
Guests tap Upload Photos and pick from their camera roll. There is no app and no account to create.
2
Wait for cloud photos to download first
A brief pause here is the phone fetching the original, not a fault.
3
Keep the page open until it confirms
Especially on a slower connection.
The gallery as a guest sees it on their phone, with Upload Photos in the header.

Common follow-up questions

Why does it pause after I select a photo?: The phone is downloading the full-quality original from the cloud before it can upload.
Does uploading affect my cloud library?: No. It copies the photo to the album and leaves your library untouched.
Can I upload a shared album from iCloud?: Select the photos through the normal picker. Anything visible in your library can be chosen.
It is taking a long time.: See what to do if an upload is slow or stuck.