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Share a small album with close relatives or a reunion folder with a wider group. Set access separately for each folder instead of opening your entire collection.
Use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication. Review shared links as your albums and guest lists change.
Parents, grandparents and siblings often photograph the same occasion. Invite relatives to contribute to one folder so you can revisit it from different points of view.
Learn about album access, phone uploads, contributions and choosing enough space for your pictures.
Begin with one occasion, such as a birthday or weekend away. Permafiles manages Nextcloud, so you do not need to install or maintain a server.
1. Create your free account. Sign in and use the included 5GB for photos, videos and other files.
2. Name your album folder. Try “Family holiday 2026” and upload a few photographs.
3. Invite your relatives. Send a viewing link or give named users permission to contribute.
Test the share with one person before inviting the rest of the family.
Send grandparents a viewing link to your latest album. They can browse the selected pictures in a browser without using your account password.
Use Nextcloud clients to synchronise chosen photo folders across your devices, rather than manually copying every update.
An aunt may only want to browse, while a sibling needs to upload pictures. Check each share and grant editing access only when it is needed.
Your account also includes tools for documents, conversations and media. Keep a reunion itinerary beside the event photographs or use Nextcloud Talk to catch up with relatives. These extras sit alongside your photo folders.
Create folders for birthdays, school holidays and family reunions. Include a date in each name and add tags where useful so your collection stays understandable as it grows.
Use Nextcloud Office to work on documents and spreadsheets, such as an itinerary or event plan, alongside the photos you keep in your account.
Nextcloud Talk provides messages and video calls for family and friends. Up to 10 participants can join a call.
Choose a service that suits the people who will actually use it. Some relatives only want to browse, while others will upload pictures from their own phones.
Try one folder with a small family group. Check the invitation, viewing experience and upload permissions before moving a larger collection.
A collection of phone pictures may need less space than long videos or original camera files. Check the size of your folders and leave room for the pictures others will contribute.
Choose an organiser before asking everyone to upload. Agree who can rename, edit or remove pictures. Keep another copy of important originals when others can change a collection.
Send an album link with a short explanation of what people can do. Test it on a phone and computer, and explain any password or account requirement before inviting a larger group.
A phone can be lost or replaced. An online photo collection gives you another place to keep pictures, while Permafiles adds daily backups and account protection options.
Check that uploads finish, enable two-factor authentication and retain your own copies of irreplaceable photographs. Shared access and backups serve different purposes.
Learn how accounts and backups are protected
Keep photographs of children in a folder shared with the people you choose. Ask parents or guardians before sharing pictures of their children, and review access when the audience changes.
Passwords and expiry dates help manage links but cannot prevent recipients from copying photographs. Discuss resharing with relatives before sending invitations.
Understand privacy and sharing controls
Use the free 5GB allowance to try uploading and sharing. As your collection grows, compare paid plans and choose the capacity that covers your albums, videos and other files.
Get Started with 5GB Free
Permafiles uses Nextcloud servers in Germany, with customer file data stored through third-party S3-compatible storage in the United Kingdom. Specialist providers support the managed service.
View Storage Plans & Prices
End-to-end encryption is an optional feature for supported files and clients. Check its compatibility with the way you want to browse and share before using it for an album; it is not automatically applied to every photograph.
Select a folder or picture and choose the sharing options you need. Set the available access permissions, add a link password or expiry date where appropriate, and check the link before sending it to your recipients.
Connect the Nextcloud mobile app to your account and configure automatic photo uploads if you want them. Confirm uploads have completed before removing pictures from your device.
Read about Nextcloud sync clients
Protect your sign-in with two-factor authentication and use the platform’s security options. Permafiles includes antivirus protection, while sharing permissions let you manage access to each album.
Explore Nextcloud account security
Start with a small folder, invite someone you trust and explore the sharing controls together. Your free 5GB account gives you room to see how it works.
Ask us about accounts, album permissions or choosing enough space for your pictures. The FAQs also explain how to get started with Nextcloud.
