--- title: "Users, Sharing \u0026 Independent Accounts" description: "How to add users to your PixelUnion instance, share your library, and understand the difference between shared and independent accounts" url: "https://pixelunion.eu/help/account/users-and-sharing/" weight: 9 --- PixelUnion supports two distinct ways to give someone access to your photos. Understanding the difference helps you set things up the right way from the start. ## Two ways to set things up **Shared instance (users on your account)** When you create a user account for someone via Administration, they join your instance at your subdomain (e.g., `yourname.pixelunion.eu`). They have their own login and their own private library, and can be given a personal storage limit. Your subscription covers their storage. Sharing features such as shared albums and partner sharing work between users on the same instance. **Independent account (separate subscription)** If someone wants their own subdomain, their own billing, and full independence, they need to sign up for their own PixelUnion subscription at [portal.pixelunion.eu](https://portal.pixelunion.eu). Each PixelUnion subscription is a completely separate Immich instance. Separate instances have no connection to each other, shared albums and partner sharing are not available across different subdomains. --- ## Adding a user to your instance 1. Click your **account icon** in the top-right corner of the web app 2. Select **Administration** 3. Navigate to the **Users** section and click **Create user** 4. Fill in their name, email address, and an optional storage quota (in GiB) 5. They will receive an invitation email. The invited user finishes the setup themselves by registering once (see below). The email does not contain a working login password. Once registered, they have their own private library within your instance. Their photos are stored under your subscription. ### First login for the invited user The welcome email does **not** contain a usable login password. The invited user sets their own password by registering once with the same email address: 1. Go to [login.pixelunion.eu](https://login.pixelunion.eu) 2. Choose the option to register or create an account 3. Enter the **same email address** you used when creating the user 4. Set a password and complete the registration After that, the user logs in with that email address and their own password, and has access to your instance. Any password from the welcome email is not needed. --- ## Shared albums Shared albums let you collect and share specific photos and videos with other users on your instance, without giving them access to your entire library. When you add someone to a shared album, you assign them a role: - **Editor (read-write)**: can view, download, and add their own photos and videos to the album - **Viewer (read-only)**: can view and download, but cannot add content Neither role gives access to your main timeline, other albums, or your personal metadata outside the album. ### Creating a shared album 1. Open the Immich web or mobile app 2. Go to **Albums** and tap **Create album** 3. Select the photos and videos you want to include 4. Tap **Share**, add the people you want to share with, and choose their role (editor or viewer) 5. They will receive a notification and can access the album according to their role --- ## Partner sharing Partner Sharing gives another user on your instance access to your entire photo library. This is intended for couples or close family members who want to see each other's photos on their own timeline. ### What partner sharing includes - Access to all non-archived and non-trashed photos and videos - Access to all metadata, including GPS information - Ability to share assets via shared links, albums, etc. ### What partner sharing does not include - Already existing partner albums - Whether an asset is favorited - People and facial recognition data > **Note:** Partner sharing is one-way. To view your partner's assets, they must also share their library with you. Partner sharing may result in duplicate assets appearing on the main timeline, as duplicates are only detected on a per-user basis. ### Sharing your library with a partner 1. Go to **Account Settings** in the web app or mobile app 2. Navigate to **Sharing** → **Partner Sharing** 3. Click **Add Partner** and search for the person's account 4. Confirm, they will now have access to your library ### Viewing your partner's library Once a partner has shared their library with you, you can access it via the **Sharing** page. ### Showing partner photos in your timeline Partner shared photos can optionally appear in your main timeline. This can be enabled per partner. **On the web:** 1. Go to **Account Settings** → **Partner Sharing** 2. Enable **Show in timeline** for the partner **On the mobile app:** 1. Open the partner's shared library view 2. Toggle the **Show in timeline** button ### Removing a partner 1. Go to **Account Settings** → **Sharing** 2. Click the **×** button next to the partner's name 3. They will immediately lose access to your library --- ## Shared links Shared links let you share a photo, video, or album with anyone, no PixelUnion account required. Immich generates a secret URL that you can send to anyone. When creating a shared link, you can optionally set: - An **expiration date**, after which the link stops working - A **password** for additional access control - **Upload permissions**, allowing recipients to contribute their own photos to your account via the link - **Action restrictions**, limiting what recipients can do with the shared content Shared links are the right tool when you want to share with people outside your instance, for example, friends or family who don't have a PixelUnion account. --- ## Removing a user from your instance If you remove a user account from your instance via Administration: - Their account is disabled immediately - **Their photos and videos are permanently deleted after 7 days**, this cannot be undone. An option for immediate deletion also exists. - No new independent account is created for them automatically If the user wants to keep their files, they must download them before the account is deleted. Once the 7-day window has passed, recovery is not possible. --- ## Need help? If you have any questions about sharing or user management, [contact our support team](/help/contact/).