Share files and folders in iCloud Drive on iPad

After you Set up iCloud Drive, you can use the Files app to share folders and individual files with friends and colleagues. When you make changes to a shared folder or file, others see your changes automatically. If you allow people to make edits, their changes appear automatically as well.

Files and folders shared in iCloud Drive have these important characteristics:

If you share a folder, all items added to that folder by you or other participants are automatically shared.
The link to a shared file includes its name. If the name or content is confidential, be sure to ask recipients not to forward the link to anyone else.
If you move a shared file to another folder or location, the link no longer works, and people lose access to the item.
Depending on the app, users might need to reopen a file or tap the original link to see the latest changes.

Share a folder or file

If you own a folder or file in iCloud Drive, you can invite others to view or change its contents.

You can share a folder and file so that only people you invite can open it, or anyone with the link can open it.

You can allow the contents of a folder or file to be changed, or you can restrict access so that the contents can only be viewed.

When you share a folder, only the people you invite can access the files in the shared folder by default. To invite more people to access the files, you must change the settings of the shared folder to add more participants. You canʼt select an individual file within the shared folder and add participants to it.

Touch and hold the folder or file.
Tap Share , then tap Share Folder in iCloud or Share File in iCloud.
Do one of the following:
- Allow only invitees to view and edit the contents: Tap Share Options, tap “Only people you invite,” tap “Can make changes,” then choose a method—such as Messages or Mail—for sending people a link to the folder or file.
- Allow only invitees to view the contents: Tap Share Options, tap “Only people you invite,” tap “View only,” then choose a method for sending the link.
- Allow anyone with the link to view and edit the contents: Tap Share Options, tap “Anyone with the link,” tap “Can make changes,” then choose a method for sending the link.
- Allow anyone with the link to view the contents: Tap Share Options, tap “Anyone with the link,” tap “View only,” then choose a method for sending the link.
- Allow anyone to invite more people: Tap Share Options, then tap “Anyone can add people.”
Choose how you want to send your invitation, then tap Send.

Invite more people to share a folder or file

If you already shared a folder or file and its access is set to “Only people you invite,” you can share it with more people.

Touch and hold the folder or file.
Tap Share , then tap Manage Shared Folder or Manage Shared File.
Tap Add People and choose a method for sending the link.
Enter any other requested information, then send or post the invitation.

Share a folder or file with more people using a link

If you set the access to a shared folder or file to “Anyone with the link,” anyone with the link can share it with others.

Touch and hold the folder or file.
Tap Share , tap Manage Shared Folder or Manage Shared File, then tap Send Link.
Choose a method for sending the link, enter any other requested information, then send or post the invitation.

Change access and permission settings for everyone

If you’re the owner of a shared folder or file, you can change its access at any time. However, everyone you shared the link with is affected.

Touch and hold the folder or file.
Tap Share , tap Manage Shared Folder or Manage Shared File, then tap Share Options.
Change either or both of the options.
- Access option: When you change the access option from “Anyone with the link” to “Only people you invite,” the original link no longer works for anyone, and only people who receive a new invitation from you can open the folder or file.
- Permission option: When you change the permission option, everyone who has the file open when you change the permission sees an alert. New settings take effect when the alert is dismissed.

Change access and permission settings for one person

If you’re the owner of a shared folder or file and its access is set to “Only people you invite,” you can change the permission for one person without affecting the permission of others. You can also remove the person’s access.

Touch and hold the folder or file.
Tap Share , then tap Manage Shared Folder or Manage Shared File.
Tap the person’s name, then select an option.

Stop sharing a folder or file

If you’re the owner of a shared folder or file, you can stop sharing it.

Touch and hold the folder or file.
Tap Share , then tap Manage Shared Folder or Manage Shared File.
Tap Stop Sharing.

Anyone who has a file open when you stop sharing it sees an alert. The item closes when the alert is dismissed, the file is removed from the person’s iCloud Drive, and the link no longer works. If you later share the item again and set the access to “Anyone with the link,” the original link works. If the access is set to “Only people you invite,” the original link works again only for people you reinvite to share the item.

iPad User Guide