iCloud sharing link stuck on waiting for photos

Dear Apple Team,

I believe iCloud's photo-sharing functionality deserves more attention in terms of reliability and usability. Photos are seamlessly integrated with iCloud, making it a natural choice for sharing, but the current implementation remains problematic—even after years of availability.

1. Slow Sharing Link Creation: Generating a sharing link often takes an inordinate amount of time. This gives the impression that media files are being re-uploaded, even when they are already synced to the cloud.
2. Delayed Media Accessibility: Recipients of iCloud sharing links experience significant delays. Instead of instantly accessing already-synced media, they must wait an undefined period for all items to become viewable. This undermines the effectiveness of the service as a convenient photo-sharing solution. In a majority of cases, they never receive all photos/videos being shared.
3. Inability to Copy Links in iMessages: When a sharing link is sent via iMessage, users cannot easily copy the link later for sharing through other channels if it’s no longer in the clipboard. This creates unnecessary friction in sharing workflows.

For comparison, I’ve used Google Photos for photo sharing without such issues for over 10 years now. Links are generated quickly, and recipients can view photos instantly without delays. Unfortunately, relying on an paid third-party service for basic functionality feels redundant when I already use iCloud. Despite giving iCloud another chance recently, the sharing experience remains subpar and impractical.

These issues collectively make iCloud photo sharing a frustrating experience. As it stands, the service falls short of user expectations, particularly for a feature that should be intuitive and seamless in a modern cloud ecosystem.

As a Polish iCloud user, I wonder if geographical factors might contribute to these issues. If so, I hope this feedback helps identify and address regional challenges that affect the service's performance.

I hope this feedback helps highlight areas for improvement. Thank you for your time and attention.