cloud

Choosing a Photo Source

Which type of photo source is right for you?

Two types of photo source

pic.ie supports two broad categories of photo source — cloud storage accounts (OneDrive and Dropbox) and shared album links (Apple iCloud and Google Photos).

Both work well, but they have different privacy characteristics and trade-offs. This guide explains the differences so you can choose the approach that suits you best.

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Recommended
Microsoft OneDrive

OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage service. When you connect a OneDrive folder, pic.ie signs in to your Microsoft account and reads photos directly from that folder. Your photos are never made public — access requires your account credentials.

Any photo you add to the linked folder automatically appears in your slideshow the next time the queue refreshes (every few minutes). You can manage which folder is used at any time from your dashboard.

  • Photos stay fully private — only you can access them
  • Works with your existing Microsoft or Outlook account
  • Free storage up to 5 GB is included with every Microsoft account
  • Adding or removing photos is instant — just use OneDrive normally

Don't have a Microsoft account? Creating one is free and takes about two minutes. Sign up for OneDrive →

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Recommended
Dropbox

Dropbox is a popular cloud storage service that works on every platform. Like OneDrive, pic.ie connects to your Dropbox account directly so your photos remain completely private. No public links are involved.

Dropbox is a great choice if you already use it across your devices, or if you prefer it over Microsoft's ecosystem.

  • Photos stay fully private — account credentials required
  • Free storage up to 2 GB on the basic plan
  • Works on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
  • Easy to drag-and-drop photos straight from your desktop

Don't have a Dropbox account? The free tier is plenty for a photo slideshow. Sign up for Dropbox →

Public album links
link
Apple iCloud Shared Album

An iCloud Shared Album is a special album you create in the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. When you share it with a link, anyone who has that link can view the photos. pic.ie uses this link to display your photos — no Apple account sign-in is required.

info Privacy note

Shared album links are technically public — anyone with the exact URL can view your photos. In practice, the URLs are very long and random, so the chance of someone guessing or stumbling upon yours is extremely low. That said, if the photos are sensitive, we recommend using OneDrive or Dropbox instead.

  • Quick to set up — no third-party account needed
  • Best for iPhone/iPad users who already use the Photos app
  • Adding photos to the album updates the slideshow automatically
  • The link is long and random, making accidental discovery unlikely
link
Google Photos Shared Album

Google Photos lets you create shared albums and get a public link that anyone can use to view the photos. pic.ie reads that link directly — no Google account sign-in is required.

info Privacy note

Like iCloud, Google Photos shared album links are publicly accessible — anyone with the URL can view your photos. The URLs are long and random, making accidental discovery unlikely, but for sensitive photos we recommend using OneDrive or Dropbox instead.

  • Quick to set up — works with your existing Google account
  • Best for Android users already using Google Photos
  • Supports shared family albums with multiple contributors
  • The link is long and random, making accidental discovery unlikely
Quick comparison
Source Sign-in required Photos private? Auto-update
OneDrive check_circle Yes lock Fully private check_circle Yes
Dropbox check_circle Yes lock Fully private check_circle Yes
iCloud Shared Album remove No public Public URL check_circle Yes
Google Photos Shared Album remove No public Public URL check_circle Yes
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thumb_up Our recommendation

If you have a OneDrive or Dropbox account, use it. Your photos stay completely private and the integration is seamless.

If you use an iPhone, an iCloud Shared Album is the quickest way to get started without signing up for anything new.

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