End of forced compression
During the cross-platform highlights segment of the WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple announced two updates to iCloud Shared Albums. As reported by MacRumors and confirmed by Engadget, shared albums will now support full-resolution photo sharing: until now, images shared through this feature were compressed by the system, making it poorly suited for anyone wanting to preserve original image quality.
Cross-platform opening
The second update is arguably more impactful in practical terms: iCloud Shared Albums will be accessible from Android and Windows devices. Engadget notes that the audience's reaction to this announcement was particularly warm — underlining how cross-platform incompatibility had turned the feature into a friction point rather than a convenience in mixed-platform families and friend groups.
This is a step toward interoperability, a topic on which Apple is traditionally cautious. It is not yet clear whether Android and Windows access will come via a dedicated app, a web application, or another integration; technical details will presumably emerge in this week's developer sessions.