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You can share an iCloud Drive folder from Finder on a Mac or the Files app on an iPhone or iPad. Put the folder in iCloud Drive, choose Share > Collaborate, then decide whether access is limited to people you invite or available to anyone with the link. Set participants to Can make changes or Can view only. The labels can vary slightly by operating-system version and language.
Before you share
The folder must be stored in iCloud Drive, not only on your Mac’s local disk or in another cloud service. Sharing creates continuing access to the same cloud folder; it is different from sending someone a separate copy.
On iPhone or iPad, check that iCloud Drive is on at Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Drive > Sync this iPhone or Sync this iPad. Apple’s iCloud Drive setup guide explains how to enable it. On a Mac, look for iCloud Drive in Finder; if it is missing, check the Apple Account and iCloud settings on that Mac.
Sharing also uses your iCloud storage, so available space matters when files are added. You do not need to buy iCloud+ simply to share a folder; a paid plan may be relevant if you need more storage. Apple notes that storage depends on your plan.
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Choose Collaborate when recipients need ongoing access to the shared folder. Choose Send Copy when they should receive a separate file rather than access to the original. Apple explains this distinction in its guide to sharing and collaborating with iCloud.
Share a folder on Mac
- Open Finder and select iCloud Drive in the sidebar.
- Select the folder you want to share.
- Click the Share button, or Control-click the folder and choose Share.
- Choose Collaborate, not Send Copy.
- Under Who can access, choose Only people you invite or Anyone with the link.
- Choose Can make changes or Can view only. Decide whether to allow Participants can add people.
- Choose a delivery method, such as Mail, Messages, AirDrop, or Copy Link, then send the invitation or share the link.
If you do not see collaboration controls, confirm that the selected folder is in iCloud Drive. Exact menu wording can vary by macOS release.
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Share a folder on iPhone or iPad
- Open Files and tap Browse.
- Open iCloud Drive and locate the folder.
- Touch and hold the folder, then tap Share.
- Choose the collaboration option rather than sending a copy.
- Set access to Only people you invite or Anyone with the link.
- Choose Can make changes or Can view only. If offered, choose whether participants can invite others.
- Select a method such as Messages, Mail, or AirDrop and send the invitation. You can also copy the link.
Apple’s iPhone guide to sharing iCloud Drive files and folders covers sharing and management. Its current guide is for iOS 26; labels may differ on other releases or in other languages. An accepted shared folder can be accessed through iCloud Drive on supported Apple devices, iCloud.com, or iCloud for Windows, subject to the recipient’s access and compatible apps.
Choose access and permissions carefully
| Setting | Use it when | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Only people you invite | The folder is private or intended for a known group. | You control access by inviting specific people. A forwarded invitation does not by itself make an uninvited person a participant. |
| Anyone with the link | You need simple distribution to a broad audience. | Anyone who obtains the link may be able to access the folder under its current settings. A link can be forwarded, so this is not identity-verified access. |
| Can make changes | Participants need to edit files or help manage folder contents. | Depending on the file and app, participants with edit access can change files and add or remove content. |
| Can view only | Recipients need to inspect or retrieve material, not collaborate on it. | View-only access does not prevent recipients from downloading or making their own copies. |
| Participants can add people | The group is meant to grow without the owner approving every invitation. | This is separate from editing permission. Leave it off for tighter control. |
For sensitive, client, or internal work, prefer invited people, grant editing only when needed, and leave participant invitations off unless you intend to delegate access. For broadly distributed material, a link with view-only permission is usually less risky than an editable link.
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If you change a folder from link access to invited-people access, the old link no longer provides general access; invite the intended participants. Apple documents the access choices and permission controls in its Mac sharing guide and iCloud.com sharing guide.
Manage a shared folder
On Mac
- In Finder, select iCloud Drive.
- Control-click the shared folder and choose Manage Shared Folder.
- Use the controls to add people, copy the link, change access or permissions, manage whether participants can add people, remove a participant, or stop sharing.
On iPhone or iPad
- In Files, find the shared folder.
- Touch and hold it, tap Share, then tap Manage Shared Folder.
- Choose the participant or sharing option to update access, change permissions, or stop sharing.
On iCloud.com
As a fallback, go to icloud.com/iclouddrive, sign in, select the folder, and open its More menu. Choose Share or Manage Shared Folder to adjust access. See Apple’s guides for sharing on iCloud.com and managing shared items.
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Remove someone or stop sharing
To remove one person while keeping the folder shared with others, open Manage Shared Folder, select that participant, and choose Remove Access. To revoke access for everyone, choose Stop Sharing.
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Stopping sharing removes participants’ access to the shared item, but it cannot retrieve files they have already downloaded or independently copied. Treat revocation as ending access to the cloud folder, not as erasing every copy of its contents.
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Moving the shared folder out of iCloud Drive or deleting it can also end access, but these actions have broader consequences. Do not delete the folder merely to revoke sharing if you want to keep the files; use Stop Sharing instead. Apple describes these outcomes in its sharing guide.
What happens when you add or remove files?
Files and subfolders placed inside a shared folder are included in that folder’s sharing context. Participants with suitable edit permissions may be able to add or remove content. A nested folder does not create a separate permission boundary.
To remove a file from participants’ access without deleting your copy, move it to a folder outside the shared folder. Participants then lose access to it through the shared folder. If one file needs different access rules, move it out and share it separately: files inside a shared folder cannot have independent sharing settings. See Apple’s guidance on adding and removing shared files and folders.
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The Share or Collaborate option is missing
- Check that the folder is inside iCloud Drive, not just stored locally on the Mac or in another location.
- Verify iCloud Drive is enabled and syncing, and that you are signed in to the expected Apple Account.
- If the item is inside another shared folder, you cannot set separate permissions for it while it remains there. Move it outside the shared folder first if it needs its own sharing rules.
- Sharing is not available in every country or region, according to Apple. Availability and labels can also vary by software version.
The recipient cannot open the invitation
- Check that the invitation went to the right email address or phone number.
- Ask the recipient to open it while signed in to the Apple Account associated with that address, where applicable.
- Copy the current link from the folder’s sharing controls and resend it.
- Confirm you have not changed access settings or removed the recipient.
- Try accepting or opening the invitation through iCloud.com, and check that the recipient can access iCloud Drive on their device.
Recipients do not necessarily need an Apple device: Apple documents access through iCloud.com and iCloud for Windows as well. Editing depends on permission and whether the recipient’s app supports the file format.
The recipient can view but not edit
In Manage Shared Folder, verify the person or folder has Can make changes. Also check that the recipient opened the shared original rather than a downloaded copy, accepted the invitation, and is using an app that can edit that file type. A locked or otherwise restricted file may have its own limits.
Quick Recap
Limits to know
- Permissions apply at the shared-folder level: move a file elsewhere to give it different sharing rules.
- Revocation cannot erase copies: downloaded or duplicated files may remain with participants.
- Access is not available everywhere: sharing availability varies by country or region.
- Editing depends on the file: permission to make changes does not guarantee every app can edit every format.
- Interface labels change: macOS, iOS, and iPadOS versions and language settings can affect the wording of menus.
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